Dave Kilminster

David Kilminster (born 25 January 1962) is a British guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and music teacher, who has toured as a sideman to several musicians.

Dave Kilminster began playing piano in childhood, and later took up the guitar. During his youth he also sang in a barbershop quartet.

In 1991 he won the 'Guitarist of the Year' award in a competition run by Guitarist Magazine with the instrumental Sundance; at that time he had a temporary job working on computers for IBM. Shortly after, Kilminster was asked to teach at the Guitar Institute in Acton. This also involved writing exam material and courses for Trinity College and Thames Valley University.

Kilminster has taught at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford and written for Guitar Techniques magazine. He has launched a series of instructional DVDs for Roadrock's Lick Library after the success of his global satellite series, named Killer Guitar.

In 2002, Kilminster toured with Keith Emerson and Emerson's group The Nice, emulating the guitar work of David O'List. From 2006 to 2008, he toured with Roger Waters on his The Dark Side of the Moon and from 2010 to 2013 he toured as first guitarist on Waters' The Wall Live 2010–2013 tour. On both tours, he performed similar parts to David Gilmour on the original studio albums. He has also played alongside John Wetton (ex King Crimson), Ken Hensley (ex Uriah Heep), Qango (an Asia spin-off), The Nice, and Carl Palmer. In May 2015, Kilminster replaced Guthrie Govan in Steven Wilson's band for its 2015 North American tour.

Dave re-released his acoustic guitar album 'Playing with Fire' in 2004. In 2007, he released the rock album Scarlet, which featured Emerson bandmates, drummer Pete Riley and bassist Phil Williams. The album was re-released as 'Scarlet – The Director's Cut' in 2012. This was followed up by a new album of original material, and ... The Truth will set you free in 2014. Kilminster co-produced Anne-Marie Helder's first solo album The Contact (2004), and she sings backing vocals on Scarlet.

Kilminster is left-handed, but after damaging his right wrist in a go-kart accident, he started playing guitar right-handed. He has since said he is ambidextrousHe has used playing techniques such as tapping and sweep picking, but considers them to be "just tools really" and not an important part of his playing style.

Kilminster has used Fender Telecasters and Takamine acoustic guitars. For the Dark Side of the Moon tour, he began using a Richie Kotzen custom telecaster with custom pickups. He has used Cornford guitar amplifiers.

Kilminster is friends with Guthrie Govan, who became the guitarist in the Downes/Payne-led Asia (2001–2006); they played together in several gigs during the 1990s, and occasionally collaborate at The Bassment in Chelmsford, Essex on nights held by the jazz fusion ensemble The Fellowship. Govan and Kilminster most recently performed together at the International Music Show, at London's ExCel arena on 14 June 2008, where Kilminster played songs from his album Scarlet, before joining Govan and his band to perform tracks from the album Erotic Cakes.