Additional Coverage:
- Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour Was Such a Big Fan of This Iconic Songwriter He Bought His Cottage (parade.com)
Rock Legends Gilmour and Plant Inspired by Donovan, Even Buying His Property
In the annals of rock history, few musicians command the respect and influence of Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour. Yet, even a legend like Gilmour draws inspiration from his peers, a connection so profound that it led him to purchase the home of fellow singer-songwriter Donovan. This isn’t an isolated incident, as another iconic rocker, Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, also found himself acquiring a piece of Donovan’s past in hopes of capturing some of his creative magic.
Donovan, known for timeless hits like “Sunshine Superman” and “Season of the Witch,” recently spoke with The New Cue about his unique role as a “catalyst” for other musical luminaries. He described his talent for “blending and fusing styles of music” as his greatest achievement, a sentiment echoed by The Beatles’ George Harrison, who once remarked, “Donovan is a catalyst.” As Donovan explains, a catalyst brings elements together to forge something entirely new.
One notable beneficiary of Donovan’s catalytic influence was David Gilmour. Donovan recalled Gilmour’s reaction to “Three King Fishers” from the Sunshine Superman album.
“When I heard that song, my future with the band I was with – which I suppose was Floyd – I knew my direction,” Gilmour reportedly told Donovan. This profound impact eventually led Gilmour to purchase Donovan’s cottage, hoping that “all that happened there would rub off on me.”
The trend of rock royalty acquiring Donovan’s possessions for inspiration didn’t stop with Gilmour. Robert Plant once confessed to Donovan, “You know I bought your 1965 Aston Martin.” When pressed for the real reason behind the purchase, Plant admitted, “Maybe you wrote a couple of songs in that car.”
The mutual respect between these artists isn’t confined to past influences or property transactions. In 2022, David Gilmour made a guest appearance on Donovan’s album, Gaelia: The Sulan Sessions, contributing to the tracks “Rock Me” and “Lover O’ Lover.” The album, according to a press release at the time, celebrates Donovan’s deep Gaelic roots.
Donovan expressed immense satisfaction with Gaelia, stating, “The fusion of my Gaelic roots styles, with my poetry and melodic composition, signature finger-style guitar phrasing, classical gypsy strings, vocal emoting and Gaelic rock, is a complete success for me on Gaelia.” He concluded, “I have fulfilled my service again as a living shaman poet. All the guests excelled… showing great respect for all I have achieved in bringing worldwide appreciation for our Gaelic tradition.”