It is well documented that Roger Waters started to take more of a commanding role in Pink Floyd for Animals, The Wall, and, to an even larger extent, The Final Cut. After this last album, released in 1983, David Gilmour decided to release About Face, a response to his lessening responsibility as part of Pink Floyd.

This interview, recorded with Lisa Robinson, took place in New York City during his supporting tour for About Face. The new album and the solo tour provide the framework within which Robinson asks about the clashes and competition with Roger Waters, as well as the possibility of Pink Floyd getting back together. Although Gilmour’s answers are extremely diplomatic, they also provide wonderful insight into what was happening behind the scenes.

00:00 – About Face vs. David Gilmour 00:50 – Unsure about the future of Pink Floyd 01:37 – Differences with Roger Waters causing the desire for an extra-curricular career 02:34 – Options for new careers 03:13 – Testing: touring solo vs. touring with Pink Floyd 03:58 – The Final Cut = The Last Straw 05:12 – Ground rules for possible future Pink Floyd albums 05:58 – Cheerful fatalism 06:29 – Who deserves credit for what in Pink Floyd / looking for proof in About Face 07:51 – The new audience demographic 08:19 – Grasping for an explanation of the success of Dark Side of the Moon 09:55 – More speculation about another Pink Floyd project 10:29 – Fighting with Roger Waters (not the inspiration for “Near the End”) 11:38 – The inevitable comparisons / the competitive element 12:41 – Singing Pete Townshend lyrics 13:37 – Still “carousing” on tour / the ARMS tour / rock and roll growing up