David Gilmour facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Gilmour
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Gilmour at the Royal Albert Hall in 2024
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David Jon Gilmour
6 March 1946 Cambridge, England
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| Years active | 1963–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Virginia "Ginger" Hasenbein
(m. 1975; div. 1990)Polly Samson
(m. 1994) |
| Children | 8 |
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David Jon Gilmour (born 6 March 1946) is a famous English guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the legendary rock band Pink Floyd. He joined the band in 1967. Pink Floyd became one of the biggest and most loved bands in music history. After Roger Waters left in 1985, Gilmour led Pink Floyd. They released several successful albums like A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) and The Division Bell (1994).
David Gilmour has also released five solo albums. Three of his solo albums have reached number one on the UK music charts. He also helped start the career of singer-songwriter Kate Bush by paying for her first recordings.
As a member of Pink Floyd, Gilmour was added to the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. He also joined the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2003, he received an honor called Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). Rolling Stone magazine named him the 28th-greatest guitarist in 2023.
Gilmour cares about many important causes. He supports animal rights, environmental protection, and helping people who are homeless or in poverty. He is married and has eight children. His wife, Polly Samson, has written lyrics for many of his songs.
Early Life and Music Beginnings
David Jon Gilmour was born on March 6, 1946, in Cambridge, England. His father was a university professor, and his mother worked as a film editor for the BBC. His parents always encouraged his love for music.
In 1954, David bought his first song, "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley. He became even more excited about music after hearing Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel". He borrowed a guitar and taught himself to play using a book by Pete Seeger. When he was 11, Gilmour met future Pink Floyd members Syd Barrett and Roger Waters at school.
In 1962, Gilmour studied languages and learned to speak French well. He often practiced guitar with Syd Barrett during lunch breaks. Later that year, Gilmour joined a blues rock band called Jokers Wild. They recorded a few songs, but only a small number of copies were made.
In 1965, Gilmour traveled to France. He even got arrested for playing music on the street! He also worked as a driver for a fashion designer. In 1967, he returned to France with some friends to play music, but they struggled and their equipment was stolen.
Joining Pink Floyd
In 1967, Pink Floyd, which included Gilmour's school friends Barrett and Waters, released their first album. Gilmour saw them record a song and noticed that Syd Barrett was having mental health problems.
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In December 1967, Pink Floyd invited Gilmour to join the band. They wanted him to help because Barrett was becoming difficult to work with. By March 1968, Barrett left the band, and Gilmour became a full member. The band's drummer, Nick Mason, said that Gilmour brought a new sense of order and shape to their music.
In the 1970s, Gilmour helped a young songwriter named Kate Bush. He was so impressed by her music that he paid for her to record some demo songs. He also helped her get a record deal with EMI. She became a very successful artist.
First Solo Music
By the late 1970s, Gilmour felt he had more musical ideas than he could use in Pink Floyd. In 1978, he released his first solo album, David Gilmour. Some music he wrote for this album later became the famous Pink Floyd song "Comfortably Numb".
In 1984, he released his second solo album, About Face. This album allowed him to share his feelings about different topics. He toured to support the album and also played guitar for other artists. He helped produce music for the band the Dream Academy, including their hit song "Life in a Northern Town".
Leading Pink Floyd
In 1985, Roger Waters said Pink Floyd was finished. But Gilmour and Mason decided to keep the band going without him. Waters officially left in 1987, and Gilmour became the band's leader.
In 1986, Gilmour bought a houseboat called Astoria and turned it into a recording studio. He used it to produce Pink Floyd's 1987 album, A Momentary Lapse of Reason. Gilmour wanted to bring back a balance between music and lyrics in Pink Floyd's songs.
Pink Floyd released their next album, The Division Bell, in 1994.
Later Career and Reunions
In 2001 and 2002, Gilmour performed solo concerts in London and Paris. These shows were released as the In Concert DVD.
On July 2, 2005, Pink Floyd reunited with Roger Waters for the Live 8 concert. This special performance made their music very popular again. Gilmour gave all his profits from the concert to charities that help people in need. He encouraged other artists to do the same.
In 2006, Gilmour released his third solo album, On an Island, on his 60th birthday. It quickly became number one in the UK. He toured to support the album, and a live DVD of the tour was released. He also released a tribute song to Syd Barrett, who had passed away that year.
In 2009, Gilmour performed at a charity concert to help homeless people. He also released a song to raise awareness for Gary McKinnon, who was accused of computer hacking.
Recent Years
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In 2010, Gilmour performed with Roger Waters again for a charity event. They even played "Comfortably Numb" together at a concert in London in 2011. This showed that their long-running disagreements had ended.
In 2015, Gilmour released his fourth solo album, Rattle That Lock. A documentary about his life and music, David Gilmour: Wider Horizons, was also released. In 2017, a film and album called Live at Pompeii came out. It showed his concerts at the ancient Amphitheatre of Pompeii.
In 2020, Gilmour performed online with his family. He released a new song called "Yes, I Have Ghosts," which featured his daughter Romany. In 2024, he released his fifth solo album, Luck and Strange. His wife, Polly Samson, wrote most of the lyrics. The album also features music from his late bandmate Richard Wright and contributions from his children. Gilmour believes this album is his best work since Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon.
He began a tour for Luck and Strange in September 2024.
Musical Style and Influence
Gilmour learned from many guitarists like Pete Seeger, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton. He once said, "I copied – don't be afraid to copy – and eventually something that I suppose that I would call my own appeared."
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Experts describe Gilmour's guitar playing as unique and always improving. He is known for his deep, clear sound and expressive notes. He focuses on feeling and precision rather than playing very fast. His fingers and the way he uses effects create a sound that is instantly recognizable.
Besides guitar, Gilmour also plays bass, keyboards, banjo, and saxophone. He even played bass on some Pink Floyd songs.
Many musicians look up to David Gilmour. He is seen as a link between older guitar legends like Jimi Hendrix and newer ones. In 1996, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His guitar solos on songs like "Comfortably Numb" and "Time" are considered some of the greatest of all time.
Famous Guitars
David Gilmour has owned many guitars throughout his career.
The Black Strat
One of his most famous guitars is the "Black Strat", a Fender Stratocaster. He used it in most Pink Floyd concerts and on many albums between 1970 and 1983. He bought it in New York in 1970. This guitar was changed many times over the years. In 2019, it was sold at an auction for charity for $3.9 million, making it one of the most expensive guitars ever sold.
Fender, a guitar company, even made special copies of Gilmour's Black Strat. These copies look exactly like his famous guitar, even showing the same wear and tear.
Other Guitars
Gilmour also owns the "0001 Strat", another special Fender Stratocaster with a white body and gold parts. He used it at a concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Stratocaster. This guitar was also sold for charity for over $1.8 million.
He has used other electric guitars like a Gibson Les Paul for the solo on "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2". He also plays acoustic guitars, including models from Martin and Ovation. For slide guitar, he often uses Jedson and Fender lap steel guitars.
Gilmour has played bass guitar in the studio and on stage. He has used various bass models, including Fender Precision and Jazz basses.
Awards and Honors
In 2003, David Gilmour was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his contributions to music. He received this honor at Buckingham Palace.
In 2008, he won the Ivor Novello Lifetime Contribution Award for his excellent songwriting. He also received an award for his outstanding contribution to music at the Q Awards. He dedicated this award to his bandmate, Richard Wright, who had recently passed away. In 2009, he received an honorary doctorate from Anglia Ruskin University.
Helping Others: Charity Work
David Gilmour is known for his support of many charities. These include Oxfam, Greenpeace, Amnesty International, and Teenage Cancer Trust.
In 2003, he sold his house and gave all the money, £3.6 million, to Crisis. This charity helps homeless people find housing. He is now a vice-president of the organization.
In 2019, Gilmour auctioned off 120 of his guitars for charity. This included his famous Black Strat and other valuable guitars. The auction raised over $21 million, and all the money went to ClientEarth, an environmental charity.
Personal Life
David Gilmour has been married twice. His first marriage was to Virginia "Ginger" Hasenbein in 1975. They had four children together.
Since 1994, he has been married to Polly Samson, a writer. She has written lyrics for many of his songs, including those for Pink Floyd. They have four children together. His daughter Romany has sung and played harp on his recent album, Luck and Strange.
Gilmour is an atheist and describes himself as left-wing in politics. He supports social equality.
He is also an experienced pilot and loves aviation. He used to own a company with a collection of historical aircraft, but he sold it because it became too much like a business. He still enjoys flying his old biplane.
Gilmour owns homes in Sussex and Brighton, England. He also spends time on his houseboat recording studio, Astoria.
Discography
Solo Studio Albums
- David Gilmour (1978)
- About Face (1984)
- On an Island (2006)
- Rattle That Lock (2015)
- Luck and Strange (2024)
Tours
- About Face Tour (1984)
- On an Island Tour (2006)
- Rattle That Lock Tour (2015–2016)
- Luck and Strange tour (2024)
Images for kids
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Gilmour performing with Pink Floyd in the mid-1970s
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Gilmour playing lap steel guitar, 1977
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See also
In Spanish: David Gilmour para niños
- List of most valuable celebrity memorabilia
