Pink Floyd FAQs: Members Alive, Richest, Scariest Song & More

Some bands stay popular long after their last tour. Pink Floyd is one of them — but the questions keep coming.

Formed: 1965 · Studio albums: 15 · Best-selling album: The Dark Side of the Moon (45 million copies) · Living original members: 3 (David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Nick Mason) · Richest member (est.): Roger Waters ($310 million) · Scariest song (often cited): Careful with That Axe, Eugene

Here are the core facts that frame every conversation about Pink Floyd today — a quick-reference table with the numbers that matter most.

How many of Pink Floyd members are still alive?

Who are the surviving members?

• Roger Waters (bass, vocals) – left the band in 1985 but remains active
• Nick Mason (drums) – the only member present in every era since 1965
• David Gilmour (guitar, vocals) – joined in 1967, replaced Syd Barrett

All three are alive as of 2025 (Parade magazine).

Which original members have died?

• Syd Barrett – died 7 July 2006 from pancreatic cancer (Parade magazine)
• Richard Wright – died 15 September 2008 from lung cancer (Parade magazine)

Are all four original members still alive?

No. Of the original 1965 lineup, only Nick Mason and Roger Waters are still alive. Syd Barrett died in 2006, Richard Wright in 2008. David Gilmour, though not an original member, has been part of the classic lineup since 1967 and is also alive.

Bottom line: Three of the band’s most famous members — Waters, Gilmour, Mason — are still alive. The two original founders who have passed are Barrett and Wright.

What song does David Gilmour refuse to play?

Why does Gilmour dislike “Comfortably Numb”?

Fan forums and music blogs frequently report that David Gilmour has stopped performing “Comfortably Numb” in his solo concerts. On the Neptune Pink Floyd Forum and Reddit discussion forum, longtime fans note he has described the song as “too long and boring” to play live. The exact quote is unconfirmed, but the sentiment is widely repeated among followers.

Does he refuse to play any other songs?

Gilmour has also avoided “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2” in his sets, reportedly because of its political association with Roger Waters. He did, however, perform a version with guest vocalists during his 2015–2016 tour.

What is Gilmour’s live setlist like?

His recent tours draw heavily from his solo albums and Pink Floyd classics such as “Wish You Were Here,” “Time,” and “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” “Comfortably Numb” appears only rarely, often with a guest singer.

Bottom line: Gilmour’s refusal to play “Comfortably Numb” is a common fan belief, but no official statement confirms he will never play it again. Fans hoping to hear it live should check his setlist before buying tickets.

What was Pink Floyd’s biggest hit song?

What is their most commercially successful single?

Pink Floyd’s biggest hit single is “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2.” It reached No. 1 in both the US and UK in 1979 (Spotify playlist). It remains their only chart-topping single in either market.

How did “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2” become a hit?

The song’s catchy chorus, combined with its rebellious message and a disco-influenced beat, helped it cross over to pop audiences. Its album, The Wall, sold over 30 million copies worldwide and became a cultural touchstone.

What about their album sales?

While their singles chart performance is modest, their album sales are colossal. The Dark Side of the Moon sold an estimated 45 million copies worldwide, and the band’s total album sales exceed 250 million (Parade magazine). Other tracks like “Wish You Were Here” and “Comfortably Numb” are streaming-era staples.

Bottom line: If you ask a casual fan, “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2” is the hit. But the band’s true commercial legacy rests on albums, not singles.

Who is the richest member of Pink Floyd?

What is Roger Waters’ net worth?

According to a 2025 report by Parade magazine, Roger Waters has an estimated net worth of $310 million, making him the richest surviving member. A separate ranking by South China Morning Post (citing Celebrity Net Worth) places him at the top of the band’s wealth ladder, noting the band’s collective net worth is nearly $800 million.

How does David Gilmour’s net worth compare?

The same sources estimate Gilmour’s net worth at roughly $180 million. His wealth comes from solo album sales, songwriting royalties, and a large real estate portfolio.

What about Nick Mason and Richard Wright?

Nick Mason is also estimated at about $180 million (South China Morning Post). Richard Wright’s estate is valued at around $70 million. These figures are approximations — South China Morning Post notes they should be treated as ballpark estimates, not audited accounts.

Three members, two different estimates — the data shows notable divergence depending on the source. The table below puts the numbers side by side.

The pattern: Waters leads significantly, but Gilmour and Mason are neck-and-neck. The catch is that all figures are estimates — private wealth is difficult to verify.

Bottom line: Roger Waters holds the highest estimated net worth among Pink Floyd members, though Gilmour and Mason run close. Official financial disclosures are not available, so these numbers remain approximate.

What is Pink Floyd’s scariest song?

Which songs are often described as terrifying?

• “Careful with That Axe, Eugene” – Rolling Stone magazine included it in a list of “truly terrifying” songs, noting its sudden screams and tension.
• “One of These Days” – contains the spoken line “One of these days, I’m going to cut you into little pieces.” Fans on the Neptune Pink Floyd Forum call it a strong contender.
• “On the Run” – described by Ultimate Classic Rock music blog as one of the band’s weirdest and most eerie tracks.

What makes “Careful with That Axe, Eugene” scary?

The song builds from a quiet, sparse bassline into a frantic crescendo capped by a blood-curdling scream. Its use of dynamics and silence creates a sense of dread that many listeners find genuinely unsettling.

Are there other eerie tracks?

“The Great Gig in the Sky” deals with death through wordless vocals and a calm-but-morbid piano arrangement. While not scary in a jump-scare sense, its existential weight earns it a spot on many “creepy” lists.

There is no official “scariest song” — the label depends on what unnerves you most. Fans who fear sudden noise pick “Careful with That Axe, Eugene”; those who dread atmosphere choose “On the Run.”