Legendary '60s Rock Band Released a Song 45 Years Ago That Led to Their Split
It's been 45 years since Pink Floyd released 'Comfortably Numb,' a track that ultimately symbolized the beginning of the band's breakup.
On November 30, 1979, 'Comfortably Numb' was first released on the multi-platinum U.K. album The Wall. The track explores the growing disconnect between a singer and his audience — and, ironically, it became the last song the band ever performed together.
The creation of 'Comfortably Numb' revealed creative tensions within the group. David Gilmour once described the song as 'my music, his words,' while Roger Waters minimized Gilmour's role, saying he only 'gave me a chord sequence.'
Producer Bob Ezrin explained that the iconic track started as a Gilmour demo. "At first, Roger had not planned to include any of Dave's material, but we had things that needed filling in,' he told Guitar World.
'I fought for this song and insisted that Roger work on it. My recollection is that he did so grudgingly. He came back with this spoken-word verse and a lyric in the chorus that to me still stands out as one of the greatest ever written," he added.
While some fans interpret the song as being about drugs, it actually stemmed from a terrifying onstage experience and a childhood memory of Waters.
Before a 1977 concert in Philadelphia, Waters' doctor misdiagnosed a stomach ailment and gave him a muscle relaxant that left him 'almost insensible.'
'I remember having the flu or something, an infection with a temperature of 105 and being delirious,' Waters reportedly told Mojo.
Though Waters struggled silently during the performance, the audience remained unaware. The band played on, while Waters felt completely alienated from the show — inspiring the theme of 'Comfortably Numb.'
After its release, Pink Floyd shared two early studio versions: one toned down, favored by Gilmour, and another with a rising orchestra, preferred by Waters. The idea was to merge both versions, but that proved difficult.
"That's all we could do without somebody 'winning' and somebody 'losing,'" Waters told Musician magazine. "And of course, who 'lost,' if you like, was the band – because it was clear at that point that we didn't feel the same way about music."
While the song was a massive success, Gilmour told Guitar World that it marked the beginning of the end. It was 'really the last embers of Roger and my ability to work collaboratively together.'
The band continued for a few more years amid growing turmoil. By 1985, Waters left over creative differences, while the remaining members carried on.
It wasn't until 2005 that the original lineup reunited for Live 8, 24 years after their last performance together. They closed their set with 'Comfortably Numb' — a fitting farewell.
Legendary '60s Rock Band Released a Song 45 Years Ago That Led to Their Split first appeared on Parade on Jun 24, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
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