Pink Floyd last released a record over 20 years ago, and guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour last put out a solo album in 2006. But with the band releasing a new record, The Endless River, on November 10th, and Gilmour finishing up a solo album for next year, he’s suddenly quite prolific.
In an interview with Rolling Stone discussing the new Floyd record, Gilmour revealed that his long-in-the-works follow-up to 2006’s On An Island should be ready for release in 2015. “It’s coming along very well,” he told the magazine. “There are some sketches that aren’t finished, and some of them will be started again. There’s a few months’ work in it yet. I’m hoping to get it out this following year.” He then hopes to go out on what he called “an old man’s tour,” something he defined as “not a 200-date sort of thing.”
He also said that a tour behind The Endless River was largely unlikely, considering much of the record features keyboardist Rick Wright, who died of cancer in 2008. “Without him, that’s kind of impossible,” said Gilmour, adding, “I’m really enjoying my life and my music. There’s no room for Pink Floyd. The thought of doing any more causes me to break out in a cold sweat.”
Fans also shouldn’t expect another record. “Anything we had of value is on this album,” he said, referring to the fact that much of The Endless River material comes from the Division Bell sessions. “Trying to do it again would mean using second-best material, and that’s not good enough for me.”
As for possibly getting back to work with ex-Floyd member Roger Waters, he said, “I wouldn’t rule anything out, but the likelihood of it being anything more than one little charity show is very, very remote.”
All this points to the idea that The Endless River could be the last we ever really hear of Pink Floyd. Although, Nick Mason did tell RS, “If David resigns, that leaves me in total control of Pink Floyd. I’ll go out on the road playing the entirety of Dark Side of the Moon, just the drum parts,” he quipped. “It’ll be quite dull.
Mason continued, “Please know that I’m joking. I believe when I’m dead and buried, my tombstone will read: ‘I’m not entirely sure the band’s over.’”
