Phil Manzanera recently opened up about his longtime friendship and professional collaboration with David Gilmour, highlighting the Pink Floyd guitarist’s unmatched precision and expressive style.
The Roxy Music guitarist and renowned producer has shared a strong musical bond with Gilmour over the years. Their collaboration includes contributions to two of Gilmour’s solo albums, co-writing the Pink Floyd track “One Slip” from the 1987 album A Momentary Lapse of Reason, and co-producing the band’s final studio release, The Endless River (2014).
Manzanera’s relationship with Gilmour stretches back to his teenage years, long before either of them became household names. Their paths crossed again during the making of Roxy Music’s second album For Your Pleasure. At London’s Air Studios, Manzanera encountered Chris Thomas — the mix engineer for Pink Floyd’s iconic track “Money” from The Dark Side of the Moon. Recalling the moment in a new interview with Guitar World, Manzanera shared:
“I went into the control room of Studio Two, and none of the Floyd were there. It was just Chris, and he played me the song ‘Money.’ And when I heard the guitar solo, I thought, ‘Jesus, this is amazing!’ So I sent David a telegram saying, ‘Remember me? I’m in a band now called Roxy Music.'”
Reflecting on Gilmour’s pivotal role in shaping Pink Floyd’s sound, Manzanera commented:
“[Original Floyd guitarist] Syd Barrett was more off the wall, but David brought a sort of blues sensibility to Pink Floyd, and then had to do the experimental stuff as well, too. He evolved in his own way of creating weird and wonderful sounds.”
Manzanera also discussed the technical and emotional elements that define Gilmour’s unique playing style:
“One of the things about David’s playing – and in some way it’s a bit like me – is that while it seems to be about distortion and echo, it is actually about the way he plays the notes and bends them, along with the strength of his hands.”
He emphasized that Gilmour’s attention to detail goes beyond feel and tone:
“And he’s got a fantastic sense of tuning. He’s very, very hot on tuning. So often when I was recording him, I would have a tuner right there with me to check on the tuning. But he would come in to listen to a take or something, and if a note wasn’t bent or pulled or pushed to the right tuning, he’d want to redo it.”
In essence, Manzanera believes that the magic behind Gilmour’s guitar work lies in both his emotional touch and his technical discipline — a combination that continues to inspire generations of musicians.
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