Pink Floyd keyboard player and founder member Richard Wright has died aged 65 from cancer.
Wright appeared on the group's first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, in 1967 alongside lead guitarist Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and Nick Mason.
Dave Gilmour joined the band at the start of 1968 while Barrett left the group shortly afterwards.
Gilmour said: "He was such a lovely, gentle, genuine man and will be missed terribly by so many who loved him."
Writing on his website, he added: "And that's a lot of people. Did he not get the loudest, longest round of applause at the end of every show in 2006?"
Wright's spokesman said in a statement: "The family of Richard Wright, founder member of Pink Floyd, announce with great sadness that Richard died today after a short struggle with cancer.
"The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time."
He did not say what form of cancer the self-taught keyboard player and pianist had.
The Great Gig in the Sky
And I am not frightened of dying, any time will do, I
don't mind. Why should I be frightened of dying?
There's no reason for it, you've gotta go sometime.
If you can hear this whispering you are dying.
I never said I was frightened of dying.
(http://www.bruder-franziskus.de/pinkfloyd/bin/wright1.jpg)
Damn. How terrible. One of my all time favorites.
Awful news, but I'm relieved that his battle with cancer was short and he doesn't have to endure pain and suffering anymore.
He was the Pink Floyd sound. End of story.
I'll miss him a lot. :'(
:'(
RIP.
So sad....just listened to a copy of a 69 Amsterdam show while cutting the grass. Love me some Floyd....Animals....
So upsetting. My all time favorite band. I went home and watched Pink Floyd in Pompeii DVD last night... he will be sorely missed... :'(