In a 1985 interview with Guitar Classics magazine, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour opened up about his approach to guitar playing and the influence of his peers, including Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler and the late Eddie Van Halen. Known for his expressive, melodic phrasing and emotional depth rather than technical flash, Gilmour explained that while he admired other players, he never consciously set out to copy them.
“These days I don’t listen to other people with the objective of trying to steal their licks,” Gilmour said. “Although I’ve got no objections to stealing them if that seems like a good idea. I’m sure that I’m still influenced by Mark Knopfler and Eddie Van Halen as well.”
When pressed on whether he ever attempted to incorporate Eddie Van Halen’s pioneering techniques, Gilmour was candid about his limitations. “I can’t play like Eddie Van Halen, I wish I could. I sat down to try some of those ideas and I can’t do it. I don’t know if I could ever get any of that stuff together,” he admitted. “Sometimes I think I should work at the guitar more. I play every day but I don’t consciously practice scales or anything in particular.”
At the time, Van Halen’s rapid-fire tapping, blazing runs, and groundbreaking tone were redefining rock guitar for a new generation. Gilmour, however, stuck to his strengths: bending single notes into soaring cries, layering atmospheric textures, and focusing on the emotional impact of every phrase.
Though their playing styles couldn’t have been more different, both Gilmour and Van Halen left an indelible mark on rock history. Gilmour’s introspective restraint contrasted with Van Halen’s explosive innovation, yet both guitarists inspired millions of players worldwide—proof that mastery doesn’t come in just one form.
Would you like me to expand this into a longer feature-style piece that dives deeper into the contrast between Gilmour and Van Halen’s styles and legacies, almost like a side-by-side analysis?
