Vera

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin "Vera" from Roger Waters' The Lockdown Sessions! This track, originally from Pink Floyd’s 1979 masterpiece The Wall, got a soulful reimagining during the COVID-19 lockdown. Recorded at home between 2020 and 2021, Waters stripped it down to its emotional core, leaning into his lower vocal register for a vibe that’s been compared to Leonard Cohen’s introspective gravitas. The song flows seamlessly into “Bring the Boys Back Home,” with minimalist instrumentation and angelic harmonies from the backing vocalists Lucius, creating a haunting, continuous piece. Waters shared this rendition on social media during lockdown, noting the challenge of remote overdubs but praising his band’s brilliance in pulling it off. Fans on Reddit have called this version intimate and gripping, with some saying it captures the frailty and power of Waters’ voice as he revisits his past.

The lockdown context shaped "Vera" into more than just a cover. Waters posted on X in August 2020, sharing the track as part of his Us and Them tour encores, highlighting how the isolation of the pandemic pushed him to revisit these songs. The arrangement, featuring guitarist Dave Kilminster’s rapid flourishes and percussionist Joey Waronker’s marching beat, adds a fresh layer to the anti-war themes Waters has long championed. In a 2020 Rolling Stone interview, Waters reflected on the joy of band collaboration, even virtually, saying, “Watching ‘Mother’ reminds me just how irreplaceable the joy of being in a band is.” This version of "Vera" carries that raw, communal energy, making it a standout for fans and collectors alike, though some Prog Archives reviewers noted it’s mainly for diehard Waters enthusiasts.

Roger Waters, born September 6, 1943, in Great Bookham, Surrey, England, kicked off his legendary career as a founding member of Pink Floyd. Growing up in Cambridge after his father’s death in World War II, Waters had a strained relationship with his mother and struggled academically. Music wasn’t his early focus; he briefly studied mechanical engineering before dropping out for a hitchhiking adventure. Back in London, he enrolled at Regent Street Polytechnic, where he met drummer Nick Mason and keyboardist Richard Wright. In 1965, they joined forces with Syd Barrett to form Pink Floyd, named after blues musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Barrett initially led the band’s psychedelic sound, but after his departure in 1968, Waters took the creative helm, steering Pink Floyd to global fame with albums like The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) and The Wall (1979). His perfectionism and control led to tensions, and he left the band in 1985 to pursue a solo career, later releasing acclaimed works like Amused to Death (1992).

Stay connected with Roger Waters through his Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where he shares updates on tours, releases, and his activism. Fans can dive deeper at sites like Pink Floyd’s official website or join discussions on the Pink Floyd Fanatics Facebook group. For more Waters-specific chatter, check out r/pinkfloyd on Reddit or explore Prog Archives for fan reviews and insights. Keep those vibes free and freaky, Zoo Crew listeners!