Formed in 1965, previous names include 'Sigma 6', 'The T-Set', 'The Megadeaths', 'The (Architectural or Screaming)Abdabs', 'The Pink Floyd Blues Band', 'The Pink Floyd'. Named by Syd Barrett who combined the first names of two blues man, Pink Anderson, and Floyd Council.

There are distinct eras of Pink Floyd's sound. (1) The Syd Barrett era (1966-'67): Barrett was responsible for most of the writing, which was very psychedelic, lyrics often being a recollection of LSD trips and weird imagery. (2) The "post-Syd" era (1968-'69): After Syd's departure, the band searched for a new direction, becoming more experimental with their equipment while trying to retain melody, eventually perfecting "their sound" with 1973's "Dark Side of the Moon". (3) The "Waters" era (1973-1985): From 1976 to 1979, Roger Waters gradually became the sole creator of Pink Floyd's music and lyrics, leaving in 1985 certain that the band couldn't continue without him. (4) The "Gilmour" era (1986-2008): David Gilmour proved that Pink Floyd could continue without Waters until the death of co-founder Richard Wright in 2008.

"The Wall" was the best-selling album of 1980.

Their "Dark Side of the Moon" album holds the record as staying longest on the Billboard charts--741 weeks. It sold an estimated 50 million copies.

Performed at the "Live 8" concert in Britain. (Breathe, Money, Wish You Were Here, Comfortably Numb) (July 2005)

One of the band's sound engineers, Peter Watts, was the father of actress Naomi Watts.

When Roger Waters and David Gilmour struggled to find the right 'voice' during the making of their album "Wish You Were Here" (1975), singer-songwriter friend Roy Harper was invited in to provide vocals on the "Have a Cigar" track.

As of 2013, Pink Floyd have released 14 studio albums, 3 live albums, and 5 compilation albums.

Members have included David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Richard Wright, Syd Barrett, all of whom were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as Pink Floyd) in 1996.

Honored by a set of 10 British commemorative postage stamps released 7 July 2016. One of the group's album covers is featured on each of six stamps (The Piper At The Gates of Dawn; Atom Heart Mother; The Dark Side Of The Moon; Wish You Were Here; Animals; The Endless River). The remaining four stamps, issued in a souvenir sheet, reproduce photographs of the band in concert.

David Gilmour is working on a DVD of Pulse (1994 Live concert recorded at Earls Court, London). (December 2003)

Roger Waters is working on a new album and possible 2004 tour. (December 2003)

In Terminator Salvation (2009), the Pink Floyd song "Us and Them" always brings back painful memories for Marcus Wright.

They are widely considered to have recorded some of the greatest concept albums of all time. Their 1973 album "The Dark Side of the Moon" topped Classic Rock Magazine's list of the 30 greatest concept albums of all time. Their 1979 album "The Wall" came tenth and their 1983 album "The Final Cut" came 21st on the list. [March 2003].

At the end of the band's "Money" (from "The Dark Side of the Moon" (1973)), the voice mumbling the words, "I was out of my mind, yes absolutely drunk . . . I certainly wasn't right . . . I don't know, I was really drunk at the time . . . " belongs to "Wings" guitarist Henry McCullough. Pink Floyd recorded Dark Side at Abbey Road Studios where Paul McCartney and Wings were recording "Red Rose Speedway" (1973), and the band members mingled frequently during the sessions.

The "EMI TG12345 MK IV" recording console used in the creation of the band's "The Dark Side of the Moon" (1973) sold at auction in 2017 for $1.8 million. The unit was expected to fetch around $700,000 at Bonhams international auction house (London). The identity of the buyer was not announced.

Subject of the song "Pink Floyd" by Wesley Willis.