The Wall is the ninth studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd. Presented as a double album, it was released on November 30, 1979. It was subsequently performed live, with elaborate theatrical effects, and adapted into the film 'Pink Floyd The Wall'.
The Wall is a rock opera that centres on the character Pink, who is largely based on the band's bassist and lyricist Roger Waters. Pink encounters obstacles throughout his life, beginning with the loss of his father during World War II, continuing with abuse from his schoolteachers, an overprotective mother, and the desertion of his wife – all of which factor into Pink's isolation from society, represented by the metaphorical "Wall" of the album title.
As with most of their previous albums, The Wall is a concept album that deals largely with the theme of personal isolation. The concept was inspired by an event that occurred during the band's 1977 In the Flesh Tour, where Waters' frustration with the behaviour of the audience reached a point where he spat in the face of a fan near the stage. Waters would come to regret his actions and spoke of his desire to build a wall between himself and the audience. The Wall features a notably harsher and more theatrical style than their previous releases. Keyboardist Richard Wright left the band during production of the album, but returned to perform during later concert performances as a salaried musician.
Hugely successful upon its release, The Wall was the best selling album of 1980 in the United States. It is one of the best-selling double albums of all time, and is in the top five best-selling albums of all time in the US.
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