David Gilmour’s latest album holds a surprise for Pink Floyd fans: a familiar name appears in the credits—Richard Wright. Though Wright passed away in 2008, his musical legacy lives on in unexpected ways.
Wright, the legendary keyboardist and Gilmour’s longtime Pink Floyd bandmate, continues to influence the music world even after his death. In a remarkable twist, an old recording of Wright’s playing has found its way onto the title track of Gilmour’s upcoming LP, Luck and Strange.
This posthumous collaboration adds a haunting depth to Gilmour’s new work, reminding us that Wright’s contributions to music are far from over. Even sixteen years after his passing, his presence is still felt in the most unexpected places.
A Frozen Moment of Creativity
Gilmour recently revealed a surprising detail about his new album. “It’s a strange admission that I’m using pieces recorded over 20 years ago,” the guitarist confessed during a conversation with The Sun. After the 2006 On an Island tour, Gilmour gathered his core band, including Richard Wright, in a barn to capture the magic they had been creating on stage.
Despite the freezing conditions in the barn, the group managed to spark something special. Gilmour recalled how they worked through the cold to bring a song idea to life. “It was effing freezing,” he said, yet the musicians hammered out a 15-minute jam session that would later evolve into something much bigger.
That impromptu session led to the creation of Luck and Strange. “I had this little riff, and we jammed for 15 minutes,” Gilmour explained. Remarkably, the final track includes all the verses, the introduction, and the ending from that original take—without any rehearsals or pre-planning.
“He Was a Valuable Partner”
David Gilmour spoke fondly of Richard Wright, describing him as “a one-off with a very singular style.” Gilmour reflected, “Rick had heart and soul,” acknowledging that while they didn’t always see eye to eye, Wright was an invaluable collaborator.
Gilmour’s upcoming album, Luck and Strange, set for release on September 6, is his first new solo work in nine years. This marks the fifth album of his solo career and brings a fresh wave of anticipation for fans.
In support of the new release, Gilmour has planned a series of concerts across Europe and the U.S. He will kick off with shows in Italy and London before heading to the States, where he has four performances lined up in Los Angeles in late October and a run at New York’s Madison Square Garden in November.