Editing Roger Waters (section)

=== 1984–1989: ''The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking'' and ''Radio K.A.O.S.'' ===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1990-0722-401, Berlin, Aufführung der Rockoper "The Wall".jpg|thumb|upright|alt=A concert stage in front of a wall with 2 levels. Five men stand on a balcony, including Roger Waters, who is saluting with his arm and is lit by a spotlight. On the lower level is a drum kit and a man playing guitar.|Waters (top) performing ''The Wall&nbsp;– Live in Berlin'' on 21 July 1990]]

In 1984, Waters released his first solo album, ''[[The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking]]'', which dealt with Waters's feelings about monogamy and family life versus "the call of the wild."{{sfn|Schaffner|1991|pp= 272–273}} The protagonist, Reg, finally chooses love and matrimony over promiscuity. The album features the guitarist [[Eric Clapton]], the jazz saxophonist [[David Sanborn]], and artwork by Gerald Scarfe.{{sfn|Schaffner|1991|pp= 272–273}} [[Kurt Loder]] described ''The Pros And Cons of Hitch Hiking'' as a "strangely static, faintly hideous record".{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 305–306}} ''Rolling Stone'' rated the album a "rock bottom one star".{{sfn|Schaffner|1991|pp= 272–273}} Years later, Mike DeGagne of [[AllMusic]] praised its "ingenious symbolism" and "brilliant use of stream of consciousness within a subconscious realm", rating it four out of five.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/r21602 |title= The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking |first= Mike |last= DeGagne |work= AllMusic |access-date= 17 October 2010 |archive-date= 16 October 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101016085637/http://www.allmusic.com/album/r21602 |url-status= live }}</ref>

Waters toured the album with Clapton, a new band, and new material; the shows included a selection of Pink Floyd songs. Waters débuted his tour in Stockholm on 16 June 1984. The tour drew poor ticket sales and some performances at larger venues were cancelled;{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 332–333}} Waters estimated that he lost £400,000 on the tour.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p= 309}} In March 1985, played a tour of smaller venues in North America in 1985.{{Cn|date=July 2024}} ''The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking'' was [[certified gold]] in the US.<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web |title=Gold & Platinum: Roger Waters |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Roger+Waters#search_section |access-date=30 June 2020 |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]}}</ref>

In 1986, Waters contributed songs and a score to the soundtrack of the animated film ''[[When the Wind Blows (1986 film)|When the Wind Blows]]'', based on [[When the Wind Blows (comics)|the book]] by [[Raymond Briggs]]. His band, featuring [[Paul Carrack]], was credited as the Bleeding Heart Band.{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=36}} In 1987, Waters released ''[[Radio K.A.O.S.]]'', a concept album based on a mute man named Billy from an impoverished Welsh mining town who has the ability to tune into radio waves in his head. Billy learns to communicate with a radio DJ, and eventually to control the world's computers. Angry at the state of the world in which he lives, he simulates a nuclear attack. Waters followed the release with a tour.{{sfn|Manning|2006|p= 131}}