Paul McCartney did it. So did Phil
Collins and Eric Clapton. Add British-born musician David
Gilmour to the list of musicians who have gone on to carve
their own space in the music industry after leaving superstar
bands.
While Gilmour will likely always be remembered as an
intricate part of Pink Floyd – just as Paul McCartney’s
name has become synonymous with the Beatles –
the guitarist has also gone on to enjoy his own solo
success.
Gilmour, born in the London suburb of Cambridge, began
playing the guitar from an early age. His love of music
and his talent blossomed as part of the world famous
band, Pink Floyd. Fellow musicians Syd Barrett, Roger
Waters, Nick Mason, and Rick Wright started Pink Floyd
in 1965, and Gilmour was invited to join in 1967, to
replace his old friend Barrett who was suffering from
debilitating mental illness. Gilmour would go on to
become an integral part of Pink Floyd with his writing,
singing, and guitar playing abilities. In fact, many
critics and industry insiders credit Gilmour with the
success of Pink Floyd’s album, “Dark Side
of the Moon,” the industry’s third most
successful album to date.
But, it wasn’t until Waters departure that Gilmour
took the reigns of the band, ensuring Pink Floyd continued
to make its mark on the music scene. The first Pink
Floyd album, with Gilmour at the helms, proved to be
a huge success. “A Momentary Lapse of Reason”
shot to the top of the charts in both the United States
and the United Kingdom, proving Gilmour had what it
took to take the band to new heights.
Despite his success with Pink Floyd, Gilmour decided
to branch off and pursue a solo career. He released
his self-titled debut album in 1978 during a hiatus
from Pink Floyd, and before long David Gilmour concert
tickets were at a premium. It wasn’t until 1984
that he released his second album, “About Face,”
which came on the heels of Waters departure from the
band.
Gilmour, and his Pink Floyd bandmates, were inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Gilmour
received one of the highest distinctions in the United
Kingdom when he was named a Commander of the British
Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth in 2005.
Gilmour’s most recent album “On An Island”
hit stores in March 2006.
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