Mabbett - Pink Floyd: the music and the mystery

Roger Waters born in Great Bookham, Surrey.

Nick Mason born in Birmingham.

Rick Wright born in London.

Roger (Syd) Barrett born in Cambridge.

David Gilmour born in Cambridge.

Various groups containing future members of Pink Floyd appear in London under the names Sigma 6, The Abdabs, The Screaming Abdabs and Spectrum 5.

Billed as The Tea Set, a group comprising Barrett, Waters, Mason, Wright and Bob Klose make their debut appearance at Uxbridge.

Klose leaves in the summer and for the remainder of the year the group alternate between calling themselves The Tea Set and The Pink Floyd Sound.

Pink Floyd are effectively introduced to the London Underground at the International Times First All Night Rave at the Roundhouse.

Peter Jenner and Andrew King of Blackhill Enterprises become Floyds managers. Together with booking agent Bryan Morrison they attempt to find a record label for them.

Pink Floyd record their first single, Arnold Layne, at EMIs Abbey Road Studios, which will be released in March.

Pink Floyd begin work on their debut album, The Piper At the Gates Of Dawn. Recording sessions continue during the next three months.

Floyd play the 14-Hour Technicolour Dream at Londons Alexandra Palace, alongside 30 other groups.

Games For May is the chosen title of Pink Floyds triumphant concert at Londons Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Pink Floyds second single, See Emily Play, reaches number six on the charts.

Floyds debut album, The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, released.

Pink Floyd open their first US tour in San Francisco.

Pink Floyd join a UK package tour with Jimi Hendrix, The Move and others.

David Gilmour joins the group on guitar, briefly making it a five-piece.

Syd Barrett makes his last appearance with the Floyd at a show in Hastings. Thereafter the group settle into life as a quartet with Waters, Wright, Mason and newcomer Gilmour.

Syds departure is officially announced by Blackhill who opt to manage him and turn the management of Pink Floyd over to Steve ORourke who previously worked as an accountant at their booking agency. ORourke will manage the group until his death in 2003.

A Saucerful Of Secrets album released.

Pink Floyd headline the first ever free concert in Londons Hyde Park. Also on the bill are Tyrannosaurus Rex, Roy Harper and Jethro Tull.

Second US tour.

Pink Floyd follow up dates around the country with a headlining appearance at the Royal Festival Hall, London.

National UK tour opens in Leeds.

Soundtrack to More released.

National Jazz & Blues Festival, Plumpton Racecourse, Sussex.

Ummagumma released.

Syd Barretts first solo album, The Madcap Laughs, is released.

Antonionis film Zabriskie Point, with soundtrack by Pink Floyd, is premiered in New York. The album is released in May.

US tour.

Pink Floyd perform in front of an audience of 150,000 at the Bath Festival, a three-day event headlined by Led Zeppelin.

Another free concert in Hyde Park.

Atom Heart Mother released.

Barrett, Syds second solo album, is released.

Pink Floyd play the Garden Party at Londons Crystal Palace Bowl, a set which climaxes with an inflatable monster emerging from the lake in front of the stage.

The Floyd open their first Japanese tour in Hakone, followed by their first dates in Australia.