The album Gilmour Says Pink floyd “Ripped Off” from This Legendary Band

David Gilmour, the iconic guitarist and voice behind much of Pink Floyd’s most beloved work, has never shied away from acknowledging the band’s influences. Despite Pink Floyd being hailed as pioneers of progressive and psychedelic rock, Gilmour has candidly admitted that their early sound wasn’t entirely original. In fact, he once confessed that Pink Floyd “ripped off” elements from one legendary group: The Byrds.

During interviews reflecting on Pink Floyd’s formative years, Gilmour pointed specifically to the band’s 1967 debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and the influence of The Byrds’ jangly guitars and atmospheric textures. He admitted that Syd Barrett, the band’s original frontman and principal songwriter at the time, was deeply inspired by The Byrds’ shimmering 12-string guitar sound and their blending of folk, rock, and psychedelic elements. Gilmour recalled that when he joined the band in 1967, it was clear they had borrowed from that sonic palette.

Gilmour’s use of the word “ripped off” wasn’t meant to be damning or dismissive. Rather, it was a frank acknowledgment of how influence works in music. Pink Floyd, like many other British acts of the era, drew heavily from the American music scene. The Byrds, with albums like Mr. Tambourine Man and Fifth Dimension, were early masters of creating atmospheric soundscapes—something Pink Floyd would later push to its artistic limits on albums like Meddle, Dark Side of the Moon, and Wish You Were Here.

While Pink Floyd would go on to develop a sound uniquely their own—defined by extended compositions, philosophical lyrics, and elaborate production—Gilmour’s honesty about their roots is refreshing. By admitting that they “ripped off” The Byrds in their early days, he highlights how even the most innovative bands start by standing on the shoulders of those who came before them.

Ultimately, Gilmour’s comment is less a confession of theft and more a tribute to the creative spark The Byrds lit under a generation of musicians. It shows that inspiration and transformation are part of the musical journey, and that even the most legendary bands, including Pink Floyd, began by echoing the brilliance of others before finding their own voice.