David Gilmour’s decision to step away from Pink Floyd was hardly sudden. After decades of extraordinary success, creative highs, and internal conflict, the legendary guitarist had had enough. Although Pink Floyd brought Gilmour tremendous wealth and artistic fulfillment, the years of feuding with Roger Waters and the weight of constant decision-making within such a massive group began to wear on him. By the time he reached 78, Gilmour had earned the right to find peace, even if it meant stepping back from the chaotic rock-and-roll spotlight.
In September, Gilmour released Luck and Strange, his first solo album in nine years. The album showcased a musician still at the height of his powers, moving his cerebral sound forward while staying true to his unique style. Releasing music of such quality at 78, especially with a massive legacy like his, is a testament to the artist’s enduring creativity. While many his age might retreat into quiet lives, Gilmour remains fiercely active in his musical pursuits.
The album’s arrival marked a period of personal liberation for Gilmour. In an interview that month, he spoke candidly about the decision to sell Pink Floyd’s back catalogue—a move that had long been on his mind. It wasn’t about the money, he clarified, but about freeing himself from the tangled web of the band’s business dealings. In October, the band sold their back catalogue to Sony for a staggering $400 million, further cementing Gilmour’s sense of freedom. Though Pink Floyd’s legacy will always be a part of him, Gilmour had finally distanced himself from the endless negotiations and internal turmoil that had clouded his later years with the band.
Yet, the most striking revelation came in November when Gilmour expressed regret over Pink Floyd’s 2014 album, The Endless River. While Gilmour had always been vocal about his mixed feelings toward some of Pink Floyd’s work, this album—based on unreleased material from The Division Bell sessions—stood out as a low point in his eyes.
He openly admitted his mistake in releasing it, saying, “My mistake, I suppose, was being bullied by the record company to have it out as a properly paid-for Pink Floyd record. It should have been clear what it was.”
The Endless River was an ambient album pieced together from leftover tracks, much of which had already circulated on bootlegs. After the death of keyboardist Richard Wright in 2008, Gilmour and drummer Nick Mason decided to rework the material into a proper Pink Floyd release. While it was seen as a fitting way to close the chapter on the band, for Gilmour, it marked the final straw. He acknowledged that it was time for him to break free from the band’s baggage and start fresh—an exit that took him ten years to make.
The release of Luck and Strange and Gilmour’s candid comments about his past show that, for all of Pink Floyd’s monumental success, the time had come for him to move on and embrace new creative endeavors. His decision to sell the band’s catalogue and his honest reflections on their final album illustrate just how far he’s come from the turmoil of the past. With a career that continues to thrive, Gilmour has long since stepped out of the shadow of Pink Floyd, determined to leave that chapter behind.
