Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here at 50: The Meaning of Absence | Ian Rizzo
Thu, 11 Sept
|Valletta Voluntary Centre
A philosophical reflection on the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s album Wish You Were Here that explores the timeless themes of absence, estrangement, and the human condition.
Time & Location
11 Sept 2025, 18:00 – 20:00
Valletta Voluntary Centre, Melita St, Valletta, Malta
Guests
About the event
Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here at 50: The Meaning of Absence
Following the phenomenal success of The Dark Side of the Moon in March 1973, Pink Floyd released Wish You Were Here on 12 September 1975. This album is often seen to be the first indicator of the growing disengagement of the band members as they struggled to follow the existential themes of The Dark Side of the Moon and meet the expectations of fans and the record industry. It also marks the era of Roger Waters’ increasing dominance and influence over the band, as he began steering its direction through his concepts and lyrics—an approach that turned out to be divisive with the other members.
Nevertheless, David Gilmour has often cited Wish You Were Here as one of his favourite albums. Two of its tracks—Shine On You Crazy Diamond, a tribute to co-founder Syd Barrett’s mental decline, and the title track Wish You Were…