Pink Floyd History 1983

Pink Floyd release The Final Cut album in the UK

The Final Cut was released in the UK. Track listing: The Post War Dream; Your Possible Pasts; One Of The Few; The Hero’s Return; The Gunner’s Dream; Paranoid Eyes; Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert; The Fletcher Memorial Home; Southampton Dock; The Final Cut; Not Now John; Two Suns In The Sunset. It reached No. 1 in the charts.

Released on March 21, 1983, “The Final Cut” was Pink Floyd’s twelfth studio album and the last one to feature Roger Waters, who was the primary creative force behind the project. The album’s creation was influenced by Waters’ deeply personal reflections on war and the impact it has on individuals and society. Initially conceived as an extension of the themes explored in their previous album, “The Wall,” the material for “The Final Cut” underwent significant changes following the Falklands War in 1982.

Waters, a staunch critic of the war, rewrote much of the album’s content to address the broader issues of conflict, loss, and the aftermath of warfare. The album’s lyrics are poignant and often autobiographical, reflecting Waters’ disillusionment with political leadership and the sacrifices made by ordinary people during wartime.

Musically, “The Final Cut” features elaborate production and orchestration, with contributions from the other band members, though tensions within the band were high during the recording process. Waters’ dominance in the creative direction led to conflicts with guitarist David Gilmour and other members, resulting in a strained working relationship.

Despite mixed critical reception, the album resonated with many fans and achieved commercial success, reaching number one in the UK charts. Notable tracks from the album include “The Post War Dream,” “The Fletcher Memorial Home,” and “Not Now John.”

“The Final Cut” is often seen as a powerful and emotional farewell from Waters to Pink Floyd, marking the end of an era for the band. Waters left the band in 1985, leading to a new chapter in Pink Floyd’s history as Gilmour took on a more prominent role in their future projects.

Pink Floyd single Not Now John released in the UK

The single “Not Now John” by Pink Floyd was released in the UK on 3rd May 1983 as a single from their album “The Final Cut”. The song was written by Roger Waters and featured lead vocals by David Gilmour in the verses, with Waters singing the interludes and refrains1. It reached number 30 on the UK Singles Chart. B-side: The Hero’s Return, Parts 1 & 2.

The track is known for its hard rock style and strong, politically charged lyrics, reflecting Waters’ disillusionment with the political climate of the time. The single version was edited to replace some of the explicit language, with phrases like “fuck all that” overdubbed as “stuff all that”1.