FLOYD'S TOYS

Pink Floyd fans ‘queuing round the block’ as David Gilmour flogs guitar collection for £17m in charity auction

Adam Bennett

Published: 22:56, 21 Jun 2019
Updated: 22:56, 21 Jun 2019

PINK Floyd star David Gilmour’s guitar collection has fetched a record £17million at auction.

More than 120 instruments from his career went on sale, with fans queuing round the block in New York.

David Gilmour splashed the cash from the guitar action into environmental group Clean Earth, and said a speech by 16 year-old campaigner Greta Thunberg spurred him on — David Gilmour splashed the cash from the guitar action into environmental group Clean Earth, and said a speech by 16 year-old campaigner Greta Thunberg spurred him onCredit: Getty Images - Getty

A 1969 black Fender Stratocaster, used on albums The Wall, Wish You Were Here, and The Dark Side of the Moon, went for a guitar record £3.1million.

The previous highest price was for Eric Clapton’s Black Strat Blackie, which went for £624,000 in 2004.

Gilmour’s 1954 white Fender Stratocaster used on Another Brick In The Wall sold for £1.43million.

The 73-year-old was raising funds for clean air campaigners Client Earth.

It was guitars galore at the auction in New York as more than 120 of Gilmour's instruments went up for auction — It was guitars galore at the auction in New York as more than 120 of Gilmour's instruments went up for auctionCredit: Alamy Live News

Topping the bill was the star's legendary 'Black Strat', used on iconic albums The Wall, Wish You Were Here and The Dark Side of the Moon, which went for £3.1million — Topping the bill was the star's legendary 'Black Strat', used on iconic albums The Wall, Wish You Were Here and The Dark Side of the Moon, which went for £3.1millionCredit: AP:Associated Press

Gilmour playing a gig in Pompeii, Italy, in 2016 — Gilmour playing a gig in Pompeii, Italy, in 2016Credit: AP:Associated Press

The event started an hour late because guitar-hungry fans were queuing around the block in the Rockefeller Center — The event started an hour late because guitar-hungry fans were queuing around the block in the Rockefeller CenterCredit: Reuters

The Pink Floyd star's white Fender Stratocaster, featuring on Another Brick In The Wall, got £1.43million — The Pink Floyd star's white Fender Stratocaster, featuring on Another Brick In The Wall, got £1.43millionCredit: AFP - Getty

He said: “The climate crisis is the greatest challenge that humanity will ever face, and we are within a few years of the effects of global warming being irreversible.

MOST READ IN TV & SHOWBIZ

Selena Gomez ENGAGED to Benny Blanco as she shows off HUGE ring

Selena Gomez ENGAGED to Benny Blanco as she shows off HUGE ring

Heartbreaking reason George Michael wrote Last Christmas revealed

Heartbreaking reason George Michael wrote Last Christmas revealed

Sabrina Carpenter shows off leg in mini dress as she braves cold in NYC

PLEASE FREEZE KNEES

Sabrina Carpenter shows off leg in mini dress as she braves cold in NYC

J-Lo seen fighting with Diddy on night rapper & Jay Z 'took turns raping girl'

J-Lo seen fighting with Diddy on night rapper & Jay Z 'took turns raping girl'

"As Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swedish climate activist, said in a speech earlier this year, ‘Either we choose to go on as a civilisation, or we don’t’.

"The choice is that simple.”

Christie’s delayed the start by an hour due to an unprecedented number of bidders queuing round the block in Rockefeller Center.

The auction was packed out as fans splashed out £17million on guitars from Gilmour's star career — The auction was packed out as fans splashed out £17million on guitars from Gilmour's star careerCredit: Alamy Live News

GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]

Michael Schumacher’s 2001 F1 world title-winning Ferrari heads to auction for £3million – and you can still race it

Topics

rock music