Dave Gilmour

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Dave Gilmour

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David Jon Gilmour, the lead guitarist of Pink Floyd, was born on March 6, 1946. He has become one of rock's most distinctive guitarists with his use of echoes, delays, and distorted sustain. Having already established a reputation as a guitarist and vocalist in the group The Jokers Wild, Gilmour joined Pink Floyd in 1968, to back up the ailing player, Syd Barrett. Barrett soon left the group and Gilmour took over as lead guitarist. He also did some of the band's singing, and songwriting. Gilmour had a 30-year career with the rock group, which recorded classic albums including Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. In honor of that musical career, Gilmour was made a commander of the Order of the British Empire, or CBE, in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Gilmour has also recently turned to charity work, donating generously to the homeless.

Last updated: December 15, 2008.

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Guitar player, singer, songwriter

One of the most-recognized guitarists of the rock era for his distinctive blues-rock phrasings with the progressive British band Pink Floyd, David Gilmour consistently appears on magazine readers' polls of influential rock musicians. His turbulent relationship with Pink Floyd's bassist and chief lyricist, Roger Waters, however, led him to establish a solo career during the period of the band's peak success in the late 1970s. When the band went on hiatus in 1984 after the release of The Final Cut, Gilmour released his second solo album with help from the Who's principal songwriter, Pete Townshend. A subsequent solo tour failed to generate widespread excitement, due to the general public's failure to recognize Gilmour as one of the architects of Pink Floyd's distinctive sound, which resulted in his re-forming the band without Waters. The subsequent studio and live albums and tours proved that a Gilmour-led Floyd could be a financial if not a critical success in the same vein as the Waters-era group. Gilmour spent the next several years playing as a guest guitarist on albums by other artists, and recording tracks for his third solo album. Prior to the album's release, however, Gilmour and Waters put aside their longstanding differences long enough to reunite Pink Floyd with original members Nick Mason and Richard Wright for a one-off charity performance at Live 8 in 2005. Gilmour released On an Island on his sixtieth birthday in 2006.

Gilmour was one of four children born to Doug Gilmour, a professor of genetics, and his wife, Sylvia, a schoolteacher and film editor. The first recording the youngster purchased was Bill Haley and the Comets' "Rock Around the Clock" in 1954. He got his first guitar when he was 13, and taught himself to play using Pete Seeger instructional books and records. In 1962 he entered Cambridge Technical College, where he studied modern languages. While enrolled at Cambridge, he met Roger "Syd" Barrett. The pair became close friends, and Gilmour taught Barrett several guitar progressions from Rolling Stones records. The two attended performances by the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, listened to Beatles records, and performed together. While Barrett leaned more toward blues in his bands Those Without and The Hollerin' Blues, Gilmour focused more on pop music in his groups The Newcomers and The Ramblers. In 1965 the pair traveled as itinerant musicians through the south of France.

The two friends parted ways when Barrett was accepted at Camberwell College of Arts in London. Gilmour, in the meantime, stayed at Cambridge, where he formed the band Jokers Wild with drummer Clive Welham. Jokers Wild played U.S. military bases and established a residency at the Victoria Ballroom, where they opened for such internationally successful acts as the Animals. The steady income served him well, as his parents moved to New York City and left their son to fend for himself.

In October of 1965, Jokers Wild played a bill with Barrett's new band, Pink Floyd, and Paul Simon. Pink Floyd, under Barrett's leadership, went on to become the darlings of London's psychedelic drug-fueled underground. They released their critically acclaimed debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, in 1967. Gilmour spent 1967 in France with bassist Rick Wills and drummer John "Willie" Wilson. Billing themselves as Flowers and, later, Bullitt, the group endured such hardships as the theft of all their equipment before a concert in Paris. The trio returned to England penniless, the rhythm section returning to Cambridge while Gilmour went to London, where he attended a Pink Floyd concert. By this time Barrett had become a victim of mental illness, most likely exacerbated by ingesting copious amounts of the drug LSD. Barrett's bandmates asked Gilmour to join as a fifth member, and shortly thereafter they fired Barrett.

The next ten years was a rollercoaster of artistic struggles and successes, including the 1973 release of the group's masterpiece, Dark Side of the Moon,1975's Wish You Were Here, and 1977's Animals. Personality clashes within the band resulted from Waters's reputed autocratic drive to create the concepts and lyrics for the group's albums subsequent to Wish You Were Here. By the time Pink Floyd recorded Animals, Waters had assumed nearly total creative control of the band. Gilmour's trademark guitar and plaintive vocals were still very much part of the album's song cycle, but his participation in the project's creation was minimal. He later disparaged the album, and refused to play any Animals material in either solo or latter day Pink Floyd concerts. During the 1970s he focused on producing such bands as Unicorn, Sutherland Brothers and Quiver, worked with vocalist Roy Harper, and helped launch the musical career of Kate Bush, introducing her to EMI Records.

Following the release of Animals and its subsequent tour, Gilmour recorded his first solo album, David Gilmour. He enlisted help from his old bandmates from Bullitt, Rick Wills and Willie Wilson, for the effort, which consisted mainly of atmospheric guitar-based instrumentals composed by Gilmour. Gilmour returned to the Pink Floyd fold to record The Wall (1979) and The Final Cut (1983). By the time these albums were recorded, Waters had been instrumental in firing keyboardist Richard Wright from the band, and had become increasingly estranged from Gilmour and Nick Mason.

Following the release of The Final Cut, Gilmour recorded his second solo effort. In About Face (1984), Pete Townshend contributed lyrics to two of the album's songs, but the remainder were written by Gilmour. The funky "Blue Light" was released as a single and video, with modest success. Gilmour became the first Floyd member to mount a solo tour, with help from Mott the Hoople and Bad Company lead guitarist Mick Ralphs. The shows from that tour featured songs from both David Gilmour and About Face, as well as a healthy sampling of Floyd classics, including "Money" and "Comfortably Numb." Ticket sales were far below the level of Pink Floyd concerts, however, and Gilmour spent the next two years working as a hired gun for such artists as Townshend and Roxy Music's Bryan Ferry.

Gilmour's relationship with Waters grew into a fullblown feud in the mid-1980s, when Gilmour announced his plans to record his next album as a Pink Floyd project without Waters's help. From 1987 to 1994, Gilmour led the remaining members of Pink Floyd and a cadre of hired musicians and backup singers through two studio albums, two massively successful concert tours, and two live albums. He also recorded and performed with former Beatle Paul McCartney. Then, perhaps with nothing left to prove to his arch-rival Waters, he reunited with Waters, Mason, and Wright for a one-off performance at Live 8 in 2005. The performers seemed cordial with one another, and the old Pink Floyd magic from the mid-1970s was recaptured for a brief moment before the four members once again went their separate ways.

Gilmour turned 60 years old on March 6, 2006, the same day he released his third solo album, On an Island. The album marked a more organically relaxed approach to creating music for Gilmour, who had seemingly come to terms with his strained relationship with Waters, found domestic happiness with his second wife, journalist and lyricist Polly Samson, and gained purpose in political and social activism. Guest musicians on the album included Robert Wyatt, Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera, Gerogie Fame, Richard Wright, and vocalists David Crosby and Graham Nash. In between sporadic live appearances to support the critically lauded release, Gilmour donated the proceeds from the sale of his house to a homeless charity, and participated in protests intended to raise political awareness of global climate change.

Selected discography

With Pink Floyd
Saucerful of Secrets, Columbia, 1968.More, Columbia, 1969.Ummagumma, Columbia, 1969.Atom Heart Mother, Columbia, 1970.Meddle, Columbia, 1971.Obscured by Clouds, Columbia, 1972.Dark Side of the Moon, Columbia, 1973.Wish You Were Here, Columbia, 1975.Animals, Columbia, 1977.The Wall, Columbia, 1979.The Final Cut, Columbia, 1983.A Momentary Lapse of Reason, Columbia, 1987.Delicate Sound of Thunder, Columbia, 1988.The Division Bell, Columbia, 1994.Pulse, Columbia, 1995.
Solo albums
David Gilmour, Harvest, 1978.About Face, Harvest, 1984.On an Island, EMI, 2006.

Sources
Books
Manning, Toby, The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd, Rough Guides, Ltd., London, 2006.
Mason, Nick, Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd, Chronicle Books, San Francisco, 2003.

Online
All Music Guide, http://www.allmusic.com (Nov. 12, 2006).
David Gilmour Official Website, http://www.davidgilmour.com (June 28, 2006).
  • Genres: Rock

Biography

David Gilmour gained international fame for his incisive, atmospheric guitar work and vocals with Pink Floyd, and eventually became the leader of the group during their late period as well as pursuing a successful solo career and working with some of the most respected names in British rock. Gilmour was born in Cambridge, England on March 6, 1946; his parents were both involved in education -- his father was a lecturer in Zoology at Cambridge University and his mother was a teacher -- and as a schoolboy, Gilmour struck up a friendship with a boy who attended the same grade school, Roger Barrett, who later gained the nickname Syd. Gilmour became re-acquainted with Barrett while they were studying at the Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology; both were interested in music and began learning to play guitar in their spare time, as did Barrett's friend Roger Waters. In 1963, Gilmour joined a rock group, Jokers Wild, which specialized in R&B covers; in 1965, he and Barrett took the summer off and spent several months busking and traveling through France, though the adventure didn't pay off financially. After returning to England, Gilmour played with a group called Flowers for a while, as well as a revamped version of Jokers Wild called Bullitt; meanwhile, Barrett and Waters teamed up with Rick Wright and Nick Mason to form a group called the Tea Set, which was later renamed Pink Floyd. In 1967, Pink Floyd was the toast of London's burgeoning psychedelic scene on the strength of the singles "Arnold Layne" and "See Emily Play," and the album Piper at the Gates Of Dawn. However, Barrett had become increasingly unstable, sometimes becoming catatonic on-stage or playing different songs than his bandmates, and as his ability to perform was compromised, Gilmour was invited to join the group to help with guitar and vocals when Barrett was having trouble. However, after a few shows it became evident that Gilmour's presence wasn't enough to rescue Barrett, and the group's leader was let go as Gilmour became the band's new lead guitarist by default, and he would produce and play on Barrett's two solo albums before he retired from music.

Gilmour made his recording debut with Pink Floyd on 1968's A Saucerful of Secrets, and over the next several years, the group's sound evolved from pop-friendly psychedelic to ambitious progressive and experimental rock. Gilmour's guitar became a key part of Pink Floyd's aural signature, and he played a larger role in the group's songwriting; their evolving approach culminated with 1973's The Dark Side of the Moon, which became a massive international hit and firmly established them as one of the biggest British acts of the day. Pink Floyd's success continued with 1975's Wish You Were Here, but as Waters began to dominate the group's songwriting and conceptualizing, Gilmour began looking for other opportunities to express himself. He'd already made guest appearances on albums by Roy Harper and Hawkwind, and during the recording of 1977's Animals, Gilmour began work on his first solo album, released in 1978 simply as David Gilmour. In 1978, he also produced Kate Bush's debut album, The Kick Inside, and he contributed guitar work to Wings' 1979 release Back to the Egg. 1979's The Wall became another massive success for Pink Floyd, and Gilmour co-wrote the stand-out track "Comfortably Numb," but tensions within the group grew during the recording of the album -- Rick Wright was fired during the sessions -- and after the long sessions which produced 1983's The Final Cut, Pink Floyd briefly fell apart.

Following the band's splintering, Gilmour released his second solo album, 1984's About Face, and he lent his talents as a guitarist to a number of projects, including albums by Paul McCartney, Bryan Ferry, Pete Townshend, and Supertramp, and produced the debut album for the Dream Academy. Waters made his solo debut with 1984's The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, and he filed a lawsuit to dissolve the Pink Floyd's legal partnership. However, the court found in favor of Gilmour and Nick Mason, and in 1987, Gilmour became Pink Floyd's new leader and principal songwriter as he relaunched the band with the album A Momentary Lapse of Reason. Pink Floyd supported the album with a successful extended tour -- their first since a small handful of elaborate shows following The Wall -- and a live album from the shows, A Delicate Sound of Thunder, was released in 1988. After coming off the road, Gilmour stayed busy with session work, making guest appearances with acts as diverse as Warren Zevon and Elton John, while writing material for the next Pink Floyd effort. While a few new pieces appeared on 1992's La Carrera Panamerica, a video documenting Gilmour and Nick Mason's participation in an auto race in Mexico (both collect vintage sports cars), Pink Floyd's next full album, The Division Bell, didn't appear until 1994. Once again, a major international tour followed the new studio effort, and on many dates they performed The Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety, along with other material from their catalog; one such concert was documented on the 1995 live album Pulse. An archival album drawn from Pink Floyd's performances of The Wall in 1980 and 1981 appeared in 2000, but no new material appeared. Gilmour reunited with Waters, Mason, and Wright for a one-off Pink Floyd performance at the 2005 Live 8 concert in London (a benefit to promote solutions to global poverty), but the band turned down lucrative offers for a new tour, and in 2006, Gilmour told reporters that Pink Floyd was not likely to record or perform again, saying "I have had a wonderful time, but it's over. For me, it's much less complicated to work alone." Gilmour performed a critically lauded series of acoustic shows in London in 2002, and in 2006 he released a new solo album, On an Island. The album was followed with a major concert tour; Gilmour's London concert was videotaped for a 2007 DVD release, Remember That Night: Live at the Royal Albert Hall, while a show at the Gdansk shipyards with a full orchestra appeared on the 2008 album Live in Gdansk. In 2010, Gilmour teamed up with acclaimed ambient electronic act the Orb for a collaborative album, Metallic Spheres. When not busy with music, he devotes much of his time to charitable causes, and when he put his London home on the market in 2003, he donated the 3.6 million pounds realized from the sale to Crisis, a group benefiting the homeless. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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David Gilmour

Gilmour playing his trademark black Fender Stratocaster in concert in Munich, Germany on 29 July 2006
Background information
Birth name David Jon Gilmour
Also known as Dave Gilmour
Born (1946-03-06) 6 March 1946 (age 66)
Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
Genres Rock, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, art rock, blues rock, experimental rock
Occupations Musician, Songwriter, Producer
Instruments Vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, saxophone, harmonica, slide guitar, programming
Years active 1963–present
Labels Capitol, Columbia, Sony, EMI
Associated acts Pink Floyd, Jokers Wild, Deep End, Richard Wright
Website www.davidgilmour.com
Notable instruments

David Jon Gilmour,[1] CBE (born 6 March 1946) is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. It is estimated that as of 2011, the group has sold over 230 million albums worldwide, including 74.5 million units sold in the United States.[2]

In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of artists, and has enjoyed a successful career as a solo artist. Gilmour has been actively involved with many charities over the course of his career.

In 2003, he was appointed CBE for his charity work and was awarded with the Outstanding Contribution title at the 2008 Q Awards.[3] In 2011, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him No. 14 in their list of the greatest guitarists of all time.[4]

Early life

Gilmour was born in Cambridge, England. His father, Douglas Gilmour, was a senior lecturer in zoology at the University of Cambridge and his mother, Sylvia (née Wilson), was a teacher and film editor who raised her family at Grantchester Meadows, later immortalised by a Roger Waters song on Pink Floyd's Ummagumma.[5] He has a younger brother who is also a musician.

Gilmour attended The Perse School on Hills Road, Cambridge, and met future Pink Floyd guitarist and vocalist Syd Barrett, along with bassist and vocalist Roger Waters who attended Cambridgeshire High School for Boys, also situated on Hills Road. He studied modern languages to A-Level and, along with Barrett, spent his lunchtime learning to play the guitar. They were not yet bandmates however, and Gilmour started playing in the band Joker's Wild in 1962. Gilmour left Joker's Wild in 1966 and busked around Spain and France with some friends. However, they were not very successful, living virtually a hand-to-mouth existence. In July 1992, Gilmour stated in an interview with Nicky Horne on BBC radio that he ended up being treated for malnutrition in a hospital.[6] In 1967, they returned to England.

Pink Floyd

Gilmour was approached in late December 1967 by drummer Nick Mason, who asked if he would be interested in joining Pink Floyd, which he did in January 1968, making Pink Floyd briefly a five-piece band. He filled in for Syd Barrett's guitar parts when the frontman was unable to take a consistent part in Floyd's live performances. Syd Barrett "left" the group due to his erratic behaviour—commonly believed to have been caused by excessive use of LSD—when the band chose not to pick Barrett up one night for a gig; and Gilmour by default assumed the role of the band's lead guitarist. He took over most of the band's lead vocal duties with bassist Roger Waters and keyboard player Richard Wright also occasionally singing in Barrett's stead. However, after the back-to-back successes of The Dark Side of the Moon and then Wish You Were Here, Waters took more control over the band, writing much of Animals and The Wall by himself. Wright was fired during The Wall sessions and the relationship between Gilmour and Waters would further deteriorate during the making of The Wall film and the 1983 Pink Floyd album The Final Cut.

Gilmour, in the early 1970s with Pink Floyd

After recording Animals, Gilmour thought that his musical talents were being underused, and channelled his ideas into his self-titled first solo album (1978), which showcases his signature guitar style, as well as underscoring his songwriting skills. A tune written during the finishing stages of this album, but too late to be used, became "Comfortably Numb" on The Wall.[7]

The negative atmosphere surrounding the creation of The Wall album and subsequent film, compounded by The Final Cut's virtually being a Roger Waters solo album, led Gilmour to produce his second solo album About Face in 1984.[8] He used it to express his feelings about a range of topics, from the murder of John Lennon,[8] to his relationship with Waters. He has since admitted that he also used the album to distance himself from Pink Floyd. He toured Europe and the US along with support act The Television Personalities,[8] who were promptly dropped from the line-up after revealing Syd Barrett's address on stage.[8] Mason also made a guest appearance on the UK leg of the tour,[8] which despite some cancellations eventually turned a profit.[9] When he returned from touring, Gilmour played guitar with a range of artists, and also produced The Dream Academy, who had a top ten hit with "Life in a Northern Town".[10]

In 1985, Waters declared that Pink Floyd were "a spent force creatively".[8][11] In 1986, Gilmour and drummer Nick Mason issued a press release stating that Waters had quit the band and they intended to continue without him.[8][11] Gilmour assumed full control of the group and produced A Momentary Lapse of Reason in 1987 with some contributions from Mason and Richard Wright.[8] Wright officially rejoined the band after the release of the album for a lengthy world tour and helped create 1994's The Division Bell.[8] Gilmour explained:

I had a number of problems with the direction of the band in our recent past, before Roger left. I thought the songs were very wordy and that, because the specific meanings of those words were so important, the music became a mere vehicle for lyrics, and not a very inspiring one. Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here were so successful not just because of Roger's contributions, but also because there was a better balance between the music and the lyrics than there has been in more recent albums. That's what I'm trying to do with A Momentary Lapse of Reason; more focus on the music, restore the balance.

In 1986, Gilmour purchased the houseboat Astoria which is moored on the River Thames near Hampton Court, and transformed it into a recording studio.[11] The majority of the two most recent Pink Floyd albums, as well as Gilmour's 2006 solo release On an Island, were recorded there.[11]

Gilmour at Live 8 in July 2005

On 2 July 2005, Gilmour played with Pink Floyd—including Roger Waters—at Live 8. The performance caused a temporary 1343% sales increase of Pink Floyd's album Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd.[12] Gilmour donated all of his resulting profits to charities that reflect the goals of Live 8 saying:

Though the main objective has been to raise consciousness and put pressure on the G8 leaders, I will not profit from the concert. This is money that should be used to save lives.[12]

Shortly after, he called upon all artists experiencing a surge in sales from Live 8 performances to donate the extra revenue to Live 8 fund-raising. After the Live 8 concert, Pink Floyd were offered £150 million to tour the United States, but the band turned down the offer.[13]

On 3 February 2006, he announced in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica[14][15] that Pink Floyd would most likely never tour or write material together again. He said:

"I think enough is enough. I am 60 years old. I don't have the will to work as much any more. Pink Floyd was an important part in my life, I have had a wonderful time, but it's over. For me it's much less complicated to work alone."

He said that by agreeing to Live 8, he had ensured the story of Floyd would not end on a sour note.

"There was more than one reason, firstly to support the cause. The second one is the energy consuming an uncomfortable relationship between Roger and me that I was carrying along in my heart. That is why we wanted to perform and to leave the trash behind. Thirdly, I might have regretted it if I declined.

"

On 20 February 2006, Gilmour commented again on Pink Floyd's future when he was interviewed by Billboard.com, stating, "Who knows? I have no plans at all to do that. My plans are to do my concerts and put my solo record out."

In December 2006, Gilmour released a tribute to Syd Barrett, who had died on 7 July of that year, in the form of his own version of Pink Floyd's first single "Arnold Layne".[11] Recorded live at London's Royal Albert Hall, the CD single featured versions of the song performed by Pink Floyd's keyboard player (and Gilmour's band member) Richard Wright and special guest artist David Bowie.[11] The single entered the UK Top 75 charts at number nineteen and remained steady for three weeks.[16]

Since their Live 8 appearance in 2005, Gilmour has repeatedly said that there will be no Pink Floyd reunion. With the death of Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright in September 2008,[11] another reunion of the core group members became impossible. Gilmour said of Wright

In the welter of arguments about who or what was Pink Floyd, Rick's enormous input was frequently forgotten. He was gentle, unassuming and private but his soulful voice and playing were vital, magical components of our most recognised Pink Floyd sound. Like Rick, I don't find it easy to express my feelings in words, but I loved him and will miss him enormously. I have never played with anyone quite like him.[17]

In May 2010 Roger Waters told the Associated Press that Gilmour "is completely disinterested in anything like [another reunion]. After Live 8, I could have probably gone for doing some more stuff, but he's not interested, so it is what it is."[18]

Solo projects

David has recorded four solo albums, all four of which charted in the US Top 40 (2006's On an Island peaked at No. 6 in 2006, 2008's Live in Gdansk peaked at No. 26, his 1978 self-titled solo debut peaked at No. 29 in 1978 and 1984's About Face peaked at No. 32 in 1984).

The 1970s & 1980s

Gilmour performing in Brussels in 1984, on his About Face tour

Taking time off from Pink Floyd's schedule, Gilmour also took up various roles as a producer, sideman and even concert sound engineer[8] for a wide variety of acts which included[8] former bandmate Syd Barrett, Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Berlin, Grace Jones, Tom Jones, Elton John, Eric Clapton, B. B. King, Seal, Sam Brown, Jools Holland, Bob Dylan, Pete Townshend, The Who, Supertramp, Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, Alan Parsons, and various charity groups among others.

In 1985, Gilmour was a member of Bryan Ferry's band. He played on Ferry's album Boys and Girls, as well as the song "Is Your Love Strong Enough" for the US release of the Ridley Scott-Tom Cruise film Legend. A music video for the latter was created, incorporating Ferry and Gilmour into footage from the film[8] (released as a bonus on the 2002 "Ultimate Edition" DVD release). Later that year, Gilmour played with Ferry at the London Live Aid concert;[8] his first meeting with Ferry's keyboard player Jon Carin, later to tour with Pink Floyd.

David Gilmour also took part in a comedy skit titled "The Easy Guitar Book Sketch" with comedian Rowland Rivron and fellow British musicians Mark Knopfler, Lemmy from Motorhead, Mark King from Level 42, and Gary Moore. Guitar tech Phil Taylor explained in an interview that Knopfler used Gilmour's guitar rig and managed to sound like himself when performing in the skit.[19]

The 1990s

In 1994, Gilmour played guitar for the video game Tuneland, along with the additional saxophonist for Pink Floyd, Scott Page.

On 14 December 1999, Gilmour played a show at the Cavern Club in Liverpool with Paul McCartney, Mick Green, Ian Paice & Pete Wingfield.

The 2000s

In 2001 and 2002, he performed a small number of acoustic solo concerts in London and Paris, along with a small band and choir, which was documented on the In Concert release.[11] In 2003, Rolling Stone placed Gilmour at number 82 in a list of the hundred greatest guitarists of all time.[20]

On 24 September 2004, Gilmour performed a three song set (tracks 28–30) at The Strat Pack concert at London's Wembley Arena, marking the 50th anniversary of the Fender Stratocaster guitar.

Gilmour in performance, Frankfurt 2006

On 6 March 2006, his 60th birthday, he released his third solo album, On an Island,[11] and a day later it was released in the US; it debuted at No. 1 in the UK charts.[21] The album reached the top five in Germany and Sweden, and the top six in Billboard 200.[22][23] Produced by Gilmour along with Phil Manzanera and Chris Thomas, the album features orchestrations by renowned Polish composer Zbigniew Preisner.[11] The album features David Crosby and Graham Nash performing background vocals on the title track, Robert Wyatt on cornet and percussion, and Richard Wright on Hammond organ and vocals.[11] Other contributors include Jools Holland, Phil Manzanera, Georgie Fame, Andy Newmark, B. J. Cole, Chris Stainton, Willie Wilson, Rado ‘Bob’ Klose on guitar and Leszek Możdżer on piano.[11] The album also features Gilmour's debut with the saxophone.[11]

Gilmour toured Europe, US and Canada from 10 March to 31 May 2006 to promote On an Island. There were 10 shows in the US and Canadian leg of the tour. Pink Floyd alumnus Richard Wright, and frequent Floyd collaborators Dick Parry, Guy Pratt and Jon Carin, also accompanied him on the tour. More shows took place in Europe from July to August in 2006.

In a press release to promote the tour, David Gilmour stated:

"I'm rather hoping that with this tour announcement, people will believe me when I say, honestly, this is the only band I plan to tour with!".

On an Island reached number one on the UK charts. On 10 April 2006, the album was certified platinum in Canada, with sales of over 100,000 copies. The album also gave Gilmour his first US Top 10 album as a solo artist.

A video recording of a show from Gilmour's solo tour, titled Remember That Night – Live At The Royal Albert Hall[24] was released on 17 September 2007.[11] The double DVD, directed by David Mallet, contains over five hours of footage, including an on-the-road documentary and guest appearances by David Bowie and Robert Wyatt.[11] The two and a half hour concert features band members Richard Wright of Pink Floyd, Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music, Steve DiStanislao on drums, and various Pink Floyd regulars such as Dick Parry, Guy Pratt and Jon Carin.[11] The 20-page booklet accompanying the DVD, features over 80 photos selected from studio recording and touring.[11]

The final show of David Gilmour's On an Island tour took place at the Gdańsk Shipyard on 26 August 2006.[11] The concert was held before a crowd of 50,000, and marked the twenty-sixth anniversary of the founding of the Solidarity trade union.[11] The concert was notable for the inclusion of "A Great Day For Freedom" as part of the encore.[11]

The show was recorded, resulting in a live album and DVD release: Live in Gdańsk.[11] The concert was the only occasion on which Gilmour performed the tour material with an orchestra, using the 40-strong string section of the Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Zbigniew Preisner, who was responsible for On An Island's orchestral arrangements.[11]

On 25 May 2009, he participated in a concert at the Union Chapel in Islington, London. The concert was part of the 'Hidden Gigs' campaign against hidden homelessness, which is organised by Crisis, a UK-based national charity campaigning against homelessness. In the concert he collaborated with the Malian musicians Amadou and Mariam.[25]

On 4 July 2009, he joined his friend Jeff Beck onstage at the Royal Albert Hall. David and Jeff traded solos on Jerusalem and closed the show with Hi Ho Silver Lining.

In August 2009, he released an online single, Chicago – Change the World, on which he sang and played guitar, bass and keyboards, to promote awareness of the plight of Gary McKinnon. A re-titled cover of the Graham Nash song Chicago, it featured Chrissie Hynde and Bob Geldof, plus McKinnon himself. It was produced by long-time Pink Floyd collaborator Chris Thomas.[26] A video was also posted on-line.[27]

The 2010s

On 11 July 2010, Gilmour gave a performance for the charity Hoping Foundation with Roger Waters in Oxfordshire, England.[28] Also performing were Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Nick Cage and Tom Jones. The performance was presented by Jemima Khan and Nigella Lawson. According to onlookers, it seemed clear that Gilmour and Waters had ended the their long-running feud and seemed to be the best of friends, laughing and joking together along with their respective partners. Waters subsequently confirmed via his Facebook page that Gilmour would play "Comfortably Numb" with him during one of his shows on his upcoming The Wall Live tour – Gilmour performed the guitar solo on 12 May 2011 at the O2 Arena, London and, with Nick Mason, played with the rest of the band playing "Outside The Wall" at the conclusion of the show.

Gilmour released an album with The Orb in 2010 entitled Metallic Spheres.[29] On which he co-wrote every track and their subsequent parts, produced, played guitar and sang.

Personal life

Gilmour in 2005

Gilmour's first marriage was to American-born model and artist Virginia "Ginger" Hasenbein, on 7 July 1975.[30] He had four children from this union, Alice (born 1976), Clare (born 1979), Sara (born 1983, a fashion model[31]), and Matthew (born 1986). The children originally attended a Waldorf School, but Gilmour called their education there "horrific".[32] In 1994, he married journalist Polly Samson, and the couple have four children, Charlie (Samson's son with Heathcote Williams whom Gilmour adopted), Joe, Gabriel and Romany. Charlie's voice can be heard on the telephone to Steve O'Rourke, at the end of "High Hopes" (The Division Bell).

Gilmour has been associated with various charity organisations. In May 2003, Gilmour sold his house in Little Venice to the ninth Earl Spencer and donated the proceeds worth £3.6 million to Crisis to help fund a housing project for the homeless. Apart from Crisis, other Charities to which Gilmour has lent support include Oxfam, the European Union Mental Health and Illness Association, Greenpeace, Amnesty International,[8] The Lung Foundation, and Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy.[8] He also donated £25,000 to the Save the Rhino foundation in exchange for Douglas Adams' name suggestion for the album that became The Division Bell.[11]

Gilmour is also an experienced pilot and aviation enthusiast. Under the aegis of his company, Intrepid Aviation,[8] he had amassed a collection of historical aircraft. He later decided to sell the company, which he had started as a hobby, feeling that it was becoming too commercial for him to handle. In a BBC interview, he stated:

Intrepid Aviation was a way for me to make my hobby pay for itself a little bit, but gradually over a few years Intrepid Aviation became a business because you have to be businesslike about it. Suddenly I found instead of it being a hobby and me enjoying myself, it was a business and so I sold it. I don't have Intrepid Aviation any more. I just have a nice old biplane that I pop up, wander around the skies in sometimes...[33]

On 22 May 2008, Gilmour won the 2008 Ivor Novello Lifetime Contribution Award[34]

In autumn 2008, he was awarded for outstanding contribution for music by the Q Awards. He dedicated his award to his bandmate Richard Wright, who died in September 2008.[3]

On 11 November 2009, Gilmour received an honorary doctorate from the Anglia Ruskin University.[35]

Musical style

Gilmour on piano, in Düsseldorf during his About Face tour in 1984

Gilmour is best known for his lead guitar work. Gilmour's solo style is often characterised by blues-influenced phrasing, expressive note bends and sustain. In 2011, Gilmour was rated the 14th greatest guitarist by Rolling Stone. In January 2007, Guitar World readers voted Gilmour's solos, "Comfortably Numb", "Time" and "Money" into the top 100 Greatest Guitar Solos ("Comfortably Numb" was voted the 4th, "Time" was voted the 21st and "Money" was voted the 62nd greatest solo of all time).[36]

In his early career with Pink Floyd, Gilmour played a multitude of Fender Stratocasters. One of his popular guitar solos ("Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2") was played on a 1955 Gibson Les Paul Gold Top guitar equipped with P-90 pick-ups.[37][38] In 1996, Gilmour was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Pink Floyd. Gilmour's solo on "Comfortably Numb" was voted as one of the greatest guitar solos of all time in several polls by listeners and critics.[39]

Although mainly known for his guitar work, Gilmour is also a proficient multi-instrumentalist. He also plays bass guitar (which he did on some Pink Floyd tracks),[11][40] keyboards, synthesiser, banjo, harmonica, drums (as heard on the Syd Barrett solo track "Dominoes",[11] and other songs where he opted to play all the instruments) and lately, the saxophone.[41]

Music equipment

Some of the equipment Gilmour has used either on his solo or Pink Floyd records and tours.

Main electric guitars

Gilmour playing a Fender Stratocaster in 1984
  • Fender
    • Stratocaster
      • Gilmor's main stage and studio guitar is a 1969 Fender Stratocaster. Black with a black pickguard, it has white pick-up covers and knobs. It does not have the original neck. The guitar has a added switch that combines the neck and bridge pick-ups. It has a Seymour Duncan SSL-1C (SSL-5 Prototype) bridge pick-up. The guitar strap that Gilmour pairs with this instrument once belonged to Jimi Hendrix.
      • His main guitar for the post-Roger Waters era Pink Floyd tours was a red 1984 '57 Stratocaster reissue. It had a set of EMG SA active pick-ups. This guitar still continues to be used for specific songs during Gilmour's live performances.
      • David Gilmour owns Stratocaster # 0001. This is not the first model made.
      • Cream coloured '57 reissue Stratocaster. This guitar was used on Gilmour's 1984 solo tour and also during the early part of the 1987–1990 Pink Floyd tour. During the 1994 Pink Floyd tour it was used as a spare guitar. During Pink Floyd's Live 8 set sidesman Tim Renwick was seen playing it. It has the same EMG setup as his red '57 Reissue model. After it was used for Live 8 the neck from the cream Stratocaster was transferred to Gilmour's main black Stratocaster.
      • '57 Lake Placid Blue. (Serial number #0040). This guitar was used during The Wall recording sessions.
      • Double-neck Stratocaster. Custom made body by guitar builder Dick Knight and using standard Fender necks. It was used in the early 1970s.
      • 1959 sunburst Stratocaster body with a 1963 neck with a rosewood fingerboard. This guitar was given to Gilmour by Steve Marriott. David didn't like the guitar enough to use it for very long but did like the neck better than the original one on his black Stratocaster and the two were switched. The sunburst model was used as A spare and for slide guitar in subsequent years.
      • White with white pickguard. Used in the late 1960s. Received as a gift from the rest of the band.[42] It was stolen in 1970.
      • Gilmour used a Stratocaster equipped with the Doug Wilkes 'Answer' sliding pick-up system on the 'Momentary Lapse of Reason' recording.
    • Telecaster
      • Blonde body with white pickguard. Used on the On an Island tour.
      • '52 Butterscotch Reissues with black pickguard. Used between 1987 and 1995. The first guitar was tuned in Dropped D rather than a standard tuning and was used for "Run Like Hell". The second served as a backup instrument and had a regular guitar tuning. Gilmour used this guitar for Astronomy Domine.
      • '59 Custom Telecaster with sunburst ash body, white binding on the body, rosewood fingerboard, and a white pickguard. A Gibson Humbucker was briefly placed in the neck position but this was removed before it was used on the Animals' recording sessions. Last seen at rehearsals during the On an Island tour.
      • '61 Telecaster used during The Wall recording sessions. Also used live in the post-Waters era for "Run Like Hell". Last seen on the Syd Barrett memory concert in 2007.
      • 1960s brown-faded body. Used in the late 1960s.
      • 1960s blonde ash body with white pickguard. This was Gilmour's main guitar during his first year with Pink Floyd, but it was lost by an airline company in 1968, prompting Gilmour to buy the brown-faded Telecaster.[43]
    • Esquire '55 Sunburst body a.k.a. "The workmate Tele". Neck pick-up added. Used at the recording sessions for his first solo album, and The Wall recording sessions and subsequent tour. Also seen when Gilmour performed with Paul McCartney in the late 1990s.

Other electrics

Along with the Fender models (his primary choice for electrics), Gilmour has also used: a Gibson Les Paul goldtop model with P-90 pick-ups and a Bigsby vibrato bridge. It was used for the guitar solo on 'Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2' and the solo in 'Comfortably Numb.' Gilmour also plays a Gretsch Duo-Jet and a Gretsch White Falcon (as well as a 'White Penguin'), a Bill Lewis 24-fret Guitar (used during Meddle and Dark Side of the Moon recording sessions) and a Steinberger GL model which was his main guitar during A Momentary Lapse of Reason recording sessions.

Acoustics

Gilmour has used many different acoustic guitars throughout his career including a Gibson "Chet Atkins" classical model, a Gibson J-200 Celebrity acoustic guitar.[44] Gilmour's list of Ovation models including a Legend 1619-4, a Legend 1613-4 nylon string guitar, both used during The Wall recording sessions.[44][45] Martin models used include: a D-35.[44][45] a D12-28 12-string.[44] and a D-18.[44] Gilmour's large acoustic collection also includes many models from Taylor, Takamine and Guild.

Steel guitar

Gilmour playing lap steel guitar, 26 January 1977

Throughout his recording career David Gilmour has added a different element to his guitar style with his use of steel guitars. A 1950s Fender 1000 twin neck pedal steel guitar was used frequently in the early 1970s. Originally purchased from a pawn shop while Gilmour was in Seattle in 1970, it was used during recording of "One of These Days" from "Meddle" and "Breathe" and "Great Gig in the Sky" from The Dark Side of the Moon.[46] Other Fenders owned by Gilmour include a Deluxe lap steel (seen during The Division Bell tour in 1994.[46] ) and also a Champ lap steel model. Along with the Fender steel models Gilmour has also used: a Gibson EH150, and two Jedson models: one red (1977-tuned D-G-D-G-B-E for Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Parts 6–9, 1987–2006: Tuned E-B-E-G-B-E for High Hopes) and one blonde.[46] He also uses a ZB steel model.[45]

Bass guitars

Gilmour has played bass both in the studio and onstage at different times and has played many different bass models including: an Ovation Magnum, a Fender Bass VI, Fender Precision and Jazz bass models and a Charvel fretless.(all used during The Wall recording sessions.[45] ). He also has a Doug Wilkes built Precision-style single pick-up bass which was used on the 'Momentary Lapse of Reason' sessions. During the 1991 Amnesty International concert Gilmour used a Music Man Fretless Stingray bass while conducting the house band and again during Spinal Tap's performance of "Big Bottom". (All guitarists played bass on this song, and Gilmour played the solo)

Fender Signature Stratocaster

David Gilmour Signature Stratocaster NOS in its case

In November 2006, Fender Custom Shop announced two reproductions of Gilmour's "Black" Strat for release on 22 September 2008. Gilmour's website states the release date was chosen to coincide with the release of his Live in Gdansk album.[47] Both guitars are based on extensive measurements of the original instrument, each featuring varying degrees of wear. The most expensive is the David Gilmour Relic Stratocaster[48] which features the closest copy of wear on the original guitar. A pristine copy of the guitar is also made, called the David Gilmour NOS Stratocaster.[49]

Discography

Pink Floyd

For the full discography, see Pink Floyd discography.

Solo

Albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Certification
(Sale Threshold)
UK
Album Chart
US
Billboard 200
Canadian
Albums Chart
1978 David Gilmour 17 29
  • US: Gold
1984 About Face 21 32
  • US: Gold
2006 On an Island 1 6 1
  • UK: Platinum
  • CAN: Platinum
2008 Live in Gdańsk 10 26 19
  • UK: Gold

Soundtracks

  • Fractals: The Colours of Infinity, Documentary (1994)[50]

Singles

Filmography

Collaborations and work for other artists

Year Artist Album / Work
1970 Syd Barrett The Madcap Laughs[8]
Syd Barrett Barrett[8]
Ron Geesin and Roger Waters "Give Birth to a Smile" on Music from the Body[8]
1974 Unicorn[51][52] Blue Pine Trees (producer)[8]
1975 Roy Harper "The Game" from HQ[8]
1976 Unicorn[51] Too Many Crooks (US title Unicorn 2, features the song "There's No Way Out of Here") (producer)
1978 Kate Bush Executive producer for two tracks on The Kick Inside[8]
Unicorn[51] One More Tomorrow (Harvest Records) (producer, shared with Muff Winwood)
1979 Wings Back to the Egg[8]
1980 Roy Harper "Playing Games", "You (The Game Part II)", "Old Faces", "Short and Sweet" and "True Story" on The Unknown Soldier, credited to Harper/Gilmour.[8]
1982 Kate Bush Vocals on "Pull Out The Pin" in The Dreaming[8]
1983 Atomic Rooster Headline News[8]
1984 Paul McCartney No More Lonely Nights in Give My Regards to Broad Street[8]
1985 Supertramp "Brother Where You Bound"
Bryan Ferry "Is Your Love Strong Enough?" in Legend[8]
Bryan Ferry Boys and Girls[8]
Bryan Ferry Live Aid (Played with Bryan Ferry's band)[8]
Nick Mason and Rick Fenn "Lie for a Lie" (vocals) in Profiles[8]
Pete Townshend "Give Blood" and "White City Fighting" in White City: A Novel "White City Fighting" credited to Townshend/Gilmour. Also performed live as Deep End.[8]
Arcadia So Red the Rose[8]
The Dream Academy Co-produced The Dream Academy[8]
Roy Harper and Jimmy Page "Hope" on Whatever Happened to Jugula?, credited to Harper/Gilmour.[8]
1986 Berlin Count Three & Pray[8]
Liona Boyd Electric guitar on "L'Enfant", "Sorceress" and "Persona" from Persona
Pete Townshend lead guitar in Pete Townshend's Deep End Live![8]
1987 Dalbello "Immaculate Eyes" in she[8]
1988 Peter Cetera "You Never Listen To Me" in One More Story[8]
Sam Brown Guitar on "This Feeling" and "I'll Be In Love" in Stop![8]
1989 Kate Bush "Love and Anger" and "Rocket's Tail" in The Sensual World[8]
Paul McCartney "We Got Married" in Flowers in the Dirt[8]
Rock Aid Armenia Smoke on the Water in The Earthquake Album[8]
Warren Zevon Transverse City[8]
1990 Roy Harper "Once" in Once (w/Kate Bush on backing vocals)[8]
Propaganda "Only One Word" in 1234[8]
Sam Brown April Moon, vocals on "Troubled Soul"[8]
Michael Kamen and David Sanborn Concerto For Saxophone, guitar on "Sasha"[8]
The Dream Academy A Different Kind of Weather (co-producer on all but one track, co-wrote and sang backing vocals on "Twelve-Eight Angel")
1991 All About Eve "Are You Lonely" and "Wishing the Hours Away" in Touched by Jesus[8]
Hale and Pace Lead guitar on "The Stonk"[8]
1992 Elton John "Understanding Women", in The One[8]
Mica Paris I Put a Spell on You on Later With Jools Holland[8]
1993 Paul Rodgers "Standing Around Crying" in Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters[8]
1994 Snowy White "Love, Pain and Sorrow" in Goldtop: Groups & Sessions '74–'94
1995 Guy Pratt Soundtrack to Hackers; according to Pratt on Twitter,[53] features uncredited guitar performance by Gilmour.
1996 The Who Quadrophenia (1996 Hyde Park concert)
1997 B. B. King "Cryin' Won't Help You Babe" in Deuces Wild
1999 Paul McCartney Run Devil Run
2001 The Triumph of Love soundtrack Plays guitar over several chamber orchestra pieces
2003 Ringo Starr Ringo Rama
2004 Alan Parsons and Simon Posford "Return to Tunguska" in A Valid Path
2005 Various artists "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)"
2006 Chris Jagger "It's Amazing (What People Throw Away)" and "Junkman", in Act of Faith
2009 Nick Laird-Clowes "Mayday" documentary, 'A Time Comes' (Free download from nicklairdclowes.com )
2010 The Orb Metallic Spheres, contributes guitars and vocals to the album, as well as co-writing every track. The album is released as "The Orb featuring David Gilmour"

References

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  2. ^ Pink Floyd Releases Remastered Hits, By Emma Koonse , Christian Post Reporter, 28 February 2012
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  10. ^ Blake 2008, pp. 311–313
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Mabbett, Andy (2010). Pink Floyd – The Music and the Mystery. London: Omnibus,. ISBN 978-1-84938-370-7. 
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  22. ^ "On an Island music charts". http://acharts.us/album/14324. Retrieved 4 December 2007. 
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  33. ^ "Intrepid Aviation". Archived from the original on 21 October 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071021205312/http://www.brain-damage.co.uk/miscellaneous-articles/david-gilmour-and-intrepid-aviation.html. Retrieved 5 December 2007. 
  34. ^ 2008 Ivor Novello Award Winners
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  39. ^ David Gilmour's Guitar Solo is Number 1 (Musicjot)/
  40. ^ "Rock Compact Disc magazine, Issue 3, September 1992". http://www.pinkfloydfan.net/t1478-david-gilmour-rock-compact-disc.html. Retrieved 21 July 2011. 
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  42. ^ The White Stratocaster. "The White Stratocaster". Gilmourish. http://www.gilmourish.com/?page_id=67. Retrieved 19 January 2009. 
  43. ^ Telecasters. "Telecasters". Gilmourish. http://www.gilmourish.com/?page_id=194. Retrieved 19 January 2009. 
  44. ^ a b c d e Fitch, Vernon: The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia (3rd Edition) 2005
  45. ^ a b c d Fitch, Vernon and Mahon, Richard: Comfortably Numb. A history of The Wall. Pink Floyd 1978–1981 2006, p. 268
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  50. ^ "The Colours of Infinity: The Beauty and Power of Fractals". Powells.com. http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=1-1904555055-0. Retrieved 20 April 2009. 
  51. ^ a b c "Unicorn official site". Unicornmusic.net. http://www.unicornmusic.net/. Retrieved 20 July 2011. 
  52. ^ Unicorn discography at Discogs
  53. ^ "believe it or not David!" in reply to "who did the David'esque guitars on't 'Hackers' OST?"

Bibliography

External links


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Barrett [Japan] (1999 Album by Syd Barrett)
Barrett [UK Bonus Tracks #1] (1994 Album by Syd Barrett)
Barrett [UK Bonus Tracks #2] (1993 Album by Syd Barrett)
Peel Sessions (1987 Album by Syd Barrett)
Barrett (1970 Album by Syd Barrett)