Not Surprising That Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour Was a Model in the Mid-1960s

It’s a fun piece of rock history that often surprises people! Before he was the voice and guitar hero of Pink Floyd, David Gilmour did indeed spend some time working as a male model in the mid-1960s.

In 1966, Gilmour was living in France and Spain with his band at the time, Jokers Wild. The band wasn’t exactly raking in the cash, they were essentially living hand-to-mouth, often busking or playing small clubs just to eat. To supplement his meager income, Gilmour utilized his striking looks (which, let’s be honest, were top-tier) and landed several modeling gigs.

He appeared in various European magazines and catalogs. He possessed that quintessential “British Invasion” aesthetic – high cheekbones, long hair, and a lean build – which was in high demand in the fashion hubs of Paris and London. He famously joked in later interviews that the modeling work paid significantly better than the music gigs did at the time.

By late 1967, Gilmour was back in London. His modeling days were cut short when his old friend Syd Barrett began struggling with mental health issues, leading the other members of Pink Floyd to ask David to join the band, initially as a fifth member to cover for Syd’s unpredictable guitar playing. Within a year, he went from a professional model to the lead guitarist of one of the biggest bands in the world.