Why Did Pink Floyd Break Apart? The Real Reasons Behind Their Feud

The Pink Floyd Legacy and Tension Within the Band
We all know Pink Floyd, right? Their music defined a generation, from the ethereal "Wish You Were Here" to the mind-bending "Dark Side of the Moon." But here’s the thing—behind all the fame, the chart-toppers, and the psychedelic masterpieces, the band didn’t get along. At all. But why? You might have heard some rumors, maybe even read a few things online, but there’s more to it. Let's break down the real reasons why Pink Floyd fell apart.

The Rise of Tensions: Creative Differences
It’s often said that Pink Floyd’s internal strife started because of their wildly different visions for the band's direction. To put it bluntly, some band members had their heads in the clouds, while others had their feet firmly on the ground. Roger Waters, the bassist and chief lyricist, was deeply driven by grand philosophical themes—think "The Wall" or "Animals," filled with political and societal commentary. But David Gilmour, the lead guitarist, wanted to keep the music more about the music. His focus was often on melodic, emotional expression rather than an all-consuming ideology.
That’s where the first cracks started showing up.

Roger Waters vs. David Gilmour: The Battle of Control
Now, if you’ve heard of Pink Floyd’s split, you’ve probably heard that name—Roger Waters. He wasn’t just the bassist; he was becoming the de facto leader of the band by the mid-’70s. And, well, let’s just say he wasn’t the easiest person to work with. Waters grew increasingly controlling, especially during the making of The Wall (which, honestly, was pretty much his solo project at that point). He pushed the band’s sound in darker, more personal directions, leaving Gilmour and the others struggling for their own space.
By 1985, after recording The Final Cut, Waters had pretty much made up his mind—he was leaving the band. A lot of the creative differences turned into personal animosities. He’d always had the final say on albums, and that rubbing the wrong way only got worse as time went on.

The Role of Syd Barrett: A Shadow of Pink Floyd’s Past
You can’t really talk about Pink Floyd's break-up without mentioning Syd Barrett. His influence was monumental, but sadly, his mental health began to deteriorate in the late ‘60s. Barrett, the original frontman and main creative force behind their first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, wasn’t the same after his struggles with drug use.
Barrett’s withdrawal from the band left a huge gap—one that the band, especially Waters, tried to fill with darker, introspective music. But Syd’s departure didn’t come without its emotional toll. There’s this thing you can’t shake—the sense that Pink Floyd always carried the ghost of Syd Barrett with them, even after he was long gone. His early influence continued to haunt the band, especially when things began to fall apart in the ‘80s.

The Aftermath: Waters Leaves, But the Drama Doesn’t End
So, Waters left Pink Floyd in 1985, but the tension didn’t end there. The remaining members—Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright—decided to carry on. They did release A Momentary Lapse of Reason in 1987, but let’s face it, it wasn’t the same without Waters' vision driving the band. For a while, it felt like Pink Floyd was more of a "name" than a true band.
Interestingly, the band members weren’t even really talking to each other at the time. It wasn’t until 1994 when they performed together again for the legendary Division Bell tour. Fans were hopeful, and there was a lot of media buzz. But deep down, you could tell that the rift hadn’t truly healed.

A Final Thought: Could Pink Floyd Have Stayed Together?
You know, I've had this conversation with a friend recently—could Pink Floyd have stayed together if things were different? Could they have found a way to work through the creative differences? Maybe, but the truth is, each member of Pink Floyd was too strong-willed, too individualistic. The egos, the creative forces, the deep emotional stakes—all of these were at odds with each other. And maybe that's why their breakup was inevitable.
Personally, I think the band could have kept going. But not in the way we might have hoped. The magic of Pink Floyd wasn’t just in their music—it was in that tension, that push and pull between the members. Without that, could they have still made albums like Dark Side or Wish You Were Here? I doubt it.

In the end, Pink Floyd's breakup is a story of genius and friction. The question is, did it have to happen? Well, we’ll never know for sure. But at least we’ve still got the music to remember it by.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.