Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour says his considerable guitar collection is gathering dust when it could be helping people (and making some room in his house).
And if selling 120 guitars, spanning his entire 50-plus-year career, wasn't enough to convince you he's serious, Gilmour is also parting with his legendary black Fender Stratocaster — the same one he used to record The Dark Side of the Moon and played live in concert for decades.
The instruments will go on auction at Christie's New York headquarters, beginning in June.
"These guitars have been very good to me," Gilmour told Rolling Stone in a new interview. "They're my friends. They have given me lots of music. I just think it's time that they went off and served someone else. I have had my time with them. And of course the money that they will raise will do an enormous amount of good in the world, and that is my intention."
Proceeds from the auction will benefit Gilmour's charitable foundation to aid in famine relief and help displaced and homeless people around the world. Gilmour says the charities that will benefit are based in multiple countries.
"We are going to work on the best way and the best balance of making what this raises do as much good on this planet as it can," he added.
Gilmour has been planning on selling parts of his collection since the '80s; he never actually followed through until now. He says he hopes the guitars will bring joy to their new owners, "And frankly, too many of them are guitars I just don't have time to play often enough."
And no, Gilmour isn't retiring from music; he's just not the sentimental type. He says he's keeping about 20 guitars, adding that if he needs something special, he'll "go out and buy another one."
The vaunted Black Strat is a '69 model Gilmour bought in New York City in 1970. Over the years the guitar was modified "dozens" of times, but never repainted. It was used on all or nearly all the '70s Pink Floyd albums and for hundreds of live shows.
Parting ways with The Black Strat — a guitar he used on "Money," "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and for the iconic "Comfortably Numb" guitar solo, among others — isn't as hard as you might think, the guitarist says.
Fender made him a few replicas suit him beautifully. And Gilmour knows that selling The Black Strat it is the best way to get attention for the sale. That means raising more money and doing more good around the world.
The Black Strat alone is expected to fetch upwards of $150,000.
You can get more information on the auction and see more of what's available here .
Photo: Getty Images