Pink Floyd Releases ‘Another Brick in the Wall: Part 2′ On This Day in 1980

Decades ago, Roger Waters paid one pound to see Cream live and one of the most innovative rock bands of the 20th century was born. Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Richard Wright, and Syd Barrett formed Pink Floyd in 1965. The lineup has changed throughout the years, but the legacy remains.

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Selling more than 250 million records worldwide, Pink Floyd consistently crops up on various “Greatest Rock Band of All-Time” compilations. Surprisingly, however, the British psychedelic rock icons has only reached the top of the charts once. On this day in 1980, Pink Floyd released their lone No. 1 hit, “Another Brick in the Wall: Part 2.”

Pink Floyd Releases First Single in Over a Decade

In addition to making timeless music, Pink Floyd was also committed to pointing out societal injustices. And perhaps they never did this so eloquently—or so groovily—as with “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2.”

The second in a three-part composition on 1979’s The Wall, “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)” is many things: A satire of the UK educational system. A protest against corporal punishment in schools. Pink Floyd’s first single since 1968’s “Point Me at the Sky.”

Roger Waters penned the future masterpiece, and the band sprinkled in a little disco at the suggestion of producer Bob Ezrin. Convinced of its success, Ezrin urged the group members to release the song as a single.

[RELATED: 4 Times Roger Waters Proved He Was a Lyrical Genius]

The Children’s Choir

Part of what makes Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2” so impactful is the vocals from a real-life children’s choir. Something about hearing, Hey, teacher, leave us kids alone, from actual children just leaves a mark.

Engineer Nick Griffiths had the idea to feature the entire Islington Green School children’s choir. Alun Renshaw, the school’s head of music, kept the lyrics a secret from headteacher Margaret Maden out of fear she would disapprove and halt the recording.

“I was only told about it after the event, which didn’t please me,” Maden told the London Evening Standard in 2012. “But on balance, it was part of a very rich musical education.”

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