Watch Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour Perform Fleetwood Mac’s 1968 Classic, Albatross

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Gilmour @ RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C. - Sunday, July 10, 1994

Last year’s tribute concert to Peter Green saw a host of great performances, including a very special rendition of Albatross. A preview of the upcoming film, Mick Fleetwood & Friends, features Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour playing the 1968 classic on a lap-steel guitar.

Recorded last year at London’s Palladium, the tribute concert was organised by Mick Fleetwood, in honour of the group’s original leader, Peter Green. Hits from the band’s early years were played out by artists such as Pete Townshend, Noel Gallagher, and Steven Tyler. Although Fleetwood did not really know David, he personally invited the rocker to perform at the show.

“He did beautiful work on the re-work of ‘Albatross’ with [former Fleetwood Mac guitarist] Rick Vito and also he did ‘Oh Well, Part Two’, which was on the Then Play On record,” said Fleetwood. “For lack of a better description, it’s a classical-esque escapade that Peter put together. Peter never played it. Fleetwood Mac never played it. That was really special that David picked that to do. I was overjoyed.”

David was accompanied by the show’s house band, which included Fleetwood and Zak Starkey on drums, ex-Fleetwood Mac member Rick Vito on guitar, and others. The hit, which is available to stream, was the only Fleetwood Mac song to reach #1 in the U.K. singles chart. Written by Green, the song entered the charts in December 1968 and was later re-entered in the summer of ’73, reaching #2.

Said to be one of the best performances of the show, David Gilmour’s rendition is available to watch here, with the concert streaming via Nugs on April 24th. Other performers at the show included Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, The Who’s Pete Townshend, ex-Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, Oasis’ Noel Gallagher and U.K. blues great John Mayall. A number of other current and former Fleetwood Mac members also performed, including Christine McVie, Crowded House’s Neil Finn, and founding guitarist Jeremy Spencer.

The future of Fleetwood Mac remains a huge open question, though Fleetwood recently said that he is open to an idea of a reunion with Lindsey Buckingham. “I would love the elements [in the band] that are not healed to be healed,” said Fleetwood. “I love the fantasy that we could cross that bridge, and everyone could leave with creative, holistic energy, and everyone could be healed with grace and dignity.”

You can see David Gilmore play the 1968 classic, along with many other artists and hits, when Mick Fleetwood & Friends releases this month. The show will be available in multiple formats, including a box set featuring the concert on Blu-ray, two CDs and four vinyl LPs, and a 44-page hardbound book offering sleeve notes, photos and more. Visit MickFleetwoodandFriends.com for more details.