Conceived by Roger Waters as an ambitious double album, a spectacular live show and a ground breaking feature film, The Wall has gone on to achieve iconic status in the history of popular music. Using the actual words of the band and the critics then and now, this is the independent critical review of a milestone in popular culture, which strips away the prejudices to produce the ultimate retrospective on one of the most important popular works of the twentieth century. The book is a detailed analysis of the creation of the work drawing extensively on the views of the members of Pink Floyd themselves and featuring a 1979 track-by-track review of the album by Roger Waters. An ambitious concept album that marked a turning point in Pink Floyd's trajectory as well as popular music in general, THE WALL traces the rise and fall of a rock star, Pink Floyd. Based on bassist Roger Waters's experiences, it describes the erection and demolition of a psychological barrier behind which the star is isolated from society. Initially conceived as an extravagant live show, a double album, and a feature-length film, the release contained more songs than Floyd had released to date, and the concert was so elaborate that the band could stage it only a few times. Here, original quotes from band members and critics then and now shed light on this landmark event in 20th-century rock music, dispelling misconceptions and adding insight into the ever-expanding body of criticism on this important work.