“I play guitar because it lets me dream out loud.”
- Michael Hedges
Not very long ago, we talked about the most expensive guitar ever sold at auction, Kurt Cobain's Martin acoustic at six million dollars. That was in 2020. Well, 2026 has shattered that sum by a bunch. Three guitars sold this year have beat it - Cobain's own blue Fender Mustang that he played in the video Smells Like Teen Spirit sold for 6.9 million. Jerry Garcia's Wolf electric sold for 11.5 million, but both those were eclipsed by…David Gilmour's black Fender Strat which sold for a stunning 14.5 million. Zow!
Gilmour, of course, of Pink Floyd, had played that guitar on so many iconic albums - Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall. It's the one he played the majestic solo on Comfortably Numb with.
I'm only a mid-level Floyd fan, but, man, what a legacy. Pink Floyd also introduced the phrase “You can't have any pudding!” into the vernacular, and for that alone they shine in my book.
David Gilmour, from what I can tell, seems like the humblest of fellows. It's endearing. That, as opposed to the other member of the Floyd team, Roger Waters, who is unable to keep his mouth shut.
Shine on, David Gilmour. Nobody with a monstrous ego would do this.