Peter Watts (road manager)
Encyclopedia
Peter Anthony Watts was an English road manager
and sound engineer who worked with Pink Floyd
.
, Bedfordshire
, the son of Jane P. G. (nee Rolt) and Anthony Watts. Watts had one older brother, Michael, and one younger sister, Patricia Watts. Watts' mother, Jane, later remarried Anthony Daniells in 1989.
He was married to Myfanway Edwards (née Roberts), a Welsh antiques dealer and costume and set designer, with whom he had two children, Ben
(born 1967; a photographer), and Naomi
(1968; a celebrated actress).
The couple separated when Naomi was four years old. After the divorce, the children were raised by their grandparents and three aunts as well as their mother. Edwards relocated the family several times around Wales and England, in most cases to be near a new boyfriend. Peter Watts left Pink Floyd in 1974, he and Edwards were for a while reconciled.
He later married Patricia 'Puddie' Watts (now Patricia Gleason).
In August 1976 he was found dead in his flat in Notting Hill
, London, of an apparent heroin overdose.
Watts, alongside fellow roadie Alan Stiles, appears on the rear cover of Pink Floyd's 1969 album Ummagumma
, shown with the band's van and equipment laid out on a runway at Biggin Hill Airport
, with the intention of replicating the "exploded" drawings of military aircraft and their payloads, which were popular at the time. He is heard on their 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon
, to which contributed the repeated laughter during "Brain Damage
", also heard in the album's overture, "Speak to Me
". 'Puddie' Watts was responsible for the line about the "geezer" who was "cruisin' for a bruisin used in the segue between "Money
" and "Us and Them", and the words "I never said I was frightened of dying" heard near the end of "The Great Gig in the Sky".
Road manager
In music industry, a Road Manager is a person who works with small to mid-sized tours...
and sound engineer who worked with Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
.
Biography
Watts was born Peter Anthony Watts on 16th January 1946 in BedfordBedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, the son of Jane P. G. (nee Rolt) and Anthony Watts. Watts had one older brother, Michael, and one younger sister, Patricia Watts. Watts' mother, Jane, later remarried Anthony Daniells in 1989.
He was married to Myfanway Edwards (née Roberts), a Welsh antiques dealer and costume and set designer, with whom he had two children, Ben
Ben Watts
Benjamin Oliver Anthony "Ben" Watts is an English photographer based in New York, whose work has been seen in various international fashion magazines, such as Elle, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Vanity Fair and Condé Nast Traveller. He is the brother of actress Naomi Watts...
(born 1967; a photographer), and Naomi
Naomi Watts
Naomi Ellen Watts is a British actress. Watts began her career in Australian television, where she appeared in series such as Hey Dad..! , Brides of Christ , and Home and Away . Her film debut was the 1986 drama For Love Alone...
(1968; a celebrated actress).
The couple separated when Naomi was four years old. After the divorce, the children were raised by their grandparents and three aunts as well as their mother. Edwards relocated the family several times around Wales and England, in most cases to be near a new boyfriend. Peter Watts left Pink Floyd in 1974, he and Edwards were for a while reconciled.
He later married Patricia 'Puddie' Watts (now Patricia Gleason).
In August 1976 he was found dead in his flat in Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, London, of an apparent heroin overdose.
Watts, alongside fellow roadie Alan Stiles, appears on the rear cover of Pink Floyd's 1969 album Ummagumma
Ummagumma
Ummagumma is a double album by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released in 1969 by Harvest and EMI in the United Kingdom and Harvest and Capitol in the United States...
, shown with the band's van and equipment laid out on a runway at Biggin Hill Airport
London Biggin Hill Airport
London Biggin Hill Airport is an airport at Biggin Hill in the London Borough of Bromley, located south southeast of Central London, United Kingdom...
, with the intention of replicating the "exploded" drawings of military aircraft and their payloads, which were popular at the time. He is heard on their 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon
The Dark Side of the Moon
The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released in March 1973. It built on ideas explored in the band's earlier recordings and live shows, but lacks the extended instrumental excursions that characterised their work following the departure...
, to which contributed the repeated laughter during "Brain Damage
Brain Damage (song)
"Brain Damage" is the ninth track from British progressive rock band Pink Floyd's 1973 album, The Dark Side of the Moon. It was sung by Roger Waters. David Gilmour took over as lead vocalist when the band performed it live on the band's 1994 tour...
", also heard in the album's overture, "Speak to Me
Speak to Me
"Speak to Me" is the first track from British progressive rock band Pink Floyd's 1973 album, The Dark Side of the Moon, on which it forms an overture...
". 'Puddie' Watts was responsible for the line about the "geezer" who was "cruisin' for a bruisin used in the segue between "Money
Money (Pink Floyd song)
"Money" is the sixth track from English progressive rock band Pink Floyd's 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon. Written by bassist Roger Waters, it opened side two of the original vinyl LP, and is the only song on the album to enter the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100...
" and "Us and Them", and the words "I never said I was frightened of dying" heard near the end of "The Great Gig in the Sky".