Dave Kilminster
Encyclopedia
Dave Kilminster is a British guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and music teacher. He is known for touring with Keith Emerson
(since 2002) and with Roger Waters
on his The Dark Side Of The Moon 2006 - 2008 tour, performing much of the guitar and vocal duties that are originally David Gilmour
's. He also played alongside with John Wetton
(ex King Crimson
), Ken Hensley
(ex Uriah Heep
), Qango
(an Asia
spin-off), The Nice
, and Carl Palmer
. Kilminster is currently touring with Roger Waters on his The Wall Live 2010-2012 tour.
In 1991 he won the award 'Guitarist of the Year' in a competition run by Guitarist Magazine with the instrumental Sundance; at that time he was working on computers for IBM
. Shortly after, Kilminster was asked to teach at the Guitar Institute in Acton (London). This also involved writing exam material and courses for Trinity College and Thames valley University.
Kilminster is now a teacher at the Academy of Contemporary Music
in Guilford and also with Guitar Break who run weekend guitar events around the UK. He has launched a series of instructional DVDs for Roadrock's Licklibrary after the success of his global satellite series, named Killer Guitar. Kilminster has written over 200 articles for Guitar Techniques magazine.
), but after damaging his right wrist in a go-kart accident, he started playing right-handed. Despite that, he is widely known both as a proficient teacher and as an outstanding performer in the techniques of pull-off
, tapping
, hammer-on
and sweep-picking
. His instructional DVDs are available through his website and Licklibrary guitar community. Dave re-released his acoustic guitar album Playing with Fire in 2004. Scarlet, a rock album, featuring Dave on guitar and vocals along with Keith Emerson bandmates drummer Pete Riley and bass player Phil Williams, is released in 2007. Kilminster writes all music and lyrics. Both Playing with Fire and Scarlet are available from Kilminster's website www.davekilminster.com
Keith Emerson
Keith Noel Emerson is an English keyboard player and composer. Formerly a member of the Keith Emerson Trio, John Brown's Bodies, The T-Bones, V.I.P.s, P.P. Arnold's backing band, and The Nice , he was a founder of Emerson, Lake & Palmer , one of the early supergroups, in 1970...
(since 2002) and with Roger Waters
Roger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
on his The Dark Side Of The Moon 2006 - 2008 tour, performing much of the guitar and vocal duties that are originally David Gilmour
David Gilmour
David Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
's. He also played alongside with John Wetton
John Wetton
John Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
(ex King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
), Ken Hensley
Ken Hensley
Kenneth William David Hensley is a keyboard player , guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer best known for his work with Uriah Heep during the 1970s....
(ex Uriah Heep
Uriah Heep (band)
Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and regarded as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and David Byron's operatic vocals...
), Qango
Qango (band)
Qango were a short-lived progressive rock band, a spin-off from Asia. In 1999, an attempt was made at a partial reunion of the progressive rock supergroup Asia involving John Wetton , Carl Palmer and Geoff Downes , with David Kilminster to be on guitar. However, Downes withdrew from plans,...
(an Asia
Asia (band)
Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a supergroup as it included former members of several veteran progressive rock bands, namely John Wetton , Geoff Downes , Steve Howe and Carl Palmer Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a...
spin-off), The Nice
The Nice
The Nice were an English progressive rock band from the 1960s, known for their blend of rock, jazz and classical music. Their debut album, The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack was released in 1967 to immediate acclaim. It is often considered the first progressive rock album...
, and Carl Palmer
Carl Palmer
Carl Frederick Kendall Palmer is an English drummer and percussionist. He is credited as one of the most respected rock drummers to emerge from the 1960s...
. Kilminster is currently touring with Roger Waters on his The Wall Live 2010-2012 tour.
Biography
Dave Kilminster began playing piano at an early age and later, in 1976, he chose to play guitar; during his youth he also experienced singing in a barbershop quartet, which gave him a strong background for future involvement as a vocalist.In 1991 he won the award 'Guitarist of the Year' in a competition run by Guitarist Magazine with the instrumental Sundance; at that time he was working on computers for IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
. Shortly after, Kilminster was asked to teach at the Guitar Institute in Acton (London). This also involved writing exam material and courses for Trinity College and Thames valley University.
Kilminster is now a teacher at the Academy of Contemporary Music
Academy of Contemporary Music
The Academy of Contemporary Music is a music academy located in Guildford, Surrey, England.The school differs from more traditional music academies by its focus on rock and pop music, and its vocational approach...
in Guilford and also with Guitar Break who run weekend guitar events around the UK. He has launched a series of instructional DVDs for Roadrock's Licklibrary after the success of his global satellite series, named Killer Guitar. Kilminster has written over 200 articles for Guitar Techniques magazine.
Style and techniques
Kilminster used to play left-handed (he is naturally left-handedLeft-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
), but after damaging his right wrist in a go-kart accident, he started playing right-handed. Despite that, he is widely known both as a proficient teacher and as an outstanding performer in the techniques of pull-off
Pull-off
A pull-off is a stringed instrument technique performed by plucking a string by "pulling" the string off the fingerboard with one of the fingers being used to fret the note.-Performance and effect:...
, tapping
Tapping
Tapping is a guitar playing technique, where a string is fretted and set into vibration as part of a single motion of being pushed onto the fretboard, as opposed to the standard technique being fretted with one hand and picked with the other...
, hammer-on
Hammer-on
Hammer-on is a stringed instrument playing technique performed by sharply bringing a fretting-hand finger down on the fingerboard behind a fret, causing a note to sound. This technique is the opposite of the pull-off...
and sweep-picking
Sweep-picking
Sweep picking is a guitar playing technique in which a 'sweeping' motion of the pick is combined with a matching fret hand technique in order to produce a specific series of notes which are fast and fluid in sound. Despite being commonly known as sweep picking, both hands essentially perform an...
. His instructional DVDs are available through his website and Licklibrary guitar community. Dave re-released his acoustic guitar album Playing with Fire in 2004. Scarlet, a rock album, featuring Dave on guitar and vocals along with Keith Emerson bandmates drummer Pete Riley and bass player Phil Williams, is released in 2007. Kilminster writes all music and lyrics. Both Playing with Fire and Scarlet are available from Kilminster's website www.davekilminster.com
Personal
- Kilminster is good friends with Guthrie GovanGuthrie GovanGuthrie Govan is a guitarist known for his work with the bands Asia , GPS, The Young Punx and The Fellowship as well as Erotic Cakes...
, who became the guitarist in the Downes/Payne-led Asia (2001–2006); they played together in several gigs during the 1990s, and occasionally collaborate at The Bassment in Chelmsford, Essex on nights held by the jazz fusion ensemble The Fellowship. Govan and Kilminster most recently performed together at the International Music Show, at London's ExCel arena on 14 June 2008, where Kilminster played songs from his album Scarlet, before joining Govan and his band to perform tracks from the album Erotic Cakes. - He is in a long-term relationship with Anne-Marie HelderAnne-Marie HelderAnne-Marie Helder is a British singer-songwriter who has performed throughout the UK since 2000, beginning with bands and then going solo in 2004. Her debut EP The Contact was released in November 2004, securing her airplay on BBC Radio 2, with Bob Harris declaring: "that is very dramatic music"....
, British singer-songwriter; he has also co-produced her first solo album The Contact (2004), and she sings backing vocals for his 2007 debut album Scarlet.
External links
- Dave Kilminster.com ─ official site