Abbey Road talks to Pink Floyd's Nick Mason

Out now! Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets' concert film, ‘Live at the Roundhouse’. Whilst mixing the project in Studio Three, we sat down and spoke with Nick to discuss his earliest memories of recording at Abbey Road, the Pink Floyd track with his favourite drum sound, and how he feels about bringing the earlier music of the iconic group to a new generation of people.
Purchase here: smarturl.it/NMSOS

[@abelincoln95]

Nick is so right. The "Dark Side" recordings, considering the technology available then, are breathtaking to this very day.

[@darrens7040]

Thanks to one Alan Parsons

[@ehsbe1056]

You don’t even need to say “considering the technology available then” because they still sound incredible now

[@abelincoln95]

@@ehsbe1056 The whole point about "technology" was there were limitations in the equipment "then" that didn't stop them from making incredible recordings, the comment had nothing to do with their performance and/or talent or lack of then or now.

[@smithy8856]

Absolutely way ahead of their time. An outstanding band.

[@420dAn]

True pioneers! Started out as a blues cover band and evolved into an amazing timeless legacy!!

[@heavymeddle28]

Sometime drummer of pink floyd... That's very humble coming from the drummer of THE best band ever

[@alfching2499]

Miserable Music,Clever but so Morbid,Bit like the group members Public School Miseries

[@ThatIsDopeBro]

Nice username pun

[@heavymeddle28]

@@ThatIsDopeBro thanks😊 you know, the kids always write "it's heavy metal stupid"

[@heavymeddle28]

@@ThatIsDopeBro hey... I just saw your username. Cool. We're two meddling people 😊

[@markroberts171]

Possibly the second best band ever, but certainly the maker of the best album ever

[@mickeygoh25]

He is like his playing... always relaxed and chilled

[@777jones]

Excellent comment, his drumming is so British and amazingly dignified. Love this guy.

[@Stepski23]

Always chilled except for that one time they played with Frank Zappa, where he looks like he's trying to excorcise sin from the skins of his drum kits

[@pulse4503]

if so, hes truly blessed...

[@classicraceruk1337]

Set the controls for the heart of the sun does have a brilliant drumming track.

[@bbandthesv]

"Could I have Eggs, Sausage, chips and beans, and a tea."

[@alf3654]

Ughh!

[@culloden23]

And no crust

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

culloden23 you don’t get crust on eggs chips sausage or beans?

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

Deli 6505 I’ve seen it I was joking ffs 🤦🏻‍♂️😂

[@johnvicaireiii5537]

Yes, my dad and I always quoted that one as well.

[@hamsandwichson]

I kept waiting for him to ask for crustless pie!

[@quenteqmampff8204]

A middle piece, d'ya got any middle pieces?

[@jumboJetPilot]

Can someone just give Nick a piece of pie with no crust?!?

[@dennisneo1608]

And not an end piece!!! Nick loves his apple pie.

[@Stonecutter334]

😂😂😂

[@jumboJetPilot]

Aussie Cockatoo The Lockneas Monster? Do UFO’s exist? Why chickens can’t fly? Why can’t Nick just remove the crust? Where did humans come from and how did we get here? These are some of the great mysteries that humans are left to ponder with.

[@blakefish80]

This fella is one of the all time greats. He's inspired my own drumming more than perhaps any other drummer.

[@ThatIsDopeBro]

People always talk about his delicate and patient sound in recording like darkside and the wall.. what inspired me was the experimental drumming in earlier records like echoes, saucer, careful with that axe. I have no skill in drums but play "melodies" in a non time keeping way and I feel that's from listening to floyd so much.

[@jamesjohnson77]

What a lovely chap, so glad he’s back playing and touring and enjoying it.

[@justmadeit2]

The most famous recording studio in the world, surely

[@justmadeit2]

@stephen noonan Ha, yes an unknown band from Liverpool I believe 😀

[@justmadeit2]

@stephen noonan 😀🎵

[@andreacali4050]

@@justmadeit2 I think they're called The Cockroaches or something like that

[@OfSoundNFury]

stephen noonan no actually, the studio named ITSELF after the ALBUM. Just goes to show how great the beatles were. It was previously known as EMI Recording Studios London, or something like that

[@OfSoundNFury]

stephen noonan yes. Quite a groundbreaking album by The Cockroaches, or whatever they were called

[@stalkek]

Love his point about people at live gigs busy with their phones in the air. Stop behaving like robots!

[@ThatIsDopeBro]

Youd do the same

[@tinydancergirl4598]

Weird to hear him say, “...and we were the lowly nothings” comparing themselves to the Beatles - noooooooo! They just got an earlier start than you guys, that’s all....! Of course, you All became Rock Gods in the end... and friends as well, which is always nice😍

[@philfyphil]

Lovely bloke, wonderful controlled drummer. Nick’s drums on Dark Side and future albums became completely memorable, with all the right rolls perfectly executed in the right places on every song.

[@lazyjesus6573]

Nick’s Saucer is amazing ❤️

[@vintagevinylvets1187]

Nick is such a gentleman and always generous in his interviews. He’s probably been asked the same questions thousands of times, yet he’s gracious about them and certainly proud of their legacy.

[@propjoe1060]

An absolute legend. Long live Nick Mason!

[@sailormike1089]

picked up Saucerful (CD/DVD) and played it and now I have to watch the DVD version. Love Fearless and Set The Controls.

[@shankarlakshmanan6167]

“They should be in a submarine with a periscope.”😄🤣 Classic Brit humour!

[@frenkboon9352]

very great and social guy ,,best of the best drummer ,,,just great man ,,,,,Shine on ,,,,

[@EC-ut4dy]

Nick Mason good drummers for Pink Floyd, but no way best of the best. Just saying.

[@yes_head]

The great thing about Nick and his generation of rock drummers was that they *swung*. That gave them the ability to play those softer parts that he talks about, but still with loads of variety and dynamics. It made people like Nick so good for a band like PF, but also just fun to listen to.

[@mixolydian2010]

NIce interview. My favourite era of Pink Floyd was before Dark Side of the Moon, so his project suits me to a t. All the best Nick

[@soarornor]

I love Nick’s Grand Vizier’s Garden Party on the studio side of Ummagumma. That whole album is amazing. Nick’s piece is unique. Nothing else really like it. His wife did the flute part which set the stage, then Nick created an almost odd mechanical contraption of drum and percussion bits that transcended the ordinary by far. Under proper enhancements, one could really gain the full picture of what he was doing and see the imagery invoked. The piece was not only brilliant and evocative, it was also hilarious. Truly nothing else like it. 🌚🌓🌔🌕

[@Ndlanding]

It's really hard to get proper enhancements at the moment, but I do remember the full 3D picture, lying on the floor, years back.

[@soarornor]

Ndlanding Yeah. That’s funny you mentioned “lying on the floor”. I had invited a friend over who had never heard the album. I think I started the evening off with Alice Cooper’s Pretties For You, (first album, original band) He was laying on the bed, and I was lying on the floor. We were both quite enhanced and open mouthed in awe after Pretties For You. I put on Ummagumma next and we just sailed. When Nick’s piece came up, I was just convulsed in laughter at the absurdity of the track. We both were. It was a million years ago, probably ‘71 but those sure were the days. The art of listening to music was widespread and cultural. You didn’t just put something on and gab. You took a journey. (As intended) 🌻

[@rikjensen573]

Soarornor: Brilliant and insightful comment. Thanks much! I'm 'floored'! Note: Nick says he still has the original, 'very specific' Darkside drumkit!! Well let's set the controls, then...

[@tondewit2000]

I agree, umma gumma is a fine album. The only track I skip is Sysyphus by Rick Wright

[@coxhoe789]

i met him 2 months ago in oxford ,what a lovely man

[@aisforamerica2185]

One of the reasons I don't go to concerts. People can't avoid using their phones when they should be enjoying the moment.

[@alfching2499]

I’m hoping one day these f..king ifones disappear ,ill keep hoping

[@Michael-mm3fm]

Should be banned at all live gigs, it’s a no-brainer

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

Michael Anderson so should lighters, predictable nonsense. 😁

[@Stonecutter334]

Nick says something super interesting during this. It used to be unthinkable that the album would be cheaper than the live show. But now due to pirating and theft its the other way around. So true!! Anyway cool little interview thanks.

[@Rich6Brew]

We only have ourselves to blame.

[@Ed9870]

"Disapproving looks" by the EMI staffers at Abbey Road. How English.

[@BARTFUNKBASS]

Saw them in Stuttgart, Sep 15 2018. They sounded so awesome!

[@jupiterlegrand4817]

Not to disagree with Mr. Mason, but I think the drum sound on the live Ummagumma sides is my favorite. No, it's not as perfect and huge as things got later on, but there is a unique quality to it that I never heard anywhere else. Dry, smokey and just different. Astronomy is my favorite from that record...the definitive version.

[@soarornor]

Yeah, a great drum sound and a great smokey live sound for the whole band. I remember when that album first came out. Listened to it all the time and was just blown away by its luminous transportative qualities. The band was pretty unknown in the US at that time and there was a lot of mystery about them. They were decidedly underground. If you heard that album playing anywhere you knew there were some people having a splendid time. I still really love Syd’s original version only on (at the time) the U.K. version of Piper. Finding the import of that was actually a big deal at the time. First time I heard that in an elevated fashion my jaw dropped. And then Flaming. Wow. And then the topper: Bike. All three were left off the US version of Piper. I really miss those days of going to a record store and heading for the import section to see what gems resided. Finding the U.K. Piper, Syd’s albums, and Music From The Body were like major discoveries.

[@777jones]

Rick’s stuff was very smoky too

[@floytron5924]

Careful With That Axe blew me away on Ummagumma. Such a perfect soundscape set by the Floyd

[@soarornor]

777jones Rick was the best. I really think he had no equal as to his style of playing and what he managed to get out of his Farfisa and Binson Echorec. He’s not really credited with it by many, but he had a lot to do with bands such as Tangerine Dream for coming up with their sound. A major influence, especially in the pre Dark Side era.

[@soarornor]

Floytron Yeah, it’s such a great track and that performance was a pinnacle. I really love that album and have loved it since it’s release. It’s still my top fave.

[@RichardMNixon-zh6uz]

This interview contains no crust or end pieces. That's what is important here.

[@kyotocoversjimanderson782]

Great to hear this; brilliant drummer and percussionist. Had to keep reminding myself that I wasn't looking at Eric Idle !

[@andymacc]

How beautifully down to earth x

[@slowneutron6163]

I'm so glad that Nick made it to his golden years and didn't have an untimely death in a pool of his own vomit like so many other drummers.

[@makusmati]

Or a long walk off a short pier...

[@jonp3890]

Or someone else’s vomit.

[@hublocker849]

Name one

[@Kowasi]

Spontaneous combustion...

[@EltonoutoftheclosetOfficial]

@@hublocker849 Bonham.

[@pottertaker]

Legend!!!!!!

[@pulse4503]

PF disbanded (unofficially) in 1996, is this information correct?

[@Scotty_Russell_Music]

I'd like to see Nick play "sports" live, great album, insane playing and what a band

[@OmriNamir]

LIVING LEAGEND THANKS

[@martinkristensen8398]

I always admired nick mason for his great sense of humour so down to earth

[@b-music9329]

Nick in fact is the only member of Pink Floyd who was there the entire 50 years

[@radiomindchatter7994]

Chris Thomas and Alan Parsons needs more recognition for the reason that Dark Side still sounds fantastic today.

[@dynjarren8355]

He seems quite content as he should be. He toured the World with Pink Floyd and achieved everything a band can achieve. Worldwide Fame and Fortune! Now he can look back and enjoy the fruits of all that success and smell the Roses as they used to say. He just sounds like a normal decent fellow.

[@christopher9152]

It's great that he's out there playing that awesome early Floyd material with his new band.

[@nelsonf.1398]

The Beatles are overrated I SAID IT

[@BreakingAllIllusions]

Everybody listens when a LEGEND speaks. Ladies and gentlemen, Nick Mason the sound of Pink Floyd 🤘🥁🤘

[@tonykinsella2105]

Listen he smacks the drums..not very hard these days....The sound of Pink Floyd turn it in!

[@Pe6ek]

Nick's eloquent use of the English language is sadly refreshing.

[@massimilianoguidotti2360]

So this time no pie, no crost and no falling stick lol NM is a true gentleman and peace keeper. Just bought and saw NM's Saucerful of secrets. The 2 CD are great but the DVD is mind blowing! I really recommend it to all early PF lovers. You'll enjoy it fully and deeply. So sad... David and Roger didn't join him. But it's ok. I can imagine David and Roger must have been thinking, watching and hearing NM project

[@NigelFortune]

Brilliant insightful interview 👍

[@ChilliCheezdog]

The Pink Floyd Exhibition at the V&A in London was amazing. Walking through a visual history of the band was an incredible experience. You were treated to historic paperwork and stage props and visuals. I had the unbelievable privilege of 'travelling through Pink Floyd.'

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

Good surname for a floydian as well sir. 👍🏼😂

[@jumboJetPilot]

“And not the corner piece!”

[@blastfromtheeast]

Fantastic interview. Thanks for this upload. Hope to find more of Abbey Rd. classic artists

[@gshepherd9871]

Humble and reserved.. A forgotten trait

[@khaledzurikat7190]

7:50 “they should be in submarines with a periscope” So TRUE Nick!!!

[@Kowasi]

'They're all watching it through an iphone'~ depends on the gig! The most intense gigs are the ones where I don't record anything, but I rarely regret taking a vid...

[@lucifer-ic9th]

Tremendous drummer. Tasteful, soulful playing. Both Nick and David have mastered the power of silence and space in between notes

[@Michael-mm3fm]

My goodness, what a fascinating interview.

[@olivierb8264]

It’s so true what he says about the concerts that people are filming (videos they will never watch) instead of living in the moment

[@mikemyers2626]

Mr. Mason, if I never get to meet you, I want you to know you are the greatest drummer in my eyes and ears. I thank you for your talent and inspiration. You are always at the top of my list! Respect to you sir! Thank you

[@maxtax8223]

def my fav pink floyd character... so concentrated when he's jamming... ... i keep trying to place him and Wright into the story of Wetley Rocks where so much history was created around the potters and the industrialists..... dude had the looks for the part... and on the flip side he could pass as the uncle living next door.... how can you not love Nick Mason ?

[@eddylieberman2872]

What an integral part of one of the greatest bands of all time...

[@johncunningham4820]

Nick Mason is perhaps best seen in his Natural Environment in Pompei version of TIME .

[@_SliK_]

Imagine that. Being in the same building where The Beatles are making another groundbreaking record

[@roeland195]

I'd rather imagine being in the same building as Pink Floyd, but to each their own.

[@solidmentalgrace]

well, they were busy making groundbreaking records of their own lol

[@adenihil]

When a seventy-something-year-old Nick Mason says « I’m bored ; I wanna play the drums again… » : you say « How friggin High Mr Mason!! »

[@robertholden12]

Gary Kemp from spandau ballet is a member of his band when Nick Mason's Saucerful OF Secrets first started and i learnt of the band members Gary Kemp voclals and guitar i was surprised at first both Nick and Gary have different backgrounds Nick was as we all know is from Pink Floyd Gary Kemp from spandau ballet both bands are in different leagues one being a rock and progressive rock band and spandau ballet a new romantic band having seen videos of the band i was impressed

[@b-music9329]

"The lowly nothings" have come a long way since ;-) ;-)

[@inoutdoor4211]

Did he just call Space Invaders a pinball game?

[@b-music9329]

Nick - if you should read the comments here go and search for "Rumpus Band" in KZbin which is a kids band from Auckland NZ I just discovered which play your Pink Floyd stuff as authentically that I'm completely thrilled!

[@b-music9329]

Especially "Hey You". I'm completely puzzled how these 10 - 13 years old kids play this song

[@inerlogic]

Wait...... Nick Mason is in a Pink Floyd cover band? I saw them live in '94.... still the best night of my life...

[@henygiese]

👏👏👏👏

[@MrUmaguma]

Nick looks like the only member that isnt aging badly

[@ezekielbrockmann114]

Go read his book.

[@dorian2112]

love PF and NM but he reminds me of charlie watts, and that is not a bad thing, he serves the song, nothine more or less. perfect really.

[@MisterTMH]

His best drumming is sometimes a bit off time but not all boring ' kick snare kick snare'. He has a melodic and flexibly jazzy approach on 'Atom Heart Mother', 'Umma Gumma' and 'Wish You Were here' along with other great records.

[@OboeCanAm]

Nick is a brilliant musician, and one of the world's leading experts on vintage race cars!

[@calvinhobbes7504]

Every member of Pink Floyd is and was genius IMHO .... including Syd. What "Abe Lincoln" below said .... Dark Side Of The Moon was incredible - not just the music itself but the recording techniques used! I honestly think "Dark Side" and Tull's "Thick as a Brick" were the best musical influences I ever experienced back in those days. I only regret not seeing Floyd's live support of that album.

[@Clarence_Oddbody]

Nick legally is Pink. He was awarded the trade mark for the band and control of most everything not copyrighted to Waters or Gilmour. At the time of Waters leaving, he was the only founding member of the band to have been in the band from the beginning to Waters’ departure.

[@garypowell1540]

Nick makes a very important point that is very difficult to explain to younger generations given the crap that they listen to if indeed they listen to any music at all. Back in the day it never occurred to the fans that this was some kind of golden age. We naturally assumed that when these guys lost some hair or reached 30 they would all gracefully retire and something at least as good or hopefully even better would take their place. This simply did not happen. If someone had told us that Mick Jagger would still be kicking it around a stage in front of many thousands of fans in his 70's we would have thought that have done too much acid. No one did, because the thought was unthinkable.

[@coconutislanddrones]

This man would love to go back out on the road as Pink Floyd and he's made no secret of it. The stumbling block is stubborn Dave which is quite sad when you consider Nick was there from day 1 and Dave joined the band much later but now has the power to deny our much loved Nick the opportunity to show an entire new generation why Pink Floyd are regarded as one of the best live bands in the world.

[@andimachovec2719]

Going back out on the Road as Pink Floyd without Richard Wright? Are you serious?

[@garethleitner9547]

Thank you, Mr. Mason!

[@robbieclark7828]

Nick Mason unknowingly solves the issue or live music during Covid: Have concerts out at sea and everybody gets their own submersible to watch the show from through a periscope.

[@brightblackgrouse6236]

one of the best drummers

[@bensolo9498]

Fascinating interview! Especially when he talks about recording at Abbey Road when the Beatles were working on Sgt Pepper.

[@Reflections_Of_Passion_007]

Living legend

[@vidtrax662]

I thought he’s a priest....priest of cool and calm

[@nisarrahil8081]

Sometimes?? Hey what about one of the four pillars of the freakin pink Floyd!!!

[@dimitarvel1441]

Can't wait to see Nick and his new band next year. I was supposed to watch him live in Sophia(bulgaria) and then in Belgrade (Serbia) this year but both were canceled.

[@danielasbjrnsson7500]

Legendary drummer, and the only constant member of Pink Floyd.

[@dynjarren8355]

The Beatles recording Sgt. Pepper at the same time Floyd were recording. I would just go over and watch them!

[@andrenewcomb3708]

Buckingham Palace and Abbey Road Studios are destinations.

[@MrMightyytau]

Set the controls for the heart of the sun, at 63 Id never hear of it, I had to stop the interview and find the track. Pick Floyd never ceases to amaze me..

[@gotgreen68]

Legend

[@peterliljeholmen5703]

There is really nothing wrong with the drum magic on Time either. As a matter of fact, it is all... brilliant

[@KirkFields]

👍🤓✌️

[@ryanst4623]

lol comfortably numb? what a basic fan ffs a real fan wouldve said see-saw

[@neonskyline1]

Brilliant Nick, you've still got that drum kit

[@oliverjackson5070]

He may be old externally but he's still got that youthful fire internally.

[@jasonsmith3573]

what a great legend of a man, so interesting and wise and still giving of himself to his fortunate fans. I could listen to him all day and all night.

[@patrickcoughlin3564]

Always wondered who were the big Wigs at EMI.?

[@SluffAdlin]

This man is what attracted me to the Floyd… not Gilmour or Waters. Rick was the second reason.

[@wispa1a]

His fingers are going south. Thank the heavens for midi

[@lasvegasionizedwater]

He only voiced one lyric. Let's see if anyone on here know what it is. Out of all the concerts and shows I had the good fortune to be able to attend, Pink Floyd was the best.

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

Set the controls

[@John_Doe643]

One of these days…

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

“One of these days i’m going to cut you into little pieces”

[@jamesgibbons6292]

@@kasperkjrsgaard1447 Yep. They slowed the speed down to get the effect. Great song. Brit Floyd does a really good version of it.

[@markbrooks7157]

He also did Scream Thy Last Scream.

[@joshualesicka2603]

Are there crusts on the pie? I won’t have any at all then

[@johnfrench5436]

And will still be listened to 50 years on.. The best

[@callmezagh3884]

I wonder if he ever sits down and listens to one of their albums