Pink Floyd Not Done? Nick Mason Speaks Out
As the legendary Pink Floyd readies its latest — and last — studio recording, The Endless River, for release on November 7, Nick Mason, the band’s long time drummer, has spoken out on recent reports that the band may be over. Mason, who is the only original member of the band, told Rolling Stone in a recent interview that he wasn’t “entirely sure that the band is over.” Mason explains that the recent quotes by guitarist David Gilmour, as reported by the Inquisitr, that this was the end don’t apply to Mason, who could still very well keep the band going after Gilmour’s public resignation.
“It did cross my mind that if David announces this is really the end of it, if he resigns from Pink Floyd, that leaves me in total control. God knows I’ll be out on the road playing the entirety of Dark Side of the Moon, just the drum parts.”
Of course, Mason was only saying that in jest but the fact that he feels the band may not be done is enough to keep fans happy. David Gilmour has served as the band’s driving force since 1985 when Roger Waters, the creative genius behind the band’s greatest works, left Pink Floyd to begin a solo career. Gilmour, who replaced original Pink Floyd guitarist Syd Barrett in 1968, spearheaded the recordings of Momentary Lapse of Reason and The Division Bell and the tours that accompanied both releases. But Nick Mason was there from the very beginning and is a creative force in his own right as a writer and fan of vintage cars.
Nick Mason sees that there is plenty more of Pink Floyd to show the world, and by show, he means by releasing documentaries and filmed stage shows, including footage Alan Parker shot from the original 1980 The Wall tour, which only hit four cities and was scrapped due to the band losing money. The footage was shelved when Parker pitched the idea of making Pink Floyd’s The Wall into a feature length film which has, itself, become a cult classic. There are also opportunities for additional deluxe box sets with outtakes, rare B-sides, and other unreleased tracks. Mason thinks a documentary on the band would be a good way to extend the life of Pink Floyd.
“I hope that at some point we might do something like that. I think there’s no substitute for visuals to go with music. I hope at some point we do some sort of anthology of the band with video.”
Whether or not the band is done forever, Pink Floyd still has life — and a huge fan base — and as with all things, money makes the final decisions. If The Endless River is a huge commercial success, maybe, just maybe, the band will play a few dates here and there. And maybe, just maybe, David Gilmour’s call for the end could be postponed a little while longer. If not, fans will always have Nick Mason to carry on the band’s legacy — one way or another.
Pink Floyd’s The Endless River is in stores on November 7. Are you excited for the new release? Do you want to see the band carry on in some form? Sound off in the comments below.
[Images courtesy of Google]
