Veteran guitarist David Gilmour has confirmed one song will be omitted from his future live sets as it is “too violent”.
Though the song may be a fan favourite of both Gilmour and Pink Floyd fans, there is slim to no chance of hearing the legendary musician perform it live again. Once a set staple, it now seems to have been retired, and for good reason, according to Gilmour. Both Gilmour and former bandmate Roger Waters went on to tour as solo artists, but featured many Pink Floyd songs in their setlist. Gilmour, who has toured as a solo musician since the dissolution of Pink Floyd in 1994, has stayed true to his word and refused to perform several of their very best songs.
Part of the reason is the “violence” for one song, while another song, written by Waters, has been avoided during his solo career because Gilmour wanted to pursue “my music” rather than the work of other members. It is not just Waters’ work that is avoided, with Richard Wright, Nick Mason, and Syd Barrett songs rarely getting a look-in on the solo setlists of late.
Speaking to MOJO Magazine last year, Gilmour said: “There are songs from the past that I no longer feel comfortable singing. I love Run Like Hell [from 1982’s The Wall]. I loved the music I created for it, but all that (sings) ‘You’d better run, run, run…’ I now find that all rather, I don’t know… a bit terrifying and violent.
“Another Brick In The Wall is another one I shan’t be doing. I don’t think I’ve done that with my own band, but I certainly did it in the post-Roger Pink Floyd, against my better judgment. The same with Money. I won’t be doing that. I’m going to be sticking with the ones that are essentially my music, and I feel some ownership of. Comfortably Numb, Wish You Were Here, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, maybe…”
Gilmour has stuck to his word when it comes to keeping away from certain Pink Floyd songs. His last performance of Run Like Hell came during a 2016 performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, while Another Brick in the Wall has still not been performed by Gilmour as a solo artist.
Pink Floyd continued on without frontman Waters for nearly a decade, with Gilmour performing vocal duties and playing guitar. The veteran guitarist shared he did not expect fans to welcome him as frontman, and accepted many would still call for Waters to be fronting the group.
Gilmour told Q Magazine in 1990: “I knew we would get some fans who would not approve. We didn’t get too many. There would be people in the audience who would make their feelings heard about Roger not being there, just by shouting very loudly during moments when the rest of the audience was being respectfully quiet.
“They are perfectly entitled to, I just can’t understand why the fuck they bothered to pay for the tickets. If they don’t like us, go see Roger instead.” Waters would tour as a solo act with his Radio K.A.O.S. album shortly after leaving Pink Floyd.
This is a bit strange as Gilmour of course had Co Credits for songs such as Comfortably Numb and Run Like Hell…I dont really understand how the song has become any more or less violent over the years?? Dave has always performed it in his own style both with Floyd and Solo.
However I do admire Gilmour in wanting to perform more solo material it is refreshing after Waters heavy use of Floyd material instead of focusing more on his solo work. I guess perhaps only focusing on his solo work may not have the same ability to fill large areans let alone stadiums.