4 Musicians That Changed the Life of Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour

Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour has made quite a name for himself as both a guitarist and a solo musician. Like all of the greats from music history’s past, he was inspired by a few notable musicians who are legendary in their own right. Let’s dive into four musicians who changed David Gilmour’s life! Some of these artists might just change yours.

1. Lead Belly

Quite a few great rock musicians who became famous in the 1960s and 1970s have hailed Lead Belly as one of their greatest inspirations. David Gilmour is no different. “The Rock Island Line” is one of his favorite songs, and he noted back in 2006 that Lead Belly’s prowess with the 12-string was otherworldly to him as a young aspiring guitarist.

“Lead Belly, I loved him when I was very young, loved his 12-string guitar playing,” said Gilmour. “‘Rock Island Line’ was one of the first things I’ve learned.”

2. The Beatles

Who wasn’t inspired by The Beatles, realistically? The Fab Four were one particular group of musicians that changed David Gilmour’s life, namely through how much he was inspired by their work. Pink Floyd was quite obviously inspired by The Beatles’ later, more psychedelic works. Gilmour even said that they taught him how to play the guitar.

“I really wish I had been in The Beatles,” said Gilmour of The Beatles back in 2015. “They taught me how to play guitar; I learnt everything. The bass parts, the lead, the rhythm, everything. They were fantastic.”

3. Jimi Hendrix

Few guitarists from Gilmour’s time weren’t inspired by the insane talent of the late great Jimi Hendrix. Back in 2006, he said that “The Wind Cries Mary” was one of his all-time favorite songs. This led him to reflect on the first time he ever heard the guitar-playing legend perform.

“I went to a club in South Kensington in 1966, and this kid got on stage with Brian Auger and the Trinity and held the guitar the other way around and started playing,” said Gilmour. “Myself and the whole place were with their jaws hanging open.”

4. B.B. King

Rock and roll would be nothing without the blues, and Gilmour has known this for quite some time. B.B. King, in particular, was one blues musician who took the electric blues to a whole new level. His music, according to Gilmour himself, changed the Pink Floyd guitarist’s life. And he continues to have respect for the blues legend today.

“I’ve played with him a couple of times since, on a ‘Later With Jools Holland’ session and on one of his albums,” said Gilmour of B.B. King. “When he’s in the dressing room, he spends all his time writing lyrics. There are some guitar players who are instantly recognizable, and then there are all the rest.”

Photo by Gus Stewart/Redferns

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