David Gilmour

David Jon Gilmour was born on 6th March, 1946, in Grantchester Meadows, Cambridge. As the lead guitarist of Pink Floyd, he is by many considered one of the most influential guitarists on the rock stage. Right up to "The Dark Side of The Moon", Dave wrote his own songs, but from then up to "The Final Cut", Roger Waters wrote almost all the lyrics. Dave made up for it by producing some excellent guitar work, and production work on all those albums, most notably on the songs Shine On You Crazy Diamond (from "Wish You Were Here") and Comfortably Numb (from "The Wall"). He also did a large amount of the vocals. In the early 90s Gilmour divorced his wife Ginger. He now lives with his girl friend Polly Samson, a journalist who also contributed to some of The Division Bell's lyrics. He is a neighbour to his friend and band mate Nick Mason in Maida Vale, London and has a fully equipped recording studio, The Astoria, on his houseboat on Thames. He also enjoys flying his planes and owns the Intrepid Aviation Company collection of classic aircraft.

Lists Jimi Hendrix as a major influence. When he saw Hendrix perform at a London nightclub in 1966, he said that nobody who saw the performance that night left the club not thinking that Hendrix would go all the way to the top.

Contrary to popular belief, he did not replace Syd Barrett as a member of Pink Floyd. He was asked by the band's members to join in order to supplement the guitar work of the increasingly erratic Syd Barrett. For a brief time he and Syd were both members of Pink Floyd at the same time. When Barrett's mental breakdown made it impossible for him to continue with the group, Gilmour became a permanent contributing member in time for their second album, 1968's "A Saucerful of Secrets". Barrett also contributed one track to "A Saucerful of Secrets", his last with the band. He departed soon after that.

Had a famously tempestuous relationship with his Pink Floyd bandmate Roger Waters, who left the band after the 1983 album "The Final Cut" and attempted to sue to stop Gilmour continuing the band without him.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of Pink Floyd) in 1996.

In July 2001 he was voted the best East Anglian guitarist in "Total Guitar Magazine"'s poll of the greatest 12 British guitarists.

In March 2002 he was a member of the Paul McCartney group.

In March 2003 Pink Floyd's 1973 album, "Dark Side of the Moon", topped "Classic Rock Magazine"'s list of the 30 greatest concept albums of all time. Their 1979 album, "The Wall", came tenth and their 1983 album, "The Final Cut", came 21st on the list.

On 16 November 2005 he was inducted as part of Pink Floyd into the UK Music Hall of Fame for their outstanding contribution to British music and as integral part of British music culture.

Was the winner of the 2008 Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement Award.