David Gilmour Draws the Line: “I Will Never Perform with Roger Waters Again”

In a recent interview with The Guardian, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour made one of his strongest public statements yet about his fractured relationship with Roger Waters. Gilmour said there is “absolutely no chance” of ever performing or recording with his former bandmate again, closing the door on decades of reunion speculation.

“Absolutely Not” — Gilmour’s Final Word

“Absolutely not. I tend to steer clear of people who actively support genocidal and autocratic dictators like [Vladimir] Putin and [Nicolás] Maduro.” (American Songwriter)

“Nothing would make me share a stage with someone who thinks such treatment of women and the LGBT community is OK.” (The Guardian)

“There is no possible way that I would do that.” (MusicRadar)

Gilmour’s words leave little ambiguity: the era of any Pink Floyd reunion is over.

1. A Rift Decades in the Making

The divide between Gilmour and Waters stretches back to 1985, when Waters left Pink Floyd after years of creative clashes.
Reuters and Wikipedia note that while they briefly reunited for the 2005 Live 8 charity concert, tensions soon resurfaced and never healed.
Gilmour has since led the band’s later releases and tours without Waters, while Waters pursued his own solo vision of Floyd’s legacy.

2. Politics and Principles

What once seemed like an artistic dispute has evolved into an ideological and ethical divide.
According to American Songwriter, Gilmour’s rejection stems not from music or money but from Waters’ “support or tolerance of genocidal and autocratic dictators.”

The feud reignited in 2023 when Gilmour’s wife and lyricist Polly Samson accused Waters of antisemitism and being a “Putin apologist.” Gilmour publicly endorsed her comments, while Waters dismissed them as “incendiary and wildly inaccurate.”

3. Business and Legacy

In 2024, Pink Floyd finalized a 400 million dollar deal selling their catalog and likeness rights to Sony Music.
Sources from The Independent and The Guardian reported that the sale was motivated not only by financial considerations but also by a desire to end the band’s long-running legal and personal disputes.
For Gilmour, that decision symbolized a full stop and an act of closure as much as commerce.

Implications for Fans and Rock History

• No Reunion Ever: Gilmour’s declaration officially ends speculation about a “classic Floyd” reunion featuring Waters and drummer Nick Mason.

• Moral Line Drawn: The conflict has transcended music; it now reflects clashing worldviews.

• Industry Lesson: Their saga illustrates how legacy artists navigate personal rifts while managing billion-dollar catalogs.

Why It Matters

Few bands command Pink Floyd’s cultural gravity. Yet Gilmour’s firm “absolutely not” reframes their estrangement as a clash of conscience, not ego.
At a time when Gilmour is preparing new solo material and continuing his live work, his statement defines the next chapter of his career independent of the band that made him famous.

“It’s not about music anymore,” Gilmour concluded. “It’s about values.”