Paul Simon Explains Why Simon & Garfunkel Broke Up

[@howardstern]

Stream the FULL interview now on SiriusXM: sxm.app.link/HSPaulSimon

[@janetclaireSays]

This was a gracious explanation. Stern always leans into bitterness and grievance but Simon didn't go there.

[@geverniveup]

I love the way he described the situation with so many different perspectives and nuanced details. He’s being as non bias as possible and it’s refreshing

[@ssl3546]

Well he's still friends with Art, and Art has always been a challenging personality (not just to Paul). If he told a bitter gossipy story to Howard he wouldn't really be Art's friend.

[@jme92685]

Paul Simon is one of the greatest songwriters of all time.

[@TheMusicRoomWA]

Yes, and I think American Tune is one of the best songs ever written.

[@michellehill4148]

Wow really? You don't listen to much music I guess...

[@alvindimes4729]

​@@michellehill4148Are you saying he is not? 😅

[@thebossman60]

Yep

[@lucashenry7293]

​@@michellehill4148wtf?

[@alpenglow4243]

They are really two very different people and we need to appreciate the time they were together and made such exceptional music.

[@ronlakatos6755]

I agree with you but on a truly selfish viewpoint, we were deprived of a lot of future songs by this all time top duo.

[@magneto7930]

I respect the fact that Paul Simon gives a very honest and sympathetic explanation of the situation.

[@AndrewReevesArt]

His new album Psalms is a masterpiece.

[@humanbeing5300]

Paul Simon is one of my favorite songwriters of all time. Very cool, clever tunes

[@Michaelthekiwi]

I saw S&G in concert about 15 years ago, they were magnificent together. And halfway through they each did a 30 minute solo set, both were incredible.

[@dennisboyce813]

Howard just needs to ask the questions and answer them himself. He could then just hang a photo of the personality he´s interviewing.

[@bjorkflannigan2140]

Facts

[@krectus]

Yep, every interview. Howard explaining to the guest what happened to them and then just trying to get them to confirm it, rather than just ask them. Usually getting it wrong though.

[@MikehMike01]

Howard is such a clown

[@TwentiethCenturyFoxy]

I still have my t-shirt from the Shea Stadium show in ‘83. I was 13, it was my first concert, and still the most memorable. Except the eight-thousand times I’ve watched the ‘82 Concert in Central Park! ❤ always

[@wreckim]

A cool way to tell the truth without painfully revisiting the BS that must have happened between them, because of the respect toward their friendship. As it should be.

[@bobthebear1246]

Well, I'm definitely grateful that they reunited for The Concert In Central Park. I was there, age 14. It was only my second concert ever.

[@ueeemonna]

Wooow. Do you have any recall of that particular situation? The atmosphere, them being young, you being young, the music... I'm just so curious! I was born four years later :)

[@freddiesoverbite6162]

What an awesome interview that was. Love Paul. I could listen to his life story all day.

[@rupman27isback]

Same. Why i love their music. He has some great stories to tell.

[@dadadadoog]

Paul's creativity extended far beyond what he could accomplish while finding a role for Art. It would have been great if they could have collaborated more after the duo ended, but I'm grateful that it did.

[@done1675]

They did multiple tours after they officially broke up, even into the 21st century, so I for one am satisfied with that. I saw S&G in 1993 and it was one of the best shows I've ever seen.

[@mark11967AD]

Art was good in Carnal Knowledge. Paul obviously was the creative engine of that duo but Art did have a beautiful voice as well. Bridge Over Troubled Waters he's amazing.

[@aaronelya]

Wow... what a great chat. Paul Simon doesn't do a lot of interviews. Very cool.

[@greyarea3804]

You both were memorable together. Paul you wrote some incredible music afterwards. I greatly appreciate it. From both of you

[@Riiyan]

Paul was always about the music. I have a lot of respect for that. He respected everyone around him throughout his career even when things turned sour.

[@Dana-wq5tp]

Fortunately for both of them, the duo was still intact when they recorded the title song. I think I read where Paul had wished he had sung the lead on Bridge Over Troubled Water but in retrospect, its hard to imagine anyone but Art singing that song. Simply brilliant.

[@spaceengineer1452]

Why does Howard think needs to finish his guests sentences?

[@imalwaysright]

@@HI-PSIyou thought you ate with that one 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@footbru]

I watched Garfunkel in an interview a few years ago where he was asked about some presidential candidate using a S&G song in an ad (AMERICA?) and Art called it "my song". A song that was written by Paul. And I really wondered at his integrity and ego at that ...

[@jkrasney1]

Simon & Garfunkel remains one of the finest duos. Somehow, I wish they could have continued, in spite of their individual challenges.

[@MichaelHoare-bh5pg]

Simon and Garfunkel are arguably the most successful pop duo of all time.

[@Forcedhandle]

It’s great to see Howard interviewing a one of his idols in classic Howard passion! Thank you

[@PeterStrachanMusic]

Paul is as good a songwriter as anybody.. He is one of McCartney's favourite writers.. Maybe even his favourite.

[@Paul-dw2cl]

or b dubs

[@broken_disco_ball]

No that’d be brian Wilson for Paul

[@CJM333]

yup Brian Wilson

[@667SatansNeighbor]

And Frank Sinatra is quoted saying that "McCartney and Lennon are the greatest songwriters of our time", so for Simon to get THAT complement from McCartney is HUGE.

[@ACDZ123]

Kiwis will say split enz

[@screenplayhouse4932]

I simply wished Paul could have found a way to both be a solo act and have Art along for the occasional album. The world loved the two of them.

[@piteusx8440]

Duos don't stay together. Hall & Oates. Paul was the talent ... but Garfunkel voice really added to his songs.

[@24666dem]

I’m with Paul. It’s all or nothing.

[@rolandofgilead43]

@@piteusx8440 Hall and Oates were together for years and still go on tour sometimes but they did a ton of albums Simon & Garfunkel really didn't do that many albums sadly.

[@peterclaine4157]

They were of their Time, wonderful, paul has had a magnificent contribution, ever since,

[@ptownscribe1254]

@@piteusx8440 By an order of magnitude, the vast majority of duos don't stay together. Hall & Oates remained together essentially in name only, as Daryl Hall is on record saying Oates is his "business partner," not his musical partner. He said they had "a few good years" as a functioning duo, which is a few years less than S&G had.

[@konn81]

it is really cool that there are these recent interviews from living legends whose songs date back in the early 60s

[@kardave2848]

Graceland was an incredible record!

[@ljacobs357]

In my opinion, the best American song writer.

[@spencer2365]

Even better than Billy Joel?

[@albertomorales9493]

Really love Billy Joel 2!!! Both genuine talented people. Real Humans.. @@spencer2365

[@rupman27isback]

Bob Dylan. Period.

[@alexgrantham4747]

​@@rupman27isbackthe only answer

[@ryry423]

Frank Zappa

[@richguest]

Such an underrated artist - great to see him finally getting the recognition he deserves.

[@johnpatmos1722]

😂

[@thatboybear]

If Stern was a lawyer, he’d lose every case because of leading questions.

[@terrymckenzie8786]

😂

[@pauljams6565]

Well said Paul. . .👍

[@sm5574]

It also couldn't have been easy for Paul to see Art get all the accolades for singing "Bridge over Troubled Water" after being away for so much of the production.

[@lorenmckeever5673]

Paul Simon is a genius song writer

[@jackterra4352]

Another great interview! Lot's of questions were answered.

[@AK-ru3sg]

Legend. And nice of Howard to let his guest talk, mostly, for once.

[@pickettmandi]

One of the greatest American songwriters.

[@ChromeDestiny]

I saw a thing on the making of Bridge Over Troubled Water on PBS. You can see watching that how volatile things were getting with S&G.

[@HomeAtLast501]

Groups, and friendships, eventually part ways. That's life.

[@AGoodVibe]

Always thought the Simon & Garfunkel story would make a great movie. In this age of music biopics, maybe it’s time

[@20111ncaa]

Agree 100%

[@jefff6167]

Love Paul Simon. Stern is a aged hairy egomaniac that can’t stay out of the way of his guest’s narrative.👍🇺🇸

[@cherylb2008]

Paul and art two musical great talents

[@sljs1010]

Great interview.

[@gluuuuue]

Seems pretty real, possibly tempered by the wisdom of time, which itself tends to bring empathy for people even when you don't agree with those people (or don't agree with them anymore) for whatever reason. The ability to understand others doing what they want or need to do for themselves. And a lot of opposition to duos or groups breaking up is from the unrealistic expectations of fans, especially in music.

[@johnpatmos1722]

Well, we know whose musical taste the world preferred. Raise your hand if you listen to Garfunkel post Simon & Garfunkel.

[@davidleedutton]

If they hadn't broken up, we might not have had Graceland, one of the greatest albums of all time, so maybe it was all for the best.

[@Thebrianweissman]

Inarguably the greatest imo.

[@LadyFairChildVideo]

that album with Garfunkel's input wold have been even better.

[@ashershetrit8721]

LOVE Paul Simon !!!!

[@gregorylapointe4157]

Art had the voice but Paul was the song writing talent.

[@chuckwest7045]

Exactly.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

He became the songwriting talent. That's a detail that a lot of people forget. Paul wasn't that great as a songwriter early on, if you listen to those early albums they weren't anything particularly special other than Art's voice. As the albums continued, and you got to Bridge Over Troubled Water, you probably could have gotten a different vocalist and still had an amazing album, but that definitely wasn't the case early on.

[@RGP_Maths]

​@@SmallSpoonBrigadePlease tell me you're joking!

[@hiitsrudd8567]

Simon has a great voice

[@talkingcat-yy6on]

I always preferred Paul’s voice.

[@daveg9000]

Their concert in Central Park was iconic.

[@mitsurikanroji9548]

its good they broke up, paul simon's solo albums are gold

[@runnerjeffkorhan]

Check out his biography, The Life, which was published about 5 years ago. It details his songwriting process, which is fascinating.

[@wdechand]

Duos that stay together: Hall and Oates, Tears for Fears. I saw them on a double Bill a few years back. Great stuff.

[@dwaynekoblitz6032]

Simon and Simon. Same as there's no Hall n oats. It's only Hall n Hall. Side of oats.

[@tdmorgenthaler8384]

At 81-Paul must be getting tired of talking about this. I mean really, come on.

[@SThompsonRAMM_1203]

When you’re 81 telling stories is all you have left and you’re just happy to be talking.

[@rarelysatisfied2916]

"Duos don't stay together" *Hall and Oates exists

[@imalwaysright]

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

[@chazcov08]

@@imalwaysright Peanut butter & Jelly

[@stephenfeldman8104]

Donnie and Marie!!!

[@ScottlandShaffner0423]

Smothers Brothers

[@chazcov08]

@@ScottlandShaffner0423 I was just thinking about them this weekend. And they're still around!

[@TrumbullComic]

I can't believe how different his voice sounds now. Much deeper.

[@plapnab]

Must be they don’t have the proper modulation

[@alexdasliebe5391]

Test, test. 1, 2. 1, 2. Now I’m checking for proper modulation.

[@freddiesoverbite6162]

@@alexdasliebe5391 Green…. Type…. Of tube.

[@bingohhhhhhhhhhhh]

I'm telling you it's the ghost of Alan Arkin being channeled through Paul.

[@classicguitarfan8]

😂 well played

[@Tehui1974]

A sad story, but a natural, human one all the same.

[@tiredofit4761]

Two strong, talented people rarely get along for long.

[@darrint3573]

Paul certainly proved Clive incorrect. He had more hits as a solo artist than with S&G.

[@HarringtonsApocy]

Well he also had 40X the time to get there😂

[@theamazingbrokenman]

Sorry, no. His best material by far belongs to the S&G era.

[@darrint3573]

@@theamazingbrokenman Paul had 6 Top 10 hits & 1 #1 hit as a solo artist. S&G had 8 Top 10 hits and 3 #1 hits. Point being: Paul had a successful solo career that was on par with S&G. Thus proving Clive wrong!

[@savethisforlater]

Also an Album of the year in1986 for Graceland.

[@kathyyansick5382]

At some point Mr Paul Simon made famous a awsome Peruvian song the correct title is El Condor Pasa a huge stress reliever i look for thats song his rendition Thank You for that Sir💨☀️

[@bwuh]

"Duos don't stay together." Andy Bell/Vince Clarke 30+ years...still together.

[@privatepenguin3137]

Hall & Oates - 50 years together

[@fattiger2000]

Tenacious D

[@bwuh]

Amazed they're still together. Don't they despise each other?@@privatepenguin3137

[@georgasmussen9318]

Also the Pet Shop Boys!

[@imalwaysright]

Jam & Lewis

[@TurfShifter]

"Duo's don't stay together " and next on The Proclaimers!

[@leedaniels1468]

Paul is blessed with an enormous ego and used to fly into rages when people or the media praised Art's vocals or God forbid mistakingly thought they wrote the songs together. He was the "Genius" and wanted sole credit for their success, this is the main reason they broke up .

[@patrickambrose5372]

Paul got the royalties , Art got the appreciation of the audience.

[@mcmiller8703]

@@patrickambrose5372Paul got the royalties AND the appreciation of the audience 😉.

[@rhymeocerous]

Utterly simplistic analysis. Neither party was blameless

[@ekspatriat]

Graceland is legend.

[@branagain]

Garfunkel’s movie career went nowhere. Did he do anything after Carnal Knowledge?

[@johng92]

I saw Tears for Fears about 2 years ago and I know they also went through problems being a duo. But I think the music they’re putting out now is fantastic

[@footbru]

Why do people keep citing Tears for Fears as a duo? The band had two other members - Manny Elias and Ian Stanley. Plus, they are sort of the proof of what Paul Simon said, in that they had several "acrimonious" splits.

[@Luileadolfo]

Art Garfunkel s two finales studio solo albums are really good. He co wrote some songs

[@WilfriedWunderlich]

Recent solo albums? His most recent solo album was from 2007 and it did not chart. The last time one of his albums was in the charts was in 1988 (Lefty, #134).

[@joe22589]

It was Simon's angelistic voice. He is miles away from Paul's musicianship and calibre as a songwriter

[@henrikjorhov4354]

Some music please from this great man !

[@Jim-pt8kk]

Still can’t believe he didn’t extend the offer for him to sing harmony on a couple songs on each solo album

[@rodneykoester3260]

First for Simon, Love this guy!

[@wjkwjk3484]

We, Chinese, believe that some friendship lasts longer, some last shorter. It happens. Just relax, and accept it. This is life.

[@strontiumdogma]

Paul Simon: We would have broken up anyway. Duos don't stay together. Pet Shop Boys, after 42 years together: Are we a joke to you?

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

They would be a rarity. Most duos will eventually break up either because they completely explore all the ground around them or because they can't agree as to which direction to go ro egos get in the way.

[@crisrose521]

Breakups come down to either ego or money . . Or both

[@stevemurray2737]

My favorite Duo of All Time? Simon and BabBooey!

[@artgoldberg]

Amazingly, the poster for "The Graduate" at 0:24 is wrong. It says "SIMON GARFUNKEL" instead of "ART GARFUNKEL"!

[@jflash3451]

love that he says its not his fault and then proceeds to tell a story where its clearly Arts fault

[@ptownscribe1254]

He clearly said the shooting schedule ran over, and that was a common thing. I guess it was Art's fault to commit to another movie, though.

[@ROGER2095]

The duo Penn & Teller have stayed together all this time, so it is possible.

[@HolgerRuneFan]

Unsaid is that Paul wrote all their songs, Art wrote none of them, he contributed vocally and that's it. Simon should have been dictating everything, he was the creative force in the duo, NOT Art.

[@patrickambrose5372]

An artist can't create without paints!

[@richiewarren547]

@@patrickambrose5372he seemed to have created quite well post break up so you don’t really make a valid point

[@jeffreyjohnson7359]

He cowrote Scarborough Fair...

[@michaeldonaghey]

@@jeffreyjohnson7359 He got Scarborough Fair from Martin Carthy.

[@cisium1184]

His voice has really changed. Much lower than it used to be.

[@kellykarcher7179]

And much worse (when singing) than it used to be as well....

[@LEGENDNJ]

need more richard and sal!!!

[@DrewRandIsCool]

Can we have this duo back?

[@bubbispapa2053]

The editor of "Catch 22" probably couldn't distinguish between Paul Simon and Bob Balaban which is the real reason he was cut from the film. 😏

[@daveycmusic5150]

Top 3 people in the world I'd love to just sit and have coffee with.

[@marciocouto3543]

Paul is together with Dylan and Wilson the biggest american songwriter of all time.

[@GreatGazoo8]

It just opened up the door for a new supergeoup Garfunkel and Oates!

[@seinfeldfan442]

Duos dont stay together, they didnt make many albums but still had a big impact

[@lizziehan13]

HS is such a drama queen , he always gives these super gossipy narratives (that usually aren't true), just trying to get some dirt.

[@ottolovechild506]

“Duos don’t stay together.” *laughs in Hall and Oates*

[@starman2089]

Laughs in Tears for Fears.

[@footbru]

@@starman2089 Tears for Fears broke up "acrimoniously" several times

[@jeboccuzzi10]

Paul was the talent

[@antonimartinez9961]

Is Howard back in the studio?

[@meazmo]

His analysis seems fair

[@underclvss]

Half of the time we're gone but we don't know where

[@user-cm9nn9mf6s]

this is epic. how can we watch the entire interview?

[@ronwade5646]

2 huge Egos, neither one has ever been as popular as their duo.

[@robertnewell5057]

Sing Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme for me Paul.Could you make it the Martin Carthy version, though?

[@seankelly260]

Martin & Lewis, Hope & Crosby, Abbott & Costello, Simon & Garfunkel, Laurel & Hardy... even the Everly Brothers couldn't keep it together, and they're BROTHERS.

[@chazcov08]

Hall & Oates. It's been over 50 years for them.

[@ptownscribe1254]

@@chazcov08 And Hall calls Oates his "business partner," and suggests Oates didn't even sing their harmonies. Not a great example.

[@michaelinminn]

I am only sad to here that it was revealed on this show. 🙁

[@coyotelong4349]

But can Paul Garfunkel explain why Simon & Simon broke up? 🤔

[@chipperjack8914]

They gave us so much pleasure

[@dadaevan]

Is Stern back in the studio?