When thinking of Pink Floyd, words like mystical, avant-garde, and transcendental come to mind. But above all, the band’s hallmark was its uniqueness. The combined talents of Syd Barrett, David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason seemed to produce music that was entirely their own. But in reality, not every note they played was completely original.
David Gilmour, known for his iconic guitar work, once shared a crucial piece of advice for young musicians: “I copied – don’t be afraid to copy – and eventually something that I suppose that I would call my own appeared.” Despite his modesty, it feels strange that Gilmour would admit to copying one of his favorite bands—especially when it involves the legendary Kinks.
Gilmour has always praised The Kinks for their ability to capture the essence of everyday British life and bring it to a global audience. His admiration for their music runs deep, particularly for their classic track “Waterloo Sunset,” which he has described as his perfect anthem for London.
In a 2003 appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, Gilmour revealed that “Waterloo Sunset” was one of his all-time favorite songs. He even described the ideal setting to listen to it as “on a lovely warm beach, with a sunset somewhere else, missing London.”
In fact, “Waterloo Sunset” holds such significance for Gilmour that he said it would be the perfect pop song—one he wished he had written himself. His admiration for the track speaks volumes about the influence The Kinks had on his own work. During the premiere of his concert film Remember That Night – Live at the Royal Albert Hall, Gilmour once again emphasized how much he loved the song, showcasing the lasting impact it had on him.
In a 2015 interview with Uncut, Gilmour reflected on how The Kinks’ influence had shaped his songwriting, particularly on the Pink Floyd track “Fat Old Sun” from Atom Heart Mother (1970). Gilmour admitted that when writing the song, he couldn’t shake the feeling that it sounded similar to something by The Kinks or another band.
“It’s one of those songs where the whole thing fell together very easily,” he said. “I remember thinking at the time, ‘What have I ripped this off? I’m sure it’s by the Kinks or someone…’”
Though no one ever pointed out a clear resemblance, Gilmour humorously acknowledged that he had probably absorbed some of their influence subconsciously.
“Fat Old Sun” remains a track that Gilmour holds dear, despite his bandmates not sharing his enthusiasm. In a 2002 interview with BBC Radio 2, he described the song as “fantastically overlooked” and revealed that he had tried to convince his bandmates to include it on Pink Floyd’s greatest hits album Echoes. However, they weren’t convinced, and the song was left off.
Gilmour’s openness to incorporating his influences into his music is a testament to the power of inspiration in songwriting. Like many artists before him, he channeled the sounds and emotions of his favorite musicians into his own work. On this occasion, though, his homage to The Kinks may have crossed a line—albeit one that went unnoticed by most.
