Pink Floyd session guitarist Tim Renwick recently revealed an interesting dynamic between Roger Waters and Eric Clapton. He shared insights about Waters’ feelings toward the legendary guitarist’s performances in a detailed interview with Guitar Player.
Renwick explained how Clapton’s guitar solos consistently drew enthusiastic crowd reactions. This created an unexpected source of tension for Waters.
“It has to be said that Roger was a bit resentful of the fact that whenever Eric Clapton got up and played a solo, the place would erupt,” Renwick said. “People would get their lighters out, and there would be a tremendous outpouring of applause.”
The session guitarist went on to describe how this audience response affected Waters’ perception of the performances.
“And that annoyed Roger quite a lot because, rightly or wrongly, he felt that the audience weren’t actually listening to the songs,” he continued. “They were just watching out for what Eric was doing. So there was a certain amount of resentment there.”
This tension emerged during a significant period in Waters’ career. He was preparing his first major solo venture following his departure from Pink Floyd.
The collaboration between Waters and Clapton took place during Waters’ 1984 tour for his solo album “The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking.” Far Out Magazine reported that Waters enlisted Clapton for both the album recording and the subsequent tour as he was preparing to quit Pink Floyd. Clapton had contributed standout guitar work to the album. This included what many consider a mini-masterpiece solo on the title track “5:01 AM (The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking).”
The tour itself proved challenging for Waters beyond just the interpersonal dynamics with Clapton. Ultimate Classic Rock noted that the “Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking” tour kicked off in Stockholm on June 16, 1984. However, it struggled with poor ticket sales throughout its run. The financial difficulties added another layer of stress to an already complex touring situation.
Despite the commercial challenges, the musical collaboration between Waters and Clapton was significant. Concert Archives documented that Clapton served as the lead guitarist for Waters’ 1984 tour after having played on the album itself. The shows featured a mix of material from Waters’ solo work alongside a selection of Pink Floyd songs. This created a unique concert experience that bridged Waters’ past and present musical endeavors.
The collaboration represented a pivotal moment for both artists. Waters was stepping out as a solo performer while Clapton lent his legendary guitar skills to help bring the conceptual album to life on stage. However, as Renwick’s revelations show, the very guitar mastery that made Clapton such a valuable collaborator also became a source of unexpected friction during the performances.
