Sir David Jon Gilmour David Jon Gilmour
12 min read
Reading time
2,323
Words
Published
139
Film credits
2
Awards
David Gilmour joined Pink Floyd in 1968 to supplement Syd Barrett’s guitar work, becoming a permanent member for their second album A Saucerful of Secrets. He played iconic guitar solos on Shine On You Crazy Diamond and Comfortably Numb, and shaped Pink Floyd’s landmark albums from The Dark Side of the Moon to The Division Bell. Gilmour launched the career of Kate Bush and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted him in 1996.
Names, aliases, and relatives of David Gilmour — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
David Gilmour by the numbers — life, work, and family.
David Gilmour — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Growing up in Grantchester Meadows, Cambridge, David Jon Gilmour was born to Sylvia and Douglas G. Gilmour on March 6, 1946. He grew up with his brother Mark in a household that encouraged music. He worked as a model before joining Pink Floyd. After seeing Jimi Hendrix perform at a London nightclub in 1966, Gilmour predicted Hendrix would go to the top.
In 1968, Pink Floyd asked Gilmour to supplement the guitar work of the increasingly erratic Syd Barrett. For a brief period, both were members, but after Barrett’s departure, Gilmour became a permanent contributor in time for the band’s second album, A Saucerful of Secrets 1968. His guitar work and vocals became central to Pink Floyd’s sound, especially on The Dark Side of the Moon 1973, where he wrote and sang, though Roger Waters penned most lyrics from then until The Final Cut 1983. Gilmour’s solos on Shine On You Crazy Diamond from Wish You Were Here and Comfortably Numb from The Wall are among his most recognized. After Waters left the band in 1983, Gilmour led Pink Floyd through A Momentary Lapse of Reason 1987 and The Division Bell 1994. He also launched the career of singer-songwriter Kate Bush and released solo albums like On an Island 2006.
Gilmour married Ginger Gilmour on June 5, 1975; they divorced in the early 1990s. He later married Polly Samson, a journalist who contributed to the lyrics of The Division Bell, on July 29, 1994. The couple live in Maida Vale, London, near bandmate Nick Mason, and have a daughter, Romany Gilmour. Gilmour also owns the Astoria, a fully equipped recording studio on a houseboat on the Thames, and indulges his passion for aviation through Intrepid Aviation, a collection of classic aircraft.
David Gilmour is one of rock’s most influential guitarists. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted him as a member of Pink Floyd in 1996 and the UK Music Hall of Fame inducted him in 2005. In 2003, Dark Side of the Moon topped Classic Rock Magazine’s list of the 30 greatest concept albums. Gilmour received the CBE in 2003 and the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. His emotive guitar solos and role in shaping Pink Floyd’s sound define his legacy.
Browse the complete filmography of David Gilmour — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Could not load more credits.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by David Gilmour — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from David Gilmour — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
After Dark Side We Were Really Floundering Around. I Wanted to Make the Next Album More Musical, Because I Felt Some of These Tracks Had Been Just Vehicles for the Words. We Were Working in 1974 in This Horrible Little Rehearsal Room in Kings Cross Without Windows, Putting Together What Became the Next Two Albums, ‘Wish You Were Here’, and ‘Animals’.
For Me, ‘Wish You Were Here’ Was Very Satisfying. I’d Rather Listen to It Than Dark Side of the Moon. I Think We Achieved a Better Balance of Music and Lyrics. ‘Dark Side’ Went a Bit Too Far the Other Way Too Much Importance Was Placed on the Lyrics. and Sometimes the Tunes Were Neglected.
No One Can Replace Richard Wright He Was My Musical Partner and My Friend. 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.
Everything in Moderation, That’s What I Live By. I’m Just Not a Tortured, Frustrated Person Who Has to Pour All These Things Out of His Soul. None of That Is a Prerequisite to Being Good at Rock ‘N’ Roll.
I’ve Never Had Any Religion. I’d Prefer It If I Did Really. Even as a Boy I Just Couldn’t Make Myself Believe. Mortality Has Been on My Mind Since I Was Thirteen.
I Had Some Criticisms of Dark Side of the Moon. It’s Kind of Ludicrous in a Way to Have Criticisms of an Album That Was so Successful but I Did Voice Them at the Time. I Thought That One or Two of the Vehicles Carrying the Ideas Were Not as Strong as the Ideas That They Carried. I Thought We Should Try and Work Harder on Marrying the Idea and the Vehicle That Carried It, so That They Both Had an Equal Magic, or Whatever, to Them. so It’s Something I Was Personally Pushing When We Made Wish You Were Here. It’s Underrated by Some, but Not by Me. I Think It’s Our Most Complete Album.
The Period After Dark Side of the Moon When We Made Wish You Were Here Was a Strange Time. We Had Achieved Everything Really That One Could Hope to Achieve. There Was a Bit of a Distance Between Us All at That Point, and Roger Wasn’t the Only One Who Noticed This Sense of Absence. but That Sense of Absence Is Part of the Album’s Magic. It Helped Create It. I Don’t Know Quite How It Did. I Can’t Regret That Period at All.
I Think Things Like ‘Comfortably Numb’ Were the Last Embers of Mine and Roger’s Ability to Work Collaboratively Together.
The Final Cut Is Very Good but It’s Not Personally How I Would See a Pink Floyd Record Going.
Little-known facts about David Gilmour — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
Helped launch the career of singer-songwriter Kate Bush.
Considers Wish You Were Here his favorite Pink Floyd album and Shine On, You Crazy Diamond his favorite Pink Floyd song.
Worked as a model before joining Pink Floyd.
Lists Jimi Hendrix as a major influence; after seeing him perform in 1966, he felt certain Hendrix would reach the top.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Pink Floyd in 1996.
In 1966, was hospitalized for malnutrition due to low funds.
The song Comfortably Numb from The Wall was a reworking of a song cut from his first solo album.
In March 2003, Dark Side of the Moon topped Classic Rock Magazine’s list of the 30 greatest concept albums; The Wall placed tenth and The Final Cut 21st.
Hobbies include car racing, flying airplanes, and collecting guitars and vintage aircraft.
Did not replace Syd Barrett; he was asked to join and supplement Barrett’s guitar work, with both briefly in the band together.
Had a famously tempestuous relationship with Roger Waters, who left after The Final Cut and tried to sue to stop Gilmour continuing Pink Floyd.
Voted best East Anglian guitarist in Total Guitar Magazine’s 2001 poll of the greatest 12 British guitarists.
Awarded the CBE Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to music.
Inducted as part of Pink Floyd into the UK Music Hall of Fame on November 16, 2005.
Owns numerous airplanes, is a licensed pilot, and founded the Intrepid Aviation flying museum.
Won the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
Performed with a reunited Pink Floyd at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park in June 2005.
As of May 2009, was living in West Sussex, England.
In 2007, sold his London mansion for £5,000,000 and gave all proceeds to charity, citing being tired of having so much money.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about David Gilmour.
Celebrities similar to David Gilmour — same craft, ranked by reach.
🇨🇦 Canada
🇺🇸 United States
🇺🇸 United States
🇺🇸 United States
🇺🇸 United States
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
🇮🇪 Ireland
🇺🇸 United States
🇺🇸 United States
🇺🇸 United States
🇺🇸 United States
🇺🇸 United States
