Pink Floyd's Dave Gilmour auctions guitars for climate change charity

David Gilmour performs in the ancient roman amphitheater of the Pompeii archeological site, Italy, Thursday, July 7, 2016. Gilmour is performing in the ancient amphitheater 45 years after he played here with the Pink Floyd. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
David Gilmour performs in the ancient roman amphitheater of the Pompeii archeological site, Italy (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pink Floyd star David Gilmour is selling some of his guitars to raise money for the climate crisis, which he called “the greatest challenge that humanity will ever face”.

More than 120 guitars – including the musician’s preferred Fender models of Broadcasters, Esquires, Telecasters and Stratocasters – are going under the hammer at Christie’s in New York.

All proceeds will go to the climate change charity ClientEarth.

The guitarist, 73, said on Instagram: “I am pleased to announce that all the proceeds from the #GilmourGuitars Sale at @ChristiesInc in New York tomorrow will be donated to the charity @ClientEarth.

“The global 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.

“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.’

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“The choice really is that simple, and I hope that the sale of these guitars will help ClientEarth in their cause to use the law to bring about real change.”

Gilmour added: “We need a civilised world that goes on for all our grandchildren and beyond in which these guitars can be played and songs can be sung.”

The star said on the Christie’s website: “Many of the guitars in this sale are guitars that have given me a tune, so a lot of them have earned their keep, you might say.

“These guitars have given so much to me, and it’s time for them to move on to other people who hopefully will find joy and perhaps create something new.”