Roger Waters on course for his first chart-topping solo album
Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters is poised to score his first chart-topping solo record this week.
Released last Friday (2nd June), the politically charged and decidedly Pink Floyd-esque ‘Is This The Life We Really Want?’ currently sits at number one on the album chart and could topple the 50th anniversary reissue of The Beatles’ ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.’
Roger’s previous highest chart entry as a solo artist came back in 1993 when ‘Amused To Death’ debuted at no.8. ‘The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking’ charted at no.13, ‘Radio K.A.O.S.’ peaked at no.25 and his opera ‘Ça Ira’ failed to chart altogether.
As a member of Pink Floyd, of course, Roger is no stranger to topping the charts having landed a total of three number one albums; 1970’s ‘Atom Heart Mother’, 1975’s ‘Wish You Were Here’ and 1983’s ‘The Final Cut’.
Pink Floyd scored a further three number ones when Roger was no longer a part of the band; 1994’s ‘The Division Bell’, 1995 live album ‘Pulse’ and 2014’s ‘The Endless River’.
Roger’s first rock album in 25 years, ‘Is This The Life We Really Want?’ was produced, mixed and features keyboards and guitar from Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich.
The album has been described as an “unflinching commentary on the modern world and uncertain times” and is kindred spirits with the thematically weighty Pink Floyd classics ‘Animals’ and ‘The Wall’.
You can read our review of ‘Is This The Life We Really Want?’ in the first edition of Planet Rock Magazine, which is out now! Find out more details here.