Tim Renwick on the 1987-1989 Pink Floyd Tour

Tim Renwick wasn’t just a hired gun during Pink Floyd’s comeback tours – his addition quietly solved a structural problem. After the 1987 A Momentary Lapse of Reason album, the band needed to reproduce a layered studio sound live without a second full-time guitarist. Renwick handled the rhythm parts, secondary solos, and backing vocals that David Gilmour had previously covered alone or with session help.

Renwick’s presence let Gilmour stay front-and-center during lead vocals and signature bends, instead of scrambling to strum chords between lines. On songs like “Money” or “Comfortably Numb,” Gilmour could hit his iconic solos while Renwick held down the harmonic bed. The trade-off was subtle but crucial – the live mix got fuller without Gilmour losing his spotlight. Renwick never tried to be a star; he just made everything else work.