David Gilmour

David Gilmour

Background information

Birth name- David Jon Gilmour

Born - March 6, 1946, Cambridge, England

Occupation (s) - Guitarist, Musician, Songwriter, Producer

Instrument (s) - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboard, Saxophone, Harmonica, Drums

Years active - 1963 - present

Label (s) - Capitol, Columbia, Sony, EMI

Associated with - Pink Floyd, Joker's Wild

 Introduction

David Jon Gilmour CBE (born March 6, 1946 in Cambridge) is an English musician best known as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter in the band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has also worked as a record producer for a variety of famous artists. Gilmour has been very active in many charity organisations over the course of his career. In 2003, he was appointed CBE for this work.

Biography

Early life

Gilmour was born and grew up in the affluent Grantchester Meadows area of Cambridge, England. His father, Douglas Gilmour, was a senior lecturer in zoology at the University of Cambridge and his mother, Sylvia, was a teacher.

Gilmour attended The Perse School on Hills Road, Cambridge, and met future Pink Floyd guitarist/vocalist Syd Barrett who attended Cambridgeshire High School for Boys, also situated on Hills Road. He took modern languages A-Levels, and along with Syd, he spent his lunchtimes learning to play the guitar. They were not bandmates however, and Gilmour started playing in the band Joker's Wild in 1963. Gilmour left Joker's Wild in 1966 and busked around Spain and France with some friends. They weren't particularly successful, living a hand-to-mouth existence. Indeed, Gilmour ended up being treated for malnutrition in hospital, as he confirmed in an interview with Nicky Horne on BBC radio in July of 1992. In 1967, they returned to England, driving a van with fuel stolen from a building site in France.

Pink Floyd

Gilmour was asked to join Pink Floyd in January 1968 making Pink Floyd briefly a five-piece again. He was used to fill in for Barrett's guitar parts when the front man was unable to take a consistent part in Floyd's live performances. When Syd Barrett "left" the group (the band chose not to pick him up one night for a gig due to his erratic behaviour), Gilmour by default assumed the role of the band's lead guitarist and shared lead vocal duties with Roger Waters and Richard Wright in Barrett's stead. Gilmour's guitar playing and song writing became major factors of Pink Floyd's world-wide success during the 1970s. However, after the back-to-back successes of first Dark Side of the Moon and then Wish You Were Here, Waters took more and more control over the band, writing most 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.

In 1985, Waters declared that Pink Floyd was "A spent force creatively ". However, in 1986, Gilmour and drummer Nick Mason issued a press release saying that Waters had quit the band and they intended to continue on without Waters. Gilmour assumed full control of the group and created A Momentary Lapse of Reason in 1987 with some contributions from Mason. Wright rejoined the band for a lengthy world tour and helped create 1994's The Division Bell as well. 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. The majority of the two most recent Pink Floyd albums, as well as Gilmour's 2006 solo release On An Island were recorded there.

On July 2, 2005, Gilmour played with Pink Floyd — including Roger Waters — at Live 8. The performance caused a temporary 1,343% sales increase of Pink Floyd's album Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd. As a result, Gilmour vowed to donate 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.”

Shortly after, he also called upon all artists experiencing a surge in sales from Live 8 performances to donate the extra revenue to Live 8 fund-raising.

On February 3, 2006, he announced in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. 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 anymore. 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 February 20, 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."

Also, 2007 will mark the 40th anniversary of Pink Floyd as a professional recording and touring band and reports are out that some big occasion will go down to celebrate Pink Floyd's 40th anniversary although as things stand there are no plans to reactivate Pink Floyd at the moment.

In December 2006, Gilmour released a tribute to Syd Barrett, who had died in July of that year, in the form of his own version of Floyd's first single "Arnold Layne". Recorded live at London's Royal Albert Hall, the CD single featured versions of the song performed by Floyd keyboardist (and Gilmour band member) Richard Wright and special guest artist David Bowie.

Other projects

During Pink Floyd's quiet spells, David Gilmour has amused himself as a producer, sideman and even concert sound engineer for a wide variety of acts including former bandmate Syd Barrett, Kate Bush, Grace Jones, Tom Jones, Elton John, B.B. King, Paul McCartney, Sam Brown, Jools Holland, Bob Dylan, Pete Townshend, The Who, Supertramp, Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, Alan Parsons, various charity "supergroups" and many more.

He has also recorded two solo albums which both hit the U.S. Top 40 and went Gold, his 1978 self-titled debut and 1984's About Face. Gilmour has stated in interviews that some of the songs on About Face were ones he'd hoped to contribute to Pink Floyd's 1983 album The Final Cut, but Roger Waters staunchly refused. This signalled the beginning of the end for the Waters-led Pink Floyd. Gilmour's third released solo album was On an Island in 2006, which went to #1 in the UK.

With Nick Mason and Pink Floyd manager Steve O'Rourke, he took to the road in October 1991 to take part in La Carrera Panamericana - a scenic film which recreated the legendary car race held in Mexico throughout the early 1950s. The original film, which was shown on BBC in December 1991, included a soundtrack of new and previously released tracks from Pink Floyd. The edited video was released the next year on VHS and LD.

In 2001 and 2002, he held a small number of acoustic solo concerts in London and Paris, along with a small band and choir, which has been documented on the In Concert release.

His third solo album, On An Island, was released on March 6, 2006, his 60th birthday, and one day later in the U.S. Produced by Gilmour with Phil Manzanera and Chris Thomas, the album features orchestrations by renowned Polish composer Zbigniew Preisner. The album features David Crosby and Graham Nash on harmonies on the title track, Robert Wyatt on cornet and percussion and Richard Wright on Hammond organ and vocals. 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. The album also features Gilmour's debut on saxophone.

David Gilmour toured Europe, the U.S. and Canada from March 10 to May 31 for On An Island. There were 10 shows total in the U.S. and Canadian leg of the tour. Pink Floyd alumnus Richard Wright, and frequent Floyd collaborators Dick Parry, Guy Pratt and Jon Carin have accompanied him on the tour. There were some further shows in July and August of 2006 in Europe.

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 confirmed Gilmour's popularity by entering the UK charts at No 1. The album was also certified platinum in Canada on April 10, 2006, with sales of over 100,000 copies. The album also gave Gilmour his first U.S. Top 10 album as a solo artist.

David Gilmour appeared on Live From Abbey Road following a recording session at Abbey Road Studios on 29th August 2006.

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

Musical style

Gilmour has a very precise solo style, rooted in blues and notable for expressive note bends and sustain, indeed his use of 'multiple bends,' where he bends a note to pitch, sustains it, then bends the note to a higher pitch before releasing it, is very characteristic of his style and a useful way of identifying him in recordings. His solos are noted for being well-composed, economical, lyrical and emotional often favouring the minor pentatonic (1 b3 4 5 b7), blues(1 b3 4 b5 5 b7) and natural minor (1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7) scales . In interviews, Gilmour has explained that what he sees as his lack of technique led him to concentrate on melody and mood over speed and 'virtuosity', and this is borne out by the enduring appeal of his solos.

During many of his solos he would switch the guitar to the rhythm (or neck) pick-up. This, switching pick-up, produced a fatter, stronger "liquid" sound to a "cut through" sound all in the same solo and is featured in "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and "Echoes". This is part of what gives Gilmour's playing such a distinctive sound and tone.

In his early career with Pink Floyd Gilmour played a multitude of Fender Stratocasters. He employs a Fender pedal steel guitar for the re-formed Pink Floyd's rendition of the classic "One of These Days". During both the Momentary Lapse and Division tours he almost exclusively played a Red '57 reissue with a set of EMG active pick-ups. In his solo career he employs a wide assortment of guitars, favouring none. Indeed, one of his most famous solos ("Another Brick in the Wall Part 2") was played on a Gibson Les Paul

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), keyboards, harmonica, drums (as heard on the Syd Barrett solo track "Dominoes", and other songs where he opted to play all the instruments) and lately, the saxophone.

In 1996, Gilmour was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Pink Floyd.

In August 2006, Gilmour's solo on "Comfortably Numb" was voted the greatest guitar solo of all time in a poll by listeners of the digital radio station Planet Rock.

Family life

Gilmour has four children from his first marriage, to Ginger; Alice (b.1976), Clare (b.1980), Sara; (b.1982) and Matthew (b.1985). They originally attended a Waldorf School, but Gilmour called their education there "horrific". He has four children from his second marriage (to Polly Samson) - one adopted (Samson's son with Heathcote Williams, Charlie) and three biological, Joe, Gabriel and Romany. Charlie can be heard speaking, on the telephone to Steve O'Rourke, at the end of The Division Bell.

Philanthropy

David Gilmour CBE in November 2003

In May 2003, Gilmour sold his London house in Little Venice to the 9th Earl Spencer (brother of Diana, Princess of Wales) and contributed the £3.6 million (US $5.9 million) he made to a housing project for the homeless and mentally ill. Charities to whom Gilmour has lent support include the European Union Mental Health and Illness Association, Greenpeace, Amnesty International, The Lung Foundation, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, Crisis and — at the behest of his friend Paul McCartney — PETA.

In November 2003, he was made a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for philanthropy and for services to music.

Other interests

Gilmour is also an experienced pilot. Under the guise of his company, Intrepid Aviation, he had amassed an impressive collection of historical aircraft. He decided to sell Intrepid, for the following reason (taken from a BBC radio interview in 2002):

“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. ..”

Name preference

Though generally polite, friendly and easygoing, David Gilmour is annoyed when reporters address him as "Dave". He claims to have never used the contraction, preferring his given name, David. However, the three other members of Pink Floyd have often referred to him as "Dave" when giving their own interviews. Gilmour's cause is not helped by the fact that Harvest/EMI in the UK referred to him on his eponymous 1978 solo album and the cover of Floyd's 1971 album Meddle as "Dave" although the U.S. pressings correctly referred to him as David.

Also, when his long time friend, author Douglas Adams, died in 2001, Gilmour posted a tribute on the message board of Adams' official site; "Too soon, it is indeed. You'll be missed by the world. I'm just grateful you were able to enjoy your genius being appreciated. Your Friend and Fan, Dave".

Future

Although Gilmour has repeatedly said that there will be no Pink Floyd reunion since their Live8 appearance in 2005, in a 2007 interview with Phil Manzanera he stated that he's "not done with yet" and that he plans on doing "something" in the future, suggesting another solo album.

Main musical equipment

The following is a list of equipment Gilmour either has used on his solo or Pink Floyd recordings, as well as on current or previous tours.

Guitars

Fender

Stratocaster

His main guitar, much modified over the years, is a (1970) black Stratocaster with black pickguard and white pickup covers and knobs, currently with a 1957 vintage re-issue maple neck. It also includes a small toggle switch that combines the neck and bridge pickups (Note this guitar was for brief time fitted with a kahler locking tremolo system, the system was subsequently un-installed and the removed wood filled with epoxy resin as can be noted by close examination of the guitar behind its reinstalled Fender tremolo).

His main guitar for the post-Roger Waters era Pink Floyd tours in support of A Momentary Lapse of Reason, Delicate Sound of Thunder (dubbed "Another Lapse") and The Division Bell was a Red '57 reissue with a set of EMG active pickups. On the "On An Island" tour it was used every night of the tour on "Shine On You Crazy Diamond".

Gilmour is the owner of Strat #0001. However, this is not the first Stratocaster ever made. It was last seen at the Strat Concert in Wembley Arena in 2004.

Cream coloured '57 reissue. Used at 1984 solo tour and at the early parts of the 1987-1990 tour. In the 1994 tour it was used as spare guitar.

'57 Lake Placid Blue. (Serial number #0040). Used at The Wall sessions.

Double-neck Stratocaster. Used live (1970-72).

White with white pickguard. Used in the late 1960s.

Telecaster

Blonde body with white pickguard. Used on the On an Island tour.

'59 Sunburst body with sunburst ash body and white pickguard. Used on Animals' recording sessions. Last seen on rehearsals during the On an Island tour.

'61 Telecaster used during The Wall recording sessions. Also used live in 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. His main guitar during his first year with Pink Floyd.

Esquire

'55 Sunburst body aka "The workmate Tele". Neck pickup added. Used at the recording sessions for his first solo album, The Wall recording session and the following tour. Also seen when performing with Paul McCartney in the late 1990s.

Fender Bass VI. Used during The Wall recording sessions.

Fender Precision bass guitar

Gibson

A Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (P-90 pick-ups, Bigsby vibrato bridge)

Gibson EH150 Lap Steel guitar

Gibson "Chet Atkins" classical guitar

Gibson SG. Film of the "Dark Side of the Moon" recording sessions plainly show him laying down a guitar solo during these sessions with this guitar.

Gretsch Duo-Jet

Bill Lewis Guitar. Used at Meddle and Dark Side of the Moon recording sessions.

Gibson, Ovation, Takamine and Martin Acoustics

Taylor Guitars Acoustics

Jose Vilaplana nylon string guitar

Steinberger GL. His main guitar during A Momentary Lapse of Reason recording sessions.

Charvel Fretless Fender Precision style bass guitar. Used during The Wall recording sessions.

Music Man Fretless Stingray bass guitar. Used by Gilmour while running the house band at the 1991 Amnesty International concert, during Spinal Tap's performance on "Big Bottom." (All guitarists played bass on this song, and Gilmour played a solo.)

Jedsen (tuned D-G-D-G-B-E) and Fender Lap Steel guitars

In November of 2006, Fender announced that they will be issuing a replica of Gilmour's modified black Stratocaster. David's official blog confirmed in October 2007 that it will be released in November, to coincide with the release of the 'Remember That Night' Blu-Ray disc.

 Amplifiers

Hiwatt (main) DR 103 heads into WEM 4x12 cabinets loaded with Fane Crescendo speakers

Fender ‘56 Tweed Twin amp (used for smaller concerts)

Mesa Boogie Mark II C+

Alembic F2-B bass preamp

Custom-built 'Doppola' rotating speakers (driven by the Hiwatt heads)

Gallien/Krueger 250ML combo amp

Effect pedals

Electro-Harmonix/Sovtek Big Muff

Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress

MXR Dyna-Comp (pre-Dunlop 'Script' logo)

MXR Phase 90 (Used with Dynacomp for the famous "four note" Syd riff on Shine On Pts. I-V)

Colorsound Power Boost

Demeter Compulator

Chandler Tube Driver

BK Butler Tube Driver

Boss CS-2 Compression Sustainer

Boss GE-7 EQ Pedal

Boss MZ-2 Digital Metalizer

Pro Co RAT Distortion

Heil Talk box

Arbiter Fuzz Face

Ibanez CP9 Compression Sustainer

Uni-Vox Univibe

Vox Wah-Wah pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah-wah pedal

Binson Echorec II

Binson Echorec PE

Electro-Harmonix Small Stone

Digitech IPS 33B (Used for Whammy effects)

Ibanez Tube Screamer

Ernie Ball Volume Pedal

Pete Cornish all tube Pedal Boards and Custom effects

Pete Cornish Soft Sustain

Pete Cornish P-1

Pete Cornish P-2

Pete Cornish G-2

Pete Cornish SS-3

Pete Cornish ST-2

Pete Cornish Line Driver

Pete Cornish Linear Boost

Pete Cornish Tape Echo Simulator (T.E.S)

Boss CE-2 Chorus

The EBow

Miscellaneous

Heil Talk box (used in "Keep Talking" and "Pigs (Three Different Ones)")

EMS Hi-Fli Prototype

EMS Synthi-AKS

EMS VCS3

GHS Boomer strings in a custom set 10-12-16-28-38-48

Herco Flex 75 plectrums (picks)

Cross-stitched leather guitar strap used by Jimi Hendrix and bought for David by Polly Samson as a 60th birthday present

Shaffer-Vega wireless system for The Wall concerts 1980-81 and his 1984 About Face tour

Pete Cornish wireless system for the 1987-96 live Gilmour appearances

Evidence Audio Cables

Trivia

Gilmour worked as a model before joining Pink Floyd.

His hobbies include: car racing, flying airplanes, collecting guitars, and vintage aircraft.

Solo work

For his work with Pink Floyd, see Pink Floyd discography between 1968 and 1995.

Albums

David Gilmour - May 25, 1978

About Face - March 27, 1984

On an Island - March 6, 2006

Singles

On An Island, March 6, 2006

Smile/Island Jam, June 13, 2006

Filmography

David Gilmour Live 1984 (VHS) - September, 1984

David Gilmour in Concert (DVD) - October, 2002

Remember That Night (DVD/Blu-ray) - September, 2007

Collaborations and work for other artists

Syd Barrett, album "The Madcap Laughs", 1970

Syd Barrett, album "Barrett", 1970

Ron Geesin and Roger Waters, song "Give Birth to A Smile", found on the album "Music from "The Body"", 1970

Unicorn, album Blue Pine Trees, 1974

Roy Harper, song "The Game", album HQ, 1975

Kate Bush, executive producer on two tracks found on the album The Kick Inside‎, 1978

Wings, "Rockestra Theme" and "So Glad to See You Here", album Back to the Egg, 1979

Kate Bush, "Pull Out The Pin", found on the album The Dreaming‎, 1982

Atomic Rooster, Headline news, 1983

Paul McCartney, "No More Lonely Nights (Ballad)", album Give My Regards to Broad Street, 1984

Paul McCartney, "I Love This House", single The World Tonight, 1984/1997

Supertramp, "Brother Where You Bound", album Brother Where You Bound, 1985

Bryan Ferry, "Is Your Love Strong Enough?", album Legend‎ by Tangerine Dream, 1985

Bryan Ferry, album Boys and Girls, 1985

Nick Mason and Rick Fenn, "Lie for a Lie" (vocal), album Profiles‎, 1985

Pete Townshend, song "Give Blood", 1985

Arcadia, album So Red the Rose‎, 1985

The Dream Academy, production work/guitar on album The Dream Academy‎, 1985

Berlin, guitar on album Count Three and Pray‎, 1986

Kate Bush, "Love and Anger" and "Rocket's Tail", album The Sensual World, 1989

Paul McCartney, "We Got Married", album Flowers in the Dirt, 1984/1989

Rock Aid Armenia, "Smoke on the Water", album The Earthquake Album, 1989

Warren Zevon, album Transverse City (guitar), 1989

All About Eve, guitar on tracks Are You Lonely and Wishing the Hours Away on the album Touched by Jesus, 1991

Elton John, "Understanding Women", album The One, 1992

The Who, Quadrophenia (1996 Hyde Park concert)

Paul Rodgers, "Standing Around Crying", album Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters, 1993

B. B. King, "Cryin' Won't Help You Babe", album Deuces Wild, 1997

Paul McCartney, album Run Devil Run, 1999

Ringo Starr, album Ringo Rama, 2003

Alan Parsons, "Return to Tunguska", album A Valid Path, 2004

Various, "Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" (A tribute to John Peel, with Roger Daltrey, Peter Hook, Elton John, Robert Plant, Pete Shelley et al), single, (2005)

Chris Jagger & Atcha, album "Act of Faith", 2006

Dalbello (Track: "Immaculate Eyes"), album "She", 1987