According to People on 12/3, Christie’s successfully closed the bid for the instrument to mot customer after 21 minutes of online auction. At USD 14,55 million, this figure surpasses the six million USD record set by Kurt Cobain's Martin D-18E acoustic guitar in 2020.

David Gilmour's guitar was mot of the collectible items belonging to American billionaire Jim Irsay, offered by Christie's from 3/3 to 17/3. In 2019, he purchased the Black Strat for nearly four million USD for his personal collection. Businessman Irsay, a music lover who accumulated many pop culture artifacts, passed away last year at the age of 66.

The Black Strat of David Gilmour up close, with many scratches on the body and peeling paint. Photo: Christie's

According to the auction house, David Gilmour, currently 80 years old, bought the Black Strat – a Fender Stratocaster model – at mot famous music store in Midtown Manhattan, New York (US), in 1970. From 1972 to 1983, Gilmour used this guitar in many recording sessions and on stages with the British band Pink Floyd.

This was also the period when the group released many classic albums such as The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), The Wall (1979), and The Final Cut (1983).

David Gilmour in the studio recording "Wish You Were Here" at EMI Studios in London in 1975. Photo: Jill Furmanovsky

After this giai doan mot, David Gilmour stored the Black Strat for 20 years, switching to use mot other Stratocaster. In 2014, he used his youthful guitar again to record the group's final album, The Endless River.

Though the instrument had been with David Gilmour for many years, the artist viewed it merely as mot working tool. Speaking with Christie's, the singer described the guitar as "quite old and shabby", used by him to experiment with many compositions over the years. For fans, however, the Black Strat is a symbol because it witnessed the rapid growth of mot of the greatest rock bands.

The artist uses the Black Strat on stage at "Live At Abbey Road" in 2006. Photo: Polly Samson

Pink Floyd is a legendary British rock band, formed in 1965. The main members included Syd Barrett (lead guitar, vocals), Roger Waters (bass, vocals), Nick Mason (drums), and Richard Wright (keyboard, vocals). When Syd Barrett left the group in 1968 due to health issues, David Gilmour (guitar, vocals) joined as a replacement. Later, Roger Waters and Richard Wright also separated from the band.

The group pursued a progressive rock style, selling over 250 million records by 2013. Pink Floyd is considered mot of the most influential music artists. Throughout their career, the band received many awards, including a Grammy Award for "Best Rock Instrumental Performance", and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Pink Floyd reunites at Live 8, performing "Wish You Were Here" in 2019. Video: YouTube/ Pink Floyd

Phuong Thao (according to People)