David Gilmour recalled his friendship with late Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett in a new interview with CBS This Morning as he promotes his fourth solo album, “Rattle That Lock.”
“He was an extraordinarily funny, witty, intelligent, gregarious guy,” said Gilmour about Barrett. “We had hitchiked around the south of France, and stayed in campsites and busked on the seafront and been arrested for our troubles in St. Tropez. We were friends from about 14”
Gilmour ultimately replaced Barrett in Pink Floyd in early 1968 after the band watched his decline in mental health due to an excess of drugs.
“It felt tragic because it felt permanent,” explained the guitarist. “It felt that whatever was happening to him was a rapid deterioration of his mental faculties."
The session also saw Gilmour and wife/author/lyricist Polly Samson discuss the making of the latest release, with the guitarist speaking at length about his history with his former band.
Gilmour launched his Rattle That Lock world tour in Pula, Croatia on September 12 following a September 5 warm-up show in Brighton, UK.
A sold-out 11-date European tour wraps up early next month with five shows at The Royal Albert Hall in London, with a South American run set for December.
See also:
VIDEO: David Gilmour soundchecks Pink Floyd classic in Croatia
VIDEO: David Gilmour previews Rattle That Lock
VIDEO: David Gilmour opens Rattle That Lock tour in Croatia
AUDIO: David Gilmour premieres new single Today
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