This is the first of two articles discussing The Dark Side of the Moon Redux by Roger Waters. This article is a breakdown of the album’s background, while the second will be a review of the album itself.

The Dark Side of the Moon is an album whose monumentality can not be overstated. It’s one of the best selling, most important, and most acclaimed albums of all time. The record’s message still rings true to this day: “‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ was an expression of political, philosophical, humanitarian empathy that was desperate to get out,” says bassist/lyricist Roger Waters. He believes, however, that its message is lost on many listeners. What’s more, he doesn’t think that the original record does justice to what he was trying to express: “The original Dark Side of the Moon feels in some ways like the lament of an elder being on the human condition. But Dave, Rick, Nick, and I were so young when we made it, and when you look at the world around us, clearly the message hasn’t stuck.” Therefore, he deemed it necessary to craft a remake of this timeless album: “I started to consider what the wisdom of an 80-year-old could bring to a reimagined version.” The Telegraph released an article in February of 2023, which states that the bassist had been secretly working on this project for several months. There’s a catch, though: none of the other members of Pink Floyd were involved; this was to be released as a solo album. What’s more, the other band members didn’t even know he was working on it until he announced it to the public. Waters made this project from the ground up, so gone are the contributions of David Gilmour, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason. Instead, he brought in people like multi-instrumentalist/co-producer Gus Seyffert, as well as Gus Seyffert’s girlfriend, Bedouine, who provided some vocals. Waters even brought in a Baptist minister to play Hammond organ. 

This might make you wonder where the other band members are. After Pink Floyd released The Final Cut, Waters believed that the band had run its course. He also wanted to focus on his solo work. Pink Floyd continued without him, much to Roger’s dismay. He sued the band for using the Pink Floyd name, although he now regrets this. Ever since his departure, he and guitarist David Gilmour have resented each other, getting involved in various conflicts throughout the years. I can’t even begin to go over all of the controversies that have transpired. Most of the contention is a result of how outspoken Waters is about his political opinions, many of which are extremely controversial. One such example is his stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He’s of the opinion that while the invasion was illegal, it was also “not unprovoked.” On CNN, not only did he state that President Biden was “fueling the war in the Ukraine,” but also called him a “war criminal.” Waters has also gone on record as stating that he’s on a “kill list that is supported by the Ukrainian government.” His support for Palestine in the Israel-Palestine conflict has also gained him numerous detractors, who believe him to be anti semitic. He insists, however, that he has no problem with Jewish people. Rather, his criticisms are directed solely at the Israeli government. He has purportedly made some very offensive jokes at the expense of several Jewish people as well, according to the documentary, the Dark Side of Roger Waters. In response to the film’s accusations, the bassist had this to say: “I’m frequently mouthy and prone to irreverence. I can’t recall what I said 13 or more years ago. I’ve worked closely for many years with many Jewish people, musicians and others.  If I have upset the two individuals who appear in the film I’m sorry for that. But I can say with certainty that I am not, and have never been, an antisemite” David Gilmour’s wife, Polly Samson, wrote a scathing tweet about Waters, calling him, among other things, “antisemitic to [his] rotten core.” Gilmour replied: “Every word demonstrably true.” Despite all of the backlash the musician has faced, Nick Mason has still shown his support for him. Waters was banned from one of his concerts, so Nick Mason signed a petition which sought to fight against this ban. Mason has also shown his support by praising Redux. He had heard snippets of the album before its release, calling it “absolutely brilliant.” Strangely enough, though, Gilmour didn’t publicly voice his opinions on the album at any point prior to its release. So does this album live up to the original? Does this remake stand toe-to-toe with its predecessor, one of the most important albums in rock history? Waters urges listeners to listen to it all the way through—to fully absorb the music and lyrics—before formulating an opinion on it, so in my next article, I’ll do just that.