For all the debates about which band reigns supreme in rock history, few opinions carry as much weight as those of the artists themselves. And when it comes to Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour—a man who helped redefine the rock concert, crafted era-defining albums, and fronted one of music’s most ambitious acts—his answer is clear: he bows to The Beatles.
Despite his towering legacy with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has never hesitated to pay tribute to the band that changed everything for him. Born in 1946, Gilmour was swept up in Beatlemania like millions of other teenagers in the early 1960s. But the influence ran deeper than most. It was The Beatles who lit the spark that made him pick up a guitar—a decision that would alter the course of rock history.
In interviews over the years, Gilmour has consistently praised the Fab Four. When asked in 2018 whether he thought Pink Floyd deserved the title of the greatest band of all time, he deflected without hesitation: “I wouldn’t know. I wasn’t in The Beatles.”
That sentiment runs throughout his career. In 2002, Gilmour took part in a Beatles tribute show in Sussex, lending his talents to heartfelt renditions of ‘Across The Universe’ and ‘Revolution’. It was more than a tribute—it was a personal homage.
Perhaps his most candid reflection came in a 2015 interview with Mojo, where Gilmour laid it bare: “I really wish I had been in the Beatles. They taught me how to play guitar—I learned everything from them. Bass parts, lead, rhythm. Everything. They were incredible.”
His admiration didn’t stop at words. Gilmour’s fandom eventually crossed paths with reality. He played on Paul McCartney’s solo projects Give My Regards to Broad Street and Flowers in the Dirt, and even found himself sharing the stage with Macca at the iconic Cavern Club in Liverpool—the sacred ground where Beatlemania began.
That surreal moment wasn’t lost on him. “I’m still just a kid inside,” he told Mojo. “You’re in Studio Two at Abbey Road. Paul McCartney’s next to you. Your guitar is plugged in. That’s not just another day at work—it’s magic.”
Gilmour even convinced McCartney to belt out ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ during their Cavern Club gig, with Gilmour stepping into Lennon’s role for the night. It was the closest he’d ever get to living out the dream of being a Beatle—and it meant everything.
In a 2006 appearance on BBC Radio 2’s Tracks of My Years, Gilmour highlighted Lennon’s Dylan-influenced gem, ‘You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away’, as one of his all-time favorite Beatles tracks. “I was a total Beatles nut,” he confessed. “That song is just one example—I could have picked hundreds. Anything they did was brilliant.”
For Gilmour, the Beatles weren’t just idols. They were the blueprint. And while he helped forge a sonic legacy of his own, part of him will always be that teenage fan, air-guitaring in awe of the band that started it all.
