In a recent interview, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour has unequivocally shut down any possibility of reuniting with former bandmate Roger Waters. The 78-year-old musician cited Waters’ political views as a significant factor behind his refusal. “I tend to steer clear of people who actively support genocidal and autocratic dictators like Putin and Maduro,” Gilmour told The Guardian. He also expressed disdain for Waters’ stance on human rights, especially regarding women and the LGBTQ+ community.
Gilmour’s comments follow long-standing tensions between the two iconic Pink Floyd members, whose artistic and personal differences have been widely publicized. “Nothing would make me share a stage with someone who thinks such treatment of women and the LGBT community is OK,” Gilmour stated. However, he did express a desire to perform once again with the late Pink Floyd keyboardist Rick Wright, describing him as “one of the gentlest and most musically gifted people” he ever knew.
This firm stance comes amidst reports of Pink Floyd selling their music and likeness rights to Sony for an estimated $400 million. The deal reportedly includes the band’s recorded music, merchandise, and theatrical rights but excludes songwriting. The iconic artwork that defined albums such as The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here, largely crafted by the design company Hipgnosis, is also part of the sale.
If confirmed, Pink Floyd will join artists like Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, who have sold their music rights to Sony in recent years. However, neither the band nor Sony has made an official statement. Gilmour had earlier confirmed in an August interview with Rolling Stone that discussions around the sale were ongoing, but details remained under wraps.