Richard Barbieri has been Porcupine Tree's keyboard/synthesizer player since 1993 (what started as a studio/home project by Steven Wilson developed into a successful touring band with major label releases and a worldwide profile). Richard's musical career started at the age of 17 when he joined the band Japan. During the early eighties the band achieved commercial and critical success culminating in the groundbreaking album Tin Drum which stayed in the album charts for a year. The album sessions involved Richard in his most intense period of analogue synthesizer programming. More recently, Richard began to leave the "comfort zone" of his analogue synthesizers in favour of exploring the potential offered by digital synthesizers.

His debut solo album Things Buried was released in 2005. He has also been involved in a number of projects with former Japan bandmates David Sylvian, Mick Karn, and Steve Jansen in various combinations, including Rain Tree Crow (which was a full Japan reunion).