Deep End (band)
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| Deep End (band) | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Deep End |
| Origin | London, England |
| Years active | 1985–1986 |
| Associated acts | Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, Eric Clapton, The Who |
| Past members | See Members section |
Deep End (band) was a short-lived British rock ensemble formed in 1985 to support rock musician Roger Waters after his departure from Pink Floyd. The collective brought together established musicians from diverse backgrounds including blues, rock, jazz, and reggae to perform Waters' solo material and reinterpretations of Pink Floyd songs during a high-profile concert tour and benefit performances. Despite a brief existence, the group featured prominent artists whose careers spanned bands and projects such as Pink Floyd, The Clash, The Pretenders, Dire Straits, and The Rolling Stones.
History
Deep End originated when Roger Waters assembled a backing band for a series of shows culminating in a 1986 benefit concert. Waters recruited collaborators from sessions and tours associated with artists like Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Pete Townshend, Annie Lennox, and Mark Knopfler to form a large ensemble combining rhythm sections, horn arrangements, and backing vocalists. The group's debut performances were linked to events involving charities and cultural institutions such as Live Aid-era fundraising initiatives and arts venues in London, including concerts at Wembley Stadium and Hammersmith Odeon. Deep End's formation intersected with contemporaneous releases and tours by acts like Genesis, Paul McCartney, Sting, Elton John, and Bruce Springsteen. The collective's activity peaked with the 1986 recording and live broadcasts that connected to television specials and benefit appearances involving figures from BBC Television, Channel 4, and concert promoters associated with Michael Eavis and Harvey Goldsmith.
Members
Deep End's roster combined veteran performers and session musicians drawn from prominent groups. Principal members included Roger Waters (vocals, bass), along with guitarists linked to Eric Clapton and The Who, keyboardists associated with Pink Floyd collaborators like Richard Wright alumni, and horn players who had worked with Stevie Wonder and Sly and the Family Stone. Backing vocalists had ties to The Pretenders and Eurythmics, while the rhythm section featured drummers and bassists from bands such as Dire Straits and Squeeze. Additional contributors who guested or toured with Deep End included musicians connected to Talking Heads, The Police, Roxy Music, The Kinks, The Smiths, U2, Duran Duran, Queen, David Bowie, Neil Young, Lou Reed, and Tom Petty. The ensemble also involved arrangers and producers with credits alongside Brian Eno, Phil Collins, George Martin, and Glyn Johns.
Musical style and influences
Deep End's musical approach blended progressive rock textures associated with Pink Floyd and art rock tendencies linked to David Bowie with blues-rock idioms from Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones. The ensemble incorporated horn charts reminiscent of arrangements heard on recordings by Sly and the Family Stone and Tower of Power, while rhythmic sensibilities echoed work by Stevie Wonder, Motown-era sessions, and reggae-inflected beats connected to artists like Bob Marley. Vocal harmonies and backing arrangements reflected influences from The Beach Boys and soul traditions tied to Aretha Franklin, whereas extended instrumental passages recalled live improvisations characteristic of Led Zeppelin and The Who. Production values referenced contemporary studio work by Brian Eno, Trevor Horn, and Gus Dudgeon.
Discography
Deep End's recordings were limited and primarily live. Notable releases included live tracks from benefit concerts and broadcasts compiled into singles, EPs, and concert videos issued in conjunction with labels and distributors tied to Columbia Records, EMI, Harvest Records, and independent outlets used by solo artists departing major bands. The ensemble's most widely circulated material documented performances of songs associated with Roger Waters' solo catalog and reinterpretations of Pink Floyd staples, alongside covers of material linked to Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and Sam Cooke. Session credits linked to compilations and charity albums included collaborations with producers who had worked for Warner Bros. Records, Island Records, and Atlantic Records.
Notable performances and tours
Deep End's profile was raised by high-profile concerts and televised events. The group performed at benefit shows in London and appeared in televised specials broadcast by BBC and other networks, joining lineups that featured artists like Prince, Madonna, U2, Phil Collins, Sting, and Bruce Springsteen. They played at venues and festivals associated with promoters such as Michael Eavis of the Glastonbury Festival and were connected to charity initiatives involving organizations like Amnesty International, Live Aid-era campaigns, and cultural institutions including Royal Albert Hall and Wembley Stadium. Guest appearances and collaborations brought together figures from The Rolling Stones, The Clash, The Pretenders, and solo stars like Paul Simon.
Legacy and impact
Although brief, Deep End influenced subsequent backing-band configurations for major solo artists separating from legacy groups, informing ensembles assembled by musicians such as Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Sting, and David Gilmour. The project highlighted cross-genre collaboration practices seen later in supergroups like Traveling Wilburys, The Highwaymen, and collective projects involving Brian Eno. Deep End's live recordings and televised performances contributed to the archival documentation of Roger Waters' post-Pink Floyd career, intersecting with reissues and box sets curated by labels like EMI Records and Columbia Records. The ensemble's model for charity-oriented rock performances echoed through benefit concerts and advocacy events held by figures such as Bob Geldof and organizations like Amnesty International.
Category:British rock music groups