Dave Kilminster is a British guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, producer, and educator. He first came into the spotlight in 1991 after winning Guitarist Magazine’s “Guitarist of the Year” award with his original composition “Sundance,” a moment that launched a career combining performance and education.

In the early 2000s, he toured with Keith Emerson as part of The Nice reunion, contributing to the live album Vivacitas – Live in Glasgow. His profile rose further when he joined Roger Waters’ The Dark Side of the Moon Live world tour from 2006 to 2008, followed by The Wall Live tour from 2010 to 2013. He later returned to Waters’ band for the Us + Them tour (2017–2018) and the This Is Not a Drill world tour (2022–2023), performing lead guitar parts on some of Pink Floyd’s most iconic songs.

In 2015, Kilminster joined Steven Wilson’s band as lead guitarist for the North American leg of the To the Bone tour. Alongside his live work, he has released three solo albums: Playing with Fire (originally an acoustic project, reissued in 2004), Scarlet (2007, with a director’s cut in 2012), and …and THE TRUTH will set you free (2014), which embraces a classic, analog production style.

Beyond the stage, Kilminster is known for his work as an educator. He has taught at the Guitar Institute in London and the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, authored hundreds of transcription and instructional pieces for music magazines, and produced several instructional DVDs for advanced players.

Recognized for his fluid, expressive playing and his tasteful use of advanced techniques like tapping and sweep-picking, Kilminster blends technical skill with strong melodic sense. His go-to gear has included Fender Telecasters, Takamine acoustics, Cornford and Brunetti amps, and, more recently, Suhr guitars.

Kilminster is particularly fond of his four signature Paoletti Nancy Loft SSS guitars, each finished in a different custom color and featuring his trademark delicate rose graphic — an emblem that echoes the expressive quality of his performances and the captivated audiences they draw.