Outside The Wall exclusive interview with Dave Kilminster
First off Dave, I would like to thank you for granting this interview with Outside the wall, I am a big fan of yours and appreciate your time
D.K. No problem Randy...Thank you!!
Before we get to Roger, I know you have spent the last few years touring and working with Keith Emerson. What kind of a experience was this for you?
D.K. Well, Keith has been a musical hero of mine since I was a teenager, so it was a truly wonderful experience...He asked me to find a bassist and drummer so I basically put my dream
band together!!! It was very cool...they're all amazing guys!!
Now on to Roger and the tour. How were you chosen to be part of this wonderful band? Have you met Roger beforehand?
D.K. Rogers guys were basically putting out calls to friends and colleagues looking for a guitarist, and my manager Martin Darvill received a call from Snowy White. At that time I had a
short American tour booked with Keith so I wasn't going to try for it, but about two days later I received an email from Keith's manager telling me that the tour was cancelled!!! So, I
recorded a demo CD of me playing and singing some Floyd tunes, and was asked along to an audition...And that was the first time I met Roger...at the audition... Scary stuff!!! He was
great though!!!
What kind of influence did Roger and Pink Floyd have on you as a musician?
D.K. The beauty of simplicity...
David Gilmour is widely praised as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, how will you put your own spin on some of his licks, and does it surprise you that Roger often uses 3 to
4 guitarists to play Davids parts?
D.K. Well, Roger likes to hear the parts played as close as possible to the original recordings, so I'm not sure what I'll get away with yet!!! Although saying that, I think the fans will probably
want to hear it just like the records too... Hence the reason for all the guitarists on stage, so that they (we!!) can cover all the multiple overdubs!!! Money' for example has three rhythm
guitar parts all played at the same time...
What do you think of Davids new work and did you get a chance to see him on his tour?
D.K. I haven't heard it yet!!!! I have about thirty or forty unopened CDs at home at the moment... Hopefully I can catch up with what's going on when I'm on tour?!!
Rogers lyric writing is noted as some of the best in Rock history, how does his lyrics effect you and what is your favorite work lyrically by him or with Pink Floyd?
D.K. God there's so many great ones to chose from... 'Time' is resounding quite loudly with me at the moment... I feel that there was about ten years of my life that I basically totally
wasted...
Other then Roger, who are you most looking forward to working with on this tour?
D.K. The backing singers!!!! Seriously, I love to hear great harmonies...probably due to my sordid past singing in a Barbershop quartet when I was young!!! Something like 'Shine On... ' is
going to sound just incredible!
What song will you have to practice the most, or have you mastered them all?
D.K. Actually I'm still waiting for the final set list!!! Although if 'Have a Cigar' is in there I'm gonna have to practice the vocals on that, as it's not a style of singing I've ever tried before.
Have you ever had the chance to see a Pink Floyd concert and if so what did you think of the spectacle and how excited are you to be part of Rogers shows?
D.K. I've never actually seen them in the flesh, but of course I've seen the DVD's.. It's definitely the most impressive stage show I've ever seen!!! And from what I can gather from the
management Roger is going overboard with the visuals on this tour... It's going to look AMAZING!!!! I wish I could say I was excited though, but at the moment I'm still at the 'mildly terrified'
stage!!!
Will you be contributing any vocals on the tour?
D.K. I'm doing all of Mr Gilmours parts...Guitars AND vocals!!
What are some of your favorite venues that you have played at, and where are you most looking forward to playing on this tour?
D.K. The Sun Plaza in Tokyo is a wonderful venue... And I once played outside in the grounds of an old castle in Vigevano, Italy... That was lovely...The Hammersmith Odeon, where I use
to go when I was younger.. It was very cool to play there!!! God, so many incredible venues... I've been very, very lucky. For this upcoming tour I'm very much looking forward to Hyde
Park...just because all my family and friends will be there...That's going to be a very special evening for me.
I am a big fan of your last release Playing with Fire, and look forward to your new release Scarlet, when can we expect its release?
D.K. Glad you like 'Fire'!!! Scarlet will (barring floods, fire or a small alien invasion) be finished by the end of the month...Everything's done except the vocals, about three solos and the
string parts.... I really can't wait for people to hear it!!
I understand you are left handed but play guitar right handed due to a Accident, how hard was this to overcome and do you think it makes a difference in your style?
D.K. Well it was a pain to learn the guitar twice, but in general I don't think It's made a lot of difference stylistically...It does make it easier to buy a new one though!!!
Do you still teach at the Guitar Institute in Acton London?
D.K. No...I've been teaching at the ACM (Academy Of Contemporary Music) in Guildford for about the last eight years.. Although saying that I haven't been in for about a month as I've been
working on my album. I still find time to do the 'Guitar Techniques' articles every month though...
I know you have a selection of Guitar instructional Dvd's would you consider making a Pink Floyd style one?
D.K. Actually they (Lick Library) have asked me to do a Floyd one already!!!
What types of gear do you plan on using on this tour?
D.K. I have no idea yet!!! I have to do some serious shopping over the next few weeks...Sorry, I probably sound totally disorganised, but I only got the gig just over 2 weeks ago!!!
Well Dave, we at Outside The Wall would like to thank you for your time. We hope you enjoy the tour and working with Roger. If North American dates are added to the tour you
can bet I will see you there!
D.K. Thank you very much for all your support and encouragement!! I have my fingers crossed for an American tour too!!!!
A very special thanks to Ellie and Dave for making this interview possible. Outside The Wall looks forward to working with Dave on this tour and wishes him all the best of luck with
it.
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