Pink Floyd's Gilmour Gives Walls to the Homeless

Reuters (via Yahoo) ^ | 05/20/03

[Drew68]

Pink Floyd's Gilmour Gives Walls to the Homeless

LONDON (Reuters) - Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour (news) donated $5.88 million to charity on Tuesday to house hundreds of homeless people and low-wage workers in central London.

The 59-year-old rock star said he was inspired by a similar community project developed in New York.

"I've seen what has been achieved in New York and am passionately behind this London project," he said in a statement.

The "urban village," administered by the Crisis charity, aims to house 400 residents, including the homeless and public service workers like nurses and teachers who have been priced out of the soaring London housing market.

Crisis said a site for the scheme has yet to be chosen.

Gilmour's searing guitar work featured on Pink Floyd's biggest albums, including "The Wall" and "Wish You Were Here."

His personal fortune from a hugely successful career in music has been estimated at $122 million.

[Drew68]

His personal fortune from a hugely successful career in music has been estimated at $122 million.

Gilmore has been giving away lots of money lately. I remember reading here on FR about a year ago that he was "downsizing" and giving his wealth away to charity. Unfortunately, I could not find the thread in the archives.

[martin_fierro]

I really, really used to be into Pink Floyd's music.

"Oh by the way which one's Pink?"

[Billy_bob_bob]

In all my years as a Pink Floyd fanatic, I've never before seen a picture with all of the band members in it, including Syd and David. Good find!

[facedown]

Front page at The Pink Floyd Fan Club

[Drew68]

"Oh by the way which one's Pink?"

Uh, that would be Roger. as much as I admire the virtuosity of David Gimore, Rick Wright and Nick Mason, Pink Floyd ceased to exist when the stubborn, bullheaded Roger Waters refused to participate.

It just ain't the same without him.

Gilmore's solo efforts have been very good though. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for Waters'.

[wardaddy]

Gilmour sems like a middle aged English gentleman in interviews and quite composed and articulate and kind.

Arguably the best guitarist in rock history to get the most sound from the least chops. Haunting.

I still love his work. He still gets sort of choked up when talking about Syd's cliffdive from sanity.

[11th Earl of Mar]

We should donate a plaque for the wall of the shelter:

Come on in dead boy, have a cigar. You're gonna go far."

[ConservativeDude]

Pink Floyd's Gilmour Gives Walls to the Homeless

sounds like another brick in the wall to me, all in all

[VOA]

Arguably the best guitarist in rock history to get the most sound from the least chops. Haunting.

I like Gilmour because he seemed to be humble and not puffed up about himself.

IIRC, he was once asked in an interview "why don't you play faster solos?" a la Jimmy Page, etc.

He said something like "There's a good reason. I can't play very fast."
(My guess is that he may have meant it to be self-effacing, but I liked
the quote a lot.)

Sounds like he's pretty much one of the good guys.

As for civic-involvement honorable mention, I think Chris Squire of "Yes" made
the rounds of the FDNY stations soon after 9-11. I read some article about how one
firemam, an amateur bassist, freaked out (happily) when Squire just strolled into their station.

[stop_fascism]

That's nice, but 5,880,000 / 400 = 14,700. Wouldn't it be easier just to give them checks?

[Drew68]

That's nice, but 5,880,000 / 400 = 14,700. Wouldn't it be easier just to give them checks?

Yes it would but like handing out money to panhandlers, giving checks directly to the homeless would likely result in little money being spent on actual accomodations and lots of money being spent on alcohol and drugs.

Gilmore is taking the "compassionate conservative" approach.

[Jay D. Dyson]

Gilmore's solo efforts have been very good though. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for Waters'.

Overall, I would concur, given that Waters' "Pros & Cons of Hitchhiking" and "Amused to Death" were hit-and-miss at best, but Waters' "Radio K.A.O.S." stands as his best concept work since Pink Floyd's "Animals" in my book.

I've always enjoyed Gilmour's stuff as well, though I was incredibly disappointed that he chose to keep Pink Floyd going after Waters left. Every PF album since Waters' departure has been nothing more than a beefed-up Gilmour solo album. :(

All that said, I commend Gilmour's generous contributions to those less fortunate than himself. He's a good soul, all told.

-Jay

[SJSAMPLE]

Exactly what HAS been achieved in New York? The homeless have returned (after an eight-year absence) and multiplied. Any attempts to remove their blight from the streets have been met with lawsuits. They're still there, committing more crimes than ever.

[bigfootbob]

You have to respect this guy for putting his DOUGH out there unlike the parasite Bono and his ilk that wants our money to make them "feel" special.

[Drew68]

You have to respect this guy for putting his DOUGH out there unlike the parasite Bono and his ilk that wants our money to make them "feel" special.

Exactly. It is rare when celebs actually use their *own* millions for charity.

[Drew68]

stands as his best concept work since Pink Floyd's "Animals" in my book.

"Animals" (IMHO) was Floyd's finest hour. I can listen to that cd anytime, anyplace.

[dead]

Gilmour is one of the few guitarists that I can recognize immediately in a song I've never heard before.

Mark Knopfler and George Harrison are two others.

Their guitar playing is as recognizable as other people's voices.

It's a shame that there's absolutely no hope of a Pink Floyd reunion. Waters really hates those guys, and vice versa.

[MikeD]

I humbly disagree. "The Division Bell" featured Rick Wright as composer and vocalist, for the first time since 1975 and 1973, respectively. By the time of "The Final Cut," Dave Gilmour wasn't even getting his producer's credit, let alone any compositional credit.

Then again, I have to remember that we're talking about guys who sued each other over inflatable pigs.

MD

PS -- "Animals" rocks. One of their most overlooked albums.

[wardaddy]

Shame yes. I think Mason "made up" with Waters but he and Gilmour are probably done for.

Damn shame...they could really do well with a tour and I'd pay to see them....it's too bad.

Waters is very talented and quirky....he's renting an apartment in Manhattan right now for 50K a month....eccentric and starnge with his money isn't he? He fought tooth and nail to keep the band name to himself but blows 50K per month on rent....very odd.

I don't think I've seen them since Wish You Were Here came out....the lights and the big gong are about all I can remember.

[Yardstick]

Arguably the best guitarist in rock history to get the most sound from the least chops. Haunting.

Your right. He probably has the best sense of melody of all the big rock guitarists, and a great sense of phrasing. His leads are brimming over with these memorable little melodic hooks. I can't think of another guitarist whose solos are more fun to sing along with.