Home / Pink Floyd Timeline / Pink Floyd History 1990-1993
Between 1990 and 1993, Pink Floyd maintained a relatively low public profile but stayed active in unique ways. In 1990, they performed at the Knebworth Festival, delivering a memorable set for a charity concert. The following year, they created original music for the documentary La Carrera Panamericana, marking their first studio work with Richard Wright since his return to the band. However, no full soundtrack was officially released. During this period, the band members mainly focused on individual projects, while their legacy as pioneers of progressive rock continued to resonate worldwide.
10 April 1990
David Gilmour splits up with Ginger Gilmour
David Gilmour was married to Ginger Gilmour (born Virginia Hasenbein) from 1975 to 1990. The couple met in 1971 backstage at a Pink Floyd concert, and Ginger described their meeting as “love at first sight.” They married in 1975 and had four children together.
Their relationship ended during Pink Floyd’s 1987–1989 world tour, and they later divorced in 1990. Ginger has shared her experiences of their life together in her book Memoirs of the Bright Side of the Moon, published in 2015
Ginger remembered the time she met David. “I’d met David in 1971, at a concert at the University of Michigan. I wasn’t really a fan of the band at that point, although I had their album Ummagumma, but a friend had just come back from London where he’d got to know one of the band’s roadies and he invited me backstage.
“David came up to me and said, ‘Hi, I’m David.’ He had big blue eyes and that English look, with the long hair, tight black Sterling Cooper jeans and a black t-shirt that read ‘That’s all folks.’ I was so nervous because I was very shy and it really was love at first sight.
Links David Gilmour Biography
23 May 1990
Nick Mason marries Annette Lynton at Chelsea Registry Office
Nick Mason, the drummer and founding member of Pink Floyd, has been married twice. His first marriage was to Lindy Rutter in 1968, and they had two daughters together before divorcing in the late 1980s.
He later married Annette Lynton, also known as Nettie, on 23rd May 1990. The couple has two sons and has been together ever since. Nettie has often accompanied Nick to various events, and they share a passion for classic cars, which is one of Nick’s well-known hobbies.
30 June 1990
Pink Floyd plays Knebworth Festival
On June 30, 1990, Pink Floyd performed at the Silver Clef Award Winners charity show at Knebworth Park, Stevenage. This event was a star-studded affair featuring artists like Eric Clapton, Dire Straits, and Robert Plant with Jimmy Page. Pink Floyd’s set included iconic tracks such as “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” “Sorrow,” and “Comfortably Numb”
Links – Tour Book 1990 Pink Floyd Knebworth Silver Clef Award Winners
21 July 1990
Roger Waters’ “The Wall – Live in Berlin”
Although Roger Waters had left Pink Floyd by this time, his solo project in 1990 is worth mentioning. On July 21, 1990, Waters staged a monumental live performance of “The Wall” at Potsdamer Platz, Berlin. This concert was a fundraiser for the Memorial Fund for Disaster Relief and featured a host of guest artists, including Bryan Adams, Van Morrison, and Marianne Faithfull
Links – Tour Writeup with photos and videos – Concert Programme
October 1991
Pink Floyd’s La Carrera PanAmericana
David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Pink Floyd’s manager at the time, Steve O’Rourke, participated in the 1991 South American classic car race, La Carrera Panamericana. The used two replica C-Type Jaguars. A documentary film covering this race was broadcast on BBC2 on December 21, 1991. The film featured music by Pink Floyd, including some new compositions created specifically for the project. The race was 1,800 miles from Mexico to Texas. Meanwhile, Rich was sailing in the Agean sea.
Unfortunately, David Gilmour crashed at 80mph and went over the side of a cliff. Nick Mason said, “David – who had been driving – was shaken, and seriously stirred, but essentially unhurt bar a few cuts and bruises. Steve, on navigating duties, had suffered compound fractures of one leg and was laid up in hospital: a somewhat brutal way to treat ones manager. On seeing the wreckage of the car the next day, I realised how incredibly lucky both of them had been to escape relatively lightly”.
Nick Mason finished 6th. :-)
18 October 1991
Roger Waters appears at the Guitar Legends festival in Seville, Spain
Roger Waters performed at the Guitar Legends Festival in Seville, Spain, in October 1991. This event was part of the lead-up to Expo ’92 and featured an impressive lineup of legendary guitarists and musicians. Waters’ set included iconic Pink Floyd tracks such as “In the Flesh,” “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2),” “Brain Damage,” “Eclipse,” and “Comfortably Numb.” He was joined by talented musicians like Snowy White and Andy Fairweather Low.
The festival spanned five nights and showcased a variety of genres, with performances by artists like Brian May, B.B. King, and Steve Vai. It was a celebration of guitar mastery and a memorable moment in music history
Links – Watch on Youtube or get a copy on Amazon.co.uk
November 1991
Work starts on La Carrera PanAmericana Soundtrack
On reflection on the music recorded for La Carrera PanAmericana, Nick Mason said, “The music for the project suggested a blueprint for recording the next album: there was no pre-studio work at all. In much the same way that we created Obscured by Clouds, the whole piece was concocted during sessions in the large studio at Olympic in Barnes during a couple of weeks in November, 1991. It was also, for the most part, recorded with us all working in the studio together. After years of overdubbing in solitary confinement, it was great fun. We had Gary Wallis, Jon Carin, and Guy Pratt from the 1987/88 tour and, fortutiously Tim Renwick, working next door on a Bryan FGerry album, was available for the odd guest moment”.
The soundtrach had five songs that were previously recorded,and five new ones. However, these were never released.
“Country Theme” – 2:01
“Small Theme” – 7:23
“Big Theme” – 4:10
“Carrera Slow Blues” (Gilmour/Wright/Mason) – 2:20
“Mexico ’78” – 4:05
“Pan Am Shuffle” (Gilmour/Wright/Mason) – 8:09
Links – You can watch the film and listen to the soundtrack online
1st April 1992
Roger Waters performs at Walden Woods Benefit Concert
Roger Waters participated in the Walden Woods Benefit Concert, held on April 1 at the Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, California. This event was organized to support the Walden Woods Project, an initiative founded by Don Henley to preserve the historic Walden Woods in Massachusetts, famously associated with Henry David Thoreau.
The concert featured an impressive lineup, including Neil Young, John Fogerty, and Don Henley, alongside Roger Waters. Waters performed several iconic Pink Floyd tracks, such as “In the Flesh,” “Comfortably Numb,” and “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2.” The event highlighted Waters’ commitment to environmental and cultural causes, blending music with activism.
22 June 1992
David Gilmour performs with Tom Jones at Party in London
David Gilmour joined Tom Jones on stage at London’s Town & Country Club in 1992. One notable performance from this collaboration was their rendition of “Purple Rain,” a tribute to Prince. Gilmour’s iconic guitar skills paired with Jones’s powerful voice created a memorable musical moment
Links – Watch on YouTube and please discuss on the forum
7 September 1992
Roger Waters released Amused to Death
Amused to Death is Roger Waters’ third studio album, released on September 7, 1992. The album explores themes of media manipulation, war, and societal decay, inspired by Neil Postman’s book Amusing Ourselves to Death. It features a unique QSound mix, creating a 3D audio effect, and includes contributions from legendary guitarist Jeff Beck.
The album’s tracks, such as “What God Wants, Part I,” “The Bravery of Being Out of Range,” and “Perfect Sense,” critique the Gulf War and the influence of mass media. The opening track, “The Ballad of Bill Hubbard,” features a poignant narration by World War I veteran Alfred Razzell, adding emotional depth to the album.
Amused to Death received critical acclaim for its ambitious concept and production, solidifying Waters’ reputation as a masterful storyteller.
Links Discography Amused to Death (1992) in Roger Waters Studio Albums
2 November 1992
Pink Floyd’s “Shine On” Box Set Released
On November 2, 1992, Pink Floyd released the Shine On box set. This nine-CD collection included their classic albums (A Saucerful of Secrets, Meddle, The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, The Wall, and A Momentary Lapse of Reason), along with The Early Singles, a compilation of their non-album tracks. The set celebrated their legacy and introduced their music to a new generation of fans.
Links – Discography Shine on Boxset by Pink Floyd
18 September 1993
Pink Floyd perform at Cowdray Ruins Charity Concert
On September 18, 1993, Pink Floyd performed at a charity concert held at the Cowdray Ruins in Midhurst, UK. This event also featured artists like Eric Clapton, Genesis, and Queen. It was a rare live appearance for the band during this period, and their set included some of their classic tracks.
Links Video Watch the concert on YouTube Discuss Talk about the concert See the Concert Programme
Here are the top-selling albums from 1990 to 1993, along with a brief comment on each:
- “Dangerous” by Michael Jackson (1991) – A groundbreaking album showcasing Jackson’s versatility, featuring hits like “Black or White.”
- “Nevermind” by Nirvana (1991) – Revolutionized rock music and brought grunge to the mainstream with “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
- “The Immaculate Collection” by Madonna (1990) – A compilation of Madonna’s greatest hits, cementing her pop icon status.
- “Metallica” (The Black Album) by Metallica (1991) – A heavy metal masterpiece with tracks like “Enter Sandman.”
- “Stars” by Simply Red (1991) – A soulful and jazzy album that dominated UK charts.
- “Unplugged” by Eric Clapton (1992) – A raw and emotional acoustic performance, including the iconic “Tears in Heaven.”
- “Automatic for the People” by R.E.M. (1992) – A melancholic yet beautiful album with hits like “Everybody Hurts.”
- “Diva” by Annie Lennox (1992) – A stunning solo debut showcasing Lennox’s vocal prowess.
- “Ten” by Pearl Jam (1991) – A grunge classic with anthems like “Alive” and “Jeremy.”
- “Achtung Baby” by U2 (1991) – A bold reinvention of U2’s sound, featuring “One.”
- “Use Your Illusion I & II” by Guns N’ Roses (1991) – A double album packed with rock epics like “November Rain.”
- “The Bodyguard Soundtrack” by Whitney Houston (1992) – Featuring the timeless hit “I Will Always Love You.”
- “Out of Time” by R.E.M. (1991) – A genre-defying album with the hit “Losing My Religion.”
- “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” by Red Hot Chili Peppers (1991) – A funky and energetic album with “Under the Bridge.”
- “Dangerous” by Michael Jackson (1991) – A groundbreaking album showcasing Jackson’s versatility, featuring hits like “Black or White.”
- “The Chronic” by Dr. Dre (1992) – A defining album for West Coast hip-hop.
- “The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion” by The Black Crowes (1992) – A bluesy rock album with soulful vocals.
- “Core” by Stone Temple Pilots (1992) – A grunge debut with hits like “Plush.”
- “Automatic for the People” by R.E.M. (1992) – A melancholic yet beautiful album with hits like “Everybody Hurts.”
- “Unplugged” by Eric Clapton (1992) – A raw and emotional acoustic performance, including the iconic “Tears in Heaven.”
Sources: Nick Mason’s Inside Out, A personal History of Pink Floyd, Rockmine Archives
