Nick Mason's book on the Floyd
Posted by: Kevin-W on 18 October 2004
Instead of doing any work, I have spent all day reading this ("Inside OUt" is the title) and I must recommend it to all Floydians (or indeed anyone who's not a fan of the Floyd).
It's one of the best books on music I've ever read.
At £30 list price, it's a bit steep but it is a heavy and handsomely-designed tome. The pictures are absolutely out of this world, especially the pre-1979 ones. Probably worth the price of admission on their own.
Mason is a rather good writer, alternately bemused by his group's massive success, but always wry and often affectionate.
He does a good job of gently and wittily pricking the pomposity of both Fat Dave and Big Rog. I wouldn't say it was full of revelations, but there's a lot of detail in there and I learned a few things (I'm a bit of an anal Floydophile on the quiet).
There's also a rather touching postscript in which Nick talks of his reconcilation with his erstwhile best mate Waters.
There are only a couple of minor quibbles: one, it's a bit bland and even handed when it comes to the Floyd's 1980s civil wars; and two, as Roger Waters has pointed out, tthere isn't any sex in it. Now I would have paid a lot to have read that...
Kevin (BBC Radio 4)
It's one of the best books on music I've ever read.
At £30 list price, it's a bit steep but it is a heavy and handsomely-designed tome. The pictures are absolutely out of this world, especially the pre-1979 ones. Probably worth the price of admission on their own.
Mason is a rather good writer, alternately bemused by his group's massive success, but always wry and often affectionate.
He does a good job of gently and wittily pricking the pomposity of both Fat Dave and Big Rog. I wouldn't say it was full of revelations, but there's a lot of detail in there and I learned a few things (I'm a bit of an anal Floydophile on the quiet).
There's also a rather touching postscript in which Nick talks of his reconcilation with his erstwhile best mate Waters.
There are only a couple of minor quibbles: one, it's a bit bland and even handed when it comes to the Floyd's 1980s civil wars; and two, as Roger Waters has pointed out, tthere isn't any sex in it. Now I would have paid a lot to have read that...
Kevin (BBC Radio 4)
Thanks for the pointer Kevin. I hadn't heard about this.
I have nearly met Nick Mason on many, many occasions. Bit weird really, but I know of 6 different people who have met him on evenings and events that I decided not to go to. Every time I hear "I was sitting next to this guy who turned out to be the Drummer with Pink Floyd - Nick something. You like Pink Floyd, don't you?". How many times have I heard that?
Really weird. One of my work collegues was his drum tech & roadie during the late 70's.
I have nearly met Nick Mason on many, many occasions. Bit weird really, but I know of 6 different people who have met him on evenings and events that I decided not to go to. Every time I hear "I was sitting next to this guy who turned out to be the Drummer with Pink Floyd - Nick something. You like Pink Floyd, don't you?". How many times have I heard that?
Really weird. One of my work collegues was his drum tech & roadie during the late 70's.