Phil Manzanera

The lead guitarist who bridged Roxy Music's art-rock legacy with David Gilmour's solo and touring endeavors.

Phil Manzanera is an English musician and producer best known as the lead guitarist for Roxy Music, though his career includes significant collaborations with Pink Floyd's David Gilmour. Born in London on 31 January 1951 to a Colombian mother and English father, he spent his childhood across Hawaii, Venezuela, Colombia, and Cuba before returning to England for boarding school at Dulwich College. His early musical influences ranged from Cuban folk songs heard under Batista-era Havana to the rock and roll and Latin rhythms of Venezuela. While he never served as a core member of Pink Floyd, his professional relationship with David Gilmour became profound in 2006.

Quick Facts

Birth name

Philip Geoffrey Targett-Adams

Born

31 January 1951

Birthplace

London, England

Genre

Art rock
Latin rock
Canterbury Scene
glam rock
experimental rock
jazz fusion
pop rock
art pop

Occupation

Musician
songwriter
record producer

Instrument

Guitar
bass
keyboards
vocals

Years active

1971–present

Current member of

Roxy Music

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.

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?

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.