Phil Manzanera

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Manzanera's connection to the Pink Floyd sphere began through personal friendship rather than formal band membership. As a teenager at Dulwich College, he knew Pink Floyd's David Gilmour because Gilmour was a friend of Manzanera's older brother, Eugene. This early link led to Manzanera being one of about twenty players who auditioned for Roxy Music in October 1971; notably, he initially joined as a roadie and guitar tech before replacing David O'List in early 1972. His most direct contribution to the Pink Floyd family occurred decades later when he co-produced David Gilmour's 2006 album 'On an Island'. Following its release, Manzanera played in Gilmour's band for extensive tours across Europe and North America, solidifying a partnership that spanned from their schoolboy days to high-profile international stardom.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Phil Manzanera's career is defined by unexpected pivots and specific musical evolutions. In Havana at age six, he encountered his first instrument: a Spanish guitar owned by his mother. By eight, he was experimenting with the electric guitar in Venezuela, absorbing merengue, cumbia, and Mexican boleros alongside 1960s rock. Returning to London as a boarder at Dulwich College, he formed school bands with friends like Bill MacCormick and Charles Hayward. These groups evolved into the psychedelic 'Pooh & the Ostrich Feather' and then the progressive quartet Quiet Sun. Although Quiet Sun broke up when MacCormick joined Matching Mole, Manzanera revived them in 1975 to record a full LP during the making of his debut solo album, 'Diamond Head'. Later, the success of the live recording '801 Live' led to a studio incarnation of 801, which recorded 'Listen Now' in late 1976. When that group disbanded after a short UK tour, Manzanera reworked the material into his second solo album, 'K-Scope', released in 1978, featuring Tim Finn on vocals after original vocalist Simon Ainley fell ill.

Reader's Guide

To understand Phil Manzanera's role in relation to Pink Floyd and David Gilmour, one must look at his specific collaborative milestones rather than a permanent band position. He is credited as the lead guitarist for Roxy Music, 801, and Quiet Sun, but his work with Gilmour stands out as a major professional highlight. In 2006, Manzanera co-produced 'On an Island', marking a significant return to collaboration with his childhood friend's brother's associate. He subsequently joined Gilmour's touring band for shows in Europe and North America. His discography also includes co-writing Pink Floyd's single 'One Slip' from the 1987 album 'A Momentary Lapse of Reason'. Musically, he is known for blending Latin American rhythms with rock, a style honed during his youth in Cuba and Venezuela. Fans can trace his evolution through his solo albums like 'Diamond Head' (1975) and 'K-Scope' (1978), or the 1976 live masterpiece '801 Live', which utilized direct injection recording for superior fidelity.

Did You Know?

• Manzanera was initially hired by Roxy Music as a roadie and guitar tech, not as the lead guitarist.
• He co-wrote Pink Floyd's single 'One Slip' from the 1987 album 'A Momentary Lapse of Reason'.
• His childhood in Havana under Batista at age six inspired his earliest musical accomplishments: Cuban folk songs.
• The live album '801 Live' was one of the first to use the direct injection (DI) recording method for electric instruments.
• Manzanera reunited Quiet Sun in 1975 to record a full LP, even though the band had broken up years earlier.