Pink Floyd’s ugly split hasn’t soured Nick Mason on Roger Waters: ‘Still one of my oldest, dearest friends’

Roger Waters had a fiery response to those who misunderstood his involvement in the new Pink Floyd album, effectively telling fans to get a grip. His long-time bandmate Nick Mason still treasures his relationship with Waters, despite a split that goes back almost three decades now.

“I’ve made some smart remarks over the years,” Mason tells the Journal and Courier, “but he is still one of my oldest, dearest friends — and a man I’m always pleased to see.”

That hasn’t happened very often since Waters and Pink Floyd endured an ugly mid-1980s breakup, one that was preceded by Waters bringing in another drummer to perform during the contentious sessions for 1983’s The Final Cut. Most memorably, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, David Gilmour and the late Richard Wright reunited in 2005 for the Live 8 concert. (They did “Speak to Me,” “Breathe” and “Money” from Dark Side of the Moon; the title track from Wish You Were Here and “Comfortably Numb” from The Wall.) Mason also joined Gilmour during a 2011 stop on Roger Waters’ solo tour of The Wall, performing “Outside the Wall.”

That completed a circle going back to the earliest days of Pink Floyd, when Waters and Nick Mason met as students at London Polytechnic. Wright and then Syd Barrett eventually completed the group’s early lineup, before Barrett was replaced by David Gilmour.

Mason allows that “of course, there were differences later on.” Still, he tends to focus on the good, more than the bad: “Playing with Roger, I would have to say, was always good,” Mason adds. “The relationship with a bass player and drummer is very special.”

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7 Comments

  1. So happy the Jew-hater Roger Waters is not involved with the new album. Therefore I can listen to it safe in the knowledge I am not supporting that sh_thead.

    • You are deeply confused. Waters doesn’t hate Jews, he simply and blandly states that Israel is committing genocide which of course absolutely no one is allowed to even point out lest they be smeared as being “Jew-hater[s].”

      Didn’t think your shtick was so easily figured out, did ya?

      • You clearly have no idea what you are talking about. Websters defines genocide as “the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group.” EXTERMINATION! Arab population in Israel and the territories has grown substantially. Your ridiculous use of the term is not only startlingly incorrect, it is offensive. Not sure why I would expect more from a fan of the Jew-hater Mr. Waters.

        • “Israelies” are unlawfully occupying Palestine. I put it in quotes because they are a people without a legitimate nation. And you are correct about the term genocide, that’s what Zionists are doing. But don’t worry, the U. S. has their back. We do our master’s bidding loyally. Why take offense? Most of the world is cheering this on. Funny that a minority who call it what it is, genocide, manage to get the majority so emotuonally worked up. This illegal nation state gets away with murder and you’re upset with me and Roger Waters. Wow. Your racism is the ugliest sort there is.

  2. I’m sure that Waters and Mason would reunite to raise funds for Hamas and the Palestinian Authority and any anti Israel and antisemetic cause. At Waters’ concerts he has a floating pig (an ancient antisemetic insult to Jews is to compare them to pigs) with the star of david on it and the names of Israeli and Jewish people on it. Waters’ is the chief proponent of Boycott Divest and Sanction Israel in the U.K. and has bullied many entertainers into cancelling performances by threatening to boycott them. The Rolling Stones were bullied and refused to bend, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga were threatened and refused to bend. Paul McCartney was threatened by Waters and refused to bend. Justin Timberlake was threatened by Waters too and refused to bend. Mason is of the same mind. Anyone who supports Waters and Mason are antisemites and lovers and supporters of Jihad. Here is a newspaper article showing the pig and the star of david and his antisemitism and hate of Jews and Israel. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2399904/Israeli-supermodel-Bar-Refaeli-NOT-fan-Pink-Floyd-demanding-lead-singer-Roger-Waters-remove-photo-concerts-called-boycott-Holy-Land.html

    • Are you not paying ANY attention to previous posts? You need to READ what has already been written by your intellectual betters on this. Being anti-genocide is not being antisemitic.

      READ what I wrote above. Educate yourself. You’re acting, and sounding like, a Zionist. Take your offensive racist filth elsewhere, please.

  3. Nick and Roger had always been good friends. When the split happened, Nick stayed out of the fray while David and Roger butted heads. I believe Nick and Roger has maintained their friendship even before the Live 8 reunion.