David Jon Gilmour, CBE (born 6 March 1946) is an English singer, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He joined the progressive rock band Pink Floyd as guitarist and co-lead vocalist in 1968, effectively as a replacement for founder Syd Barrett, who left the band shortly afterwards.
Pink Floyd subsequently achieved international success with the concept albums The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, and The Wall. By the early 1980s, they had become one of the most critically acclaimed and best-selling acts in the history of popular music; it was estimated that by 2012 the band had sold over 250 million records worldwide, including 75 million units sold in the United States. Following the departure of another founding member, Roger Waters, Gilmour assumed leadership of Pink Floyd in 1985.
Gilmour has recorded four solo albums, all four of which have charted in the US Top 40: 2006's On an Island peaked at number 6 in 2006, 2008's Live in Gdansk peaked at number 26, his 1978 self-titled solo debut peaked at number 29 in 1978, and 1984's About Face peaked at number 32 in 1984.
Although mainly known for his guitar work, Gilmour is also a proficient multi-instrumentalist. He also played bass on a portion of Pink Floyd tracks, keyboards, synthesiser, banjo, lap steel, mandolin, harmonica, and drums on the Syd Barrett solo track "Dominoes". He can also play the saxophone.
Many critics have been very favourable towards Gilmour and his style, music critic Alan di Perna has praised Gilmour's guitar work as being an integral element of Pink Floyd's sound. Rolling Stone ranked him number 14 in their "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" list and di Perna described him as the most important guitarist of the 1970s, Perna also referred to Gilmour as "the missing link between [Jimi] Hendrix and Van Halen." In a 2006 interview with Gilmour, he commented on his playing technique: "[My] fingers make a distinctive sound... [they] aren't very fast, but I think I am instantly recognisable... The way I play melodies is connected to things like Hank Marvin and the Shadows".
Browse our unique collection of David Gilmour photos and prints below
David Gilmour at the rehearsal for his Brighton performance on the Rattle that Lock Tour in September 2015
David Gilmour photographed by Kevin Westenberg for the 'Rattle That Lock' album campaign in 2015.
David Gilmour performing at the Royal Albert Hall as part of his Rattle That Lock Tour in September 2015.
David Gilmour at the rehearsal for his Brighton performance on the Rattle that Lock Tour in September 2015.
David Gilmour taking time out during the recordings for 'Wish You Were Here' in 1975
Pink Floyd performing live at the Wembley Empire Pool in October 1972 during their Dark Side of the Moon Tour
Pink Floyd performing at the Brighton Dome in June 1972 whilst on their Dark Side of the Moon tour.
David Gilmour performing onstage during Pink Floyd's British Winter Tour in November 1974
Iconic image of David Gilmour playing his ‘The Black Strat’ with Pink Floyd live at Earls Court, London on in May 1973.
David Gilmour & Rick Wright reading the newspapers during Pink Floyd's British Winter Tour in 1974
Contact sheet of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers photographed at Hyde Park, London in 1991
Led Zeppelin performing at Madison Square Garden, New York, USA 1977.
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