David Gilmour, of legendary prog band Pink Floyd, took to Jimmy Kimmel’s late night talk show this week to play what was his first American TV performance in a decade.
Gilmour was on the show to promote his upcoming solo album Rattle That Lock, which came out in September last year. Gilmour performed the stunning Pink Floyd classic Wish You Were Here, as well as the title track to his new album.
If you’re anything like me (aka a massive Pink Floyd fan with multiple copies of this album on vinyl,) this incredible rendition will send shivers up your spine and back down again. Performed with essentially the same instrumentation as the original – two acoustic guitars, backed by keys, bass and drums, it’s a gorgeous rendition of the timeless track.
Easily one of the most important, iconic songs of their career, it’s a real treat to hear a fresh version.
Originally written (as was the whole Wish You Wee Here album mostly in response to the death of Syd Barrett, it’s intimate and heartbreaking on musical and thematic levels. A full forty years after this song was first released, it’s amazing how much this song still resonates with us today.
https://youtu.be/LTGwB6CBuX0
https://youtu.be/DcGju-xvcZM
Image: Youtube / Jimmy Kimmel Live
In July, former Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour announced that he would be releasing his first album in nine years, Rattle That Lock. The news was followed shortly by an announcement of a tour that would see him head to the US for a string of shows, as well as the release of the album’s lead and title single. In anticipation of the album and tour, Gilmour staged a rehearsal gig in Brighton, where much of the recording for Rattle That Lock was done, over the weekend.
The extensive set list included the live debut of a number of the album’s tracks (5 A.M, Rattle That Lock, Faces of Stone, The Girl in the Yellow Dress), along with a bunch of Pink Floyd tracks (Wish You Were Here, Money, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Comfortable Numb). Included in the Pink Floyd selection was a rendition of Us and Them, which Gilmour’s first live performance of the song.
He also recently shared a video on YouTube covering the making of the album’s second single, Today. In the video, Gilmour discusses how the song came about and his preference of using backing singers throughout most of his music, including Pink Floyd material. Today is said to have been pieced together by Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera from music that Gilmour himself had previously discarded.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHP7l0EaouM
David Gilmour, ex-guitarist and lead vocalist of Pink Floyd, has taken some time out from promoting his solo LP to pay homage to The Beatles. Although recently confirming that Pink Floyd is definitely over, he’s shown no signs of slowing down. First we saw preview of the title track from upcoming album Rattle That Lock, along with a stunning animated video created by the design group who made the iconic images for Dark Side of the Moon; now comes his sweeping rendition of The Beatles’ Here, There and Everywhere.
His take on the McCartney ballad is true to the original, but you can hear the otherworldly guitar solo that has Gilmour written all over it.
While The Beatles cover won’t appear on Rattle That Lock, it will be included in this month’s issue of MOJO Magazine which features Gilmour on the cover. In his interview with MOJO, Gilmour talked about the impact The Beatles had on him as a musician. “I really wish I had been in the Beatles,” Gilmour said. “[They] taught me how to play guitar; I learnt everything. The bass parts, the lead, the rhythm, everything. They were fantastic.”
If Gilmour couldn’t be a Beatle, Pink Floyd guitarist is a solid runner up. Check out Gilmour’s cover below.
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