For Nick Mason, Pink Floyd’s apparent end simply comes down to numbers. With two key contributors dead, and another out of the picture, the group’s ability to continue creating original material has become an issue. As such, he’s content to have completed one last recording in the forthcoming Endless River, alongside David Gilmour and the late Richard Wright.
“It doesn’t make me sad,” Mason tells BBC Radio 5. “I think it’s realistic. There is a point in which you run too short of members, and too short of material to really genuinely go back and do something new. I think all of us feel that, if we are going to do something, it’s quite important to do new things — rather than keep doing ‘the best of.'”
Co-founder Syd Barrett left after the group’s 1967 psych-classic debut, Piper at the Gates of Dawn, and passed in 2006. Gilmour joined in time for 1968’s Saucerful of Secrets, which included a final Barrett song. Roger Waters then departed before 1987’s Momentary Lapse of Reason, before Wright died in 2008.
Mason, the only member of have played in every separate incarnation of Pink Floyd, says Wright’s absence all but rules out a tour. He characterizes the prospects of seeing The Endless River on the road as “very remote. I think David really doesn’t want to. I think, without Rick, it would be very difficult, anyway. So, I don’t think it’s really a runner.”
He’s pleased, however, that Pink Floyd was able to return once more, and on its own terms. “Well, it’s a slightly unusual album — the structure of it,” Mason says. “It’s something we haven’t done for well over 40 years. There’s only one song on the album. The way it’s divided up is as a series of ambient pieces of music. So, it’s really extremely old fashioned — which is quite fitting, I suppose, for a band of our age.”
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Is Roger Waters ever going to admit even to you, Nick, and Dave that he lied when he said he wrote all the lyrics on “The Wall”. Nick did you meet Jennifer in 1977 when she gave Roger verse that he would copy and claim as his own? Every word, line, and verse on “Young Lust” up to the first phone ring was written by another. The entire lyric hook to “Comfortably Numb” was written by someone else. This lie and his overbearing demand for control led him to isolate himself and turn away from the band. He has reached a mountaintop of fame and riches. Will he ever risk a fall from that height to even admit privately that he lied.
John, no way Nick & Dave are even going to read this; let alone reply. So I have replied and just giving you a gentle wee nudge into today, yesterday’s gone move on and breath in the air. Enjoy life mate .