David Gilmour has issued a heartfelt statement following the death of Pink Floyd saxophonist Dick Parry. Parry passed away Friday morning at the age of 83, as reported via David Gilmour’s official X account.
The statement paid tribute to Parry’s decades-long musical partnership with Gilmour and his lasting contribution to some of Pink Floyd’s most iconic recordings.
“My dear friend Dick Parry died this morning,” Gilmour said. “Since I was seventeen, I have played in bands with Dick on saxophone, including Pink Floyd.”
Gilmour went on to reflect on Parry’s distinctive sound and the indelible mark it left on the band’s music.
“His feel and tone make his saxophone playing unmistakable, a signature of enormous beauty that is known to millions and is such a big part of songs such as Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Wish You Were Here, Us and Them and Money,” he continued. “He played in the last band I had that included Rick Wright for the On An Island Tour and at Live 8 with Pink Floyd.”
Parry had been a close collaborator of Gilmour’s since their teenage years. He passed away on Friday of unspecified causes. No further details regarding funeral arrangements or memorial plans have been announced at this time.
Parry’s contributions to Pink Floyd stretched across some of the most celebrated chapters in the band’s history. They cemented his place as one of rock music’s most recognizable session voices.
His saxophone work became a defining part of Pink Floyd’s sound, particularly on The Dark Side of the Moon, where he played on “Money” and “Us and Them” — two of the album’s most enduring tracks, as reported by That Eric Alper. He also contributed to Wish You Were Here, most notably on “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”
Beyond those landmark studio recordings, Parry remained a fixture in the band’s live performances. MEAWW reported that he toured with Pink Floyd from 1973 to 1977, covering one of the band’s most celebrated live eras. That period included some of the most iconic concerts in rock history.
Parry’s career extended well beyond his work with Pink Floyd. That Eric Alper noted that he also worked as a session musician for a range of artists, including John Entwistle, Rory Gallagher, and the Violent Femmes. His work demonstrated the breadth of his talent across genres.
No cause of death has been disclosed. Dick Parry was 83 years old.
