David Gilmour has revealed that he “no longer feels comfortable singing” three classic Pink Floyd songs.
Gilmour is due to perform several concerts this year, marking his return to the stage for the first time in eight years.
Speaking to Mojo earlier this week, the Pink Floyd guitarist shared that there are a handful of the band’s classic songs that won’t be making the setlist for the upcoming shows.
“There are songs from the past that I no longer feel comfortable singing,” he said. “I love ‘Run Like Hell’. I loved the music I created for it, but all that ‘You’d better run, run, run…’ I now find that all rather, I don’t know… a bit terrifying and violent.”
He continued: “‘Another Brick In The Wall’ is another one I shan’t be doing. I don’t think I’ve done that with my own band, but I certainly did it in the post-Roger Pink Floyd, against my better judgment. The same with ‘Money’. I won’t be doing that.”
However, he added that he will still be performing some Pink Floyd fan-favourites on the tour. “I’m going to be sticking with the ones that are essentially my music, and I feel some ownership of. ‘Comfortably Numb’, ‘Wish You Were Here’, ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’, maybe,” he said.
David Gilmour 2024 tour dates are:
SEPTEMBER
27 – ROME, Italy, Circo Massimo
28 – ROME, Italy, Circo Massimo
29 – ROME, Italy, Circo Massimo
OCTOBER
1 – ROME, Italy, Circo Massimo
2 – ROME, Italy, Circo Massimo
3 – ROME, Italy, Circo Massimo
9 – LONDON, UK, Royal Albert Hall
10 – LONDON, UK, Royal Albert Hall
11 – LONDON, UK, Royal Albert Hall
12 – LONDON, UK, Royal Albert Hall
14 – LONDON, UK, Royal Albert Hall
15 – LONDON, UK, Royal Albert Hall
29 – LOS ANGELES, CA, Hollywood Bowl
30 – LOS ANGELES, CA, Hollywood Bowl
31 – LOS ANGELES, CA, Hollywood Bowl
NOVEMBER
4 – NEW YORK, NY, Madison Square Garden
5 – NEW YORK, NY, Madison Square Garden
6 – NEW YORK, NY, Madison Square Garden
9 – NEW YORK, NY, Madison Square Garden
Earlier this month, Gilmour spoke about selling the band’s catalogue in an interview with Rolling Stone. “To be rid of the decision making and the arguments that are involved with keeping it going is my dream,” he said, stating that it’s mainly to do with “getting out of the mud bath” – one that’s likely referring to Waters’ controversial and outspoken views.
The band are reportedly in talks to sell their catalogue at a price that’s apparently between $400million and $500million.
Sources have stated in a Variety report that Sony Music is in “advanced” talks to acquire the band’s recorded music rights for a hefty price.
Variety claims that the deal has been complicated in recent years due to former bassist Roger Waters‘ political statements, most recently against Israel and Ukraine. In response, Gilmour had attacked Waters with claims of anti-Semitism.
Elsewhere in the Rolling Stone interview, Gilmour said that he finds it “boring” talking about his disagreements with Waters. “As I said before, he left our pop group when I was in my 30s, and I’m a pretty old chap now, and the relevance of it is not there. I don’t really know his work since. So I don’t have anything to say on the topic.”
Gilmour has been in recent headlines following the release of new album ‘Luck and Strange’, which was issued on September 6. He performed his first live gig in four years at a pub open mic night, and spoke out against the dynamic pricing practices that followed the release of Oasis concert tickets.
“I think Oasis should do exactly what they want to do,” he told ITV News. I’m not sure about this strange ticketing thing that’s going on. They should put a price on tickets and stick to it.” In the same interview, he said that a Pink Floyd reunion is unlikely because the band has only “three people left and we’re not talking”.
