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Nick Mason

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Nick Mason
CBE
Mason performing in 2018
Background information
Birth nameNicholas Berkeley Mason
Born(1944-01-27)27 January 1944(age 80)
Birmingham,Warwickshire,England
OriginHampstead,London, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • composer
  • record producer
  • author
  • auto racer
Instrument(s)
  • Drums
  • percussion
Years active1964–present
Labels
Member of

Nicholas Berkeley MasonCBE(born 27 January 1944) is an English drummer and a founder member of theprogressive rockbandPink Floyd.He has been the only constant member since the band's formation in 1964, and the only member to appear on every Pink Floyd album. He co-wrote Pink Floyd compositions including "Echoes","Time","Careful with That Axe, Eugene"and"One of These Days".

In 2018, Mason formed a new band,Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets,to perform music from Pink Floyd's early years. He was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Famein 1996 as a member of Pink Floyd. Mason collects classic cars and competes inmotorsportraces, and has produced books and documentaries on the subject.

Early life

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Mason was born on 27 January 1944 inBirminghamto Ailsa Sarah (née Kershaw) andBill Mason,a documentary filmmaker;[1]one of his paternal great-grandfathers wasRowland Hill Berkeley,who wasLord Mayor of Birminghamin 1904–1905.[2]

Mason was brought up inHampstead,London, and attendedthe Hall School, Hampstead,andFrensham Heights School,nearFarnham,Surrey. While studying architecture at theRegent Street Polytechnic(now the University of Westminster), he formed a band, Sigma 6, an early incarnation of Pink Floyd, withRoger Waters,Bob KloseandRichard Wrightin 1964.[3]In September 1963, Waters and Mason moved into a flat nearCrouch Endin London, owned by Mike Leonard, a part-time tutor at the nearbyHornsey College of Artand the Regent Street Polytechnic.[4][nb 1]Mason moved out after the 1964 academic year.[5][nb 2]

Pink Floyd

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Pink Floyd released their debut album,ThePiper at the Gates of Dawn,in 1967.[6]Mason has played on every Pink Floyd album since.[7]The only Pink Floyd compositions credited solely to Mason are "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party" (fromUmmagumma) and "Speak to Me"(fromThe Dark Side of the Moon).[7]The track "Nick's Boogie" was named after him.[7]

The only occasions on which Mason's voice has been included on Pink Floyd's albums are "Corporal Clegg";the single spoken line in"One of These Days";and spoken parts of"Signs of Life"and"Learning to Fly"(the latter taken from an actual recording of Mason's first solo flight) fromA Momentary Lapse of Reason.[7]He does, however, sing lead vocals on two unreleased but heavily bootlegged tracks, "Scream Thy Last Scream"(1967), penned by original group leaderSyd Barrett,and "The Merry Xmas Song" (1975–76). In live performances of the song "Sheep",Mason delivered the spoken section.[7]

Mason and guitaristDavid Gilmourat Roger Waters'The Wall Tour,May 2011

Despite legal conflicts over ownership of the name "Pink Floyd", which began when Waters left the group in 1985 and lasted roughly seven years, Waters and Mason are reportedly on good terms.[7]Mason joined Waters on the last two nights ofhis 2002 world tourto play drums on the Pink Floyd song "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun",and he also played drums on some concerts of Waters'European tour in 2006,and during performances in Los Angeles and New York City in the United States.

In July 2005, Mason, Gilmour, Wright, and Waters played together on stage for the first time in 24 years at theLive 8 concert in London.[7]Mason joined Gilmour and Wright again for the encore duringGilmour's showat theRoyal Albert Hall,London, on 31 May 2006. Mason has claimed to be the link between Gilmour and Waters. He also stated in 2006 that Pink Floyd had not officially disbanded, but with the death of Wright in 2008, the band effectively came to an end, as confirmed by Gilmour.[8]While Gilmour and Waters continued to quarrel, Mason remained close to both.[9]

On 12 May 2007, Mason joined Waters on stage atEarls Courtto playThe Dark Side of the Moon.On 12 May 2011, Mason was featured (along with Gilmour) on the encore "Outside the Wall"at a concert by Waters, who was performingThe Wallin its entirety (Gilmour also performed on "Comfortably Numb"that night).

Mason has worked with other musicians, includingSteve Hillage(as drummer and producer),Robert Wyatt(with whom he appeared onTop of the Pops[7]),the DamnedandGong.[10]He also drummed forMichael Mantler.[10]

Mason's book,Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd,was published in the UK in October 2004.[7]It is also available, abridged, as a 3-CD audio book, read by Mason.[7]An updated edition was published in paperback in 2011.

He performed in the closing ceremony of the2012 Olympic Gameson 12 August 2012. He produced and played on the charity single "Save the Children (Look Into Your Heart)", which also featuredBeverley Knight,Mick JaggerandRonnie Woodand which was released in May 2015 in aid ofSave the Children'sNepal EarthquakeAppeal.[11]On 17 October 2012, Mason was presented with aBASCAGold Badge Award in recognition of his contributions to music.[12]

Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets

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Main article:Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets

In 2018, Mason formed a new band, Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets, to perform Pink Floyd's earlypsychedelicmaterial.[13]Along with Mason, the band comprises formerBlockheadsguitarist Lee Harris, bassist and Pink Floyd collaboratorGuy Pratt,vocalist and guitaristGary KempofSpandau Ballet,andOrbkeyboardist Dom Beken.[14]As many fans had discovered Pink Floyd withThe Dark Side of the Moon,Mason wanted to bring their earlier material to a wider audience.[14]The band toured Europe and North America in 2018 and 2019, with a third tour postponed to 2021 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[15]In September 2020, they released a live album and film,Live at the Roundhouse.[16]

Drumming style

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A selection of Mason's customised drumsticks, from various makers, displayed at thePink Floyd: Their Mortal Remainsexhibition

Influenced byjazzandbig bandmusic, Mason embraced acoustic drums (both single- and double-headed), tuned percussion, electronic drums and Rototoms, melding all of these into a melodic whole. His snare drum sound shifted from harsh demarcation of beats 2 and 4 ( "Careful with that Axe, Eugene" ) to a fatter and gentler timbre ( "Echoes" ) — a change that reflected growing studio skills.[17]

Mason's style was gentler and more laid back than that of other progressive rock drummers of the time. He soloed on a few Pink Floyd compositions including "Nick's Boogie", "A Saucerful of Secrets", "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party", "Up The Khyber", "Skins", and "Time". Due to the dynamic live performances of Pink Floyd, Mason's style was more energetic and complex live, and can be heard on such albums asUmmagummaandLive at Pompeii.

He usedPremierdrums in the 1960s and occasionally in the 1970s[according to whom?].After that, he usedLudwigdrums from 1970 until 1992. He currently usesDrum Workshop(DW) drums, pedals and hardware. His kit is a DW double bass kit with theDark Side of the Moonlogo on the drums. He has also usedPaistecymbals during his entire career with Pink Floyd and currently uses a mixture of Paiste Traditional, Signature and 2002 cymbals. He also endorsesRemodrumheads,Latin PercussionandPro-Marksticks.

Cars and motor racing

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Nick Mason
Mason in 1981
NationalityUnited KingdomBritish
24 Hours of Le Manscareer
Years1979–80, 1982–84
TeamsDorset Racing Associates
EMKA Productions
Dome Racing
GTi Engineering
Best finish18th(1979)
Class wins0

As Pink Floyd's recording and touring schedule grew more sporadic, Mason was left with more time to pursue his favourite hobby,motor racing.This interest was documented in the 1986 short filmLife Could Be a Dream.[18]He owns (through his company Ten Tenths[19][20]) and races severalclassic cars,and has competed successfully at the24 Hours of Le Mans.[21]His racing cars include:Alfa Romeo 8C;[22]Bentley 4½ Litre(his father's racing car);[22]Bugatti Type 35;[23]Jaguar D-Type;[22]Ferrari 250 LM;[23]Ferrari BB LM;[22][23]Maserati Tipo 61;[24]McLaren F1 GTR;[23]and he previously raced aBRM P30.[25]

In 1998, Mason published a book,Into the Red,in which he documents his experience with his cars, along with some histories.[26]It was followed in 2010 by a second book,Passion for Speed: Twenty-four Classic Cars that Shaped a Century of Motor Sport.[27]

Mason is associated with the Italian manufacturerFerrari,and estimates he has owned 40 Ferrari cars.[25]His first purchase in the early 1970s was aFerrari 275GTB/4, which he comments would regularly wet-plug (when spark plugs are coated with unburned fuel).[25]His most notable purchase was in 1977 from his proceeds from the sale of the Pink Floyd albumDark Side Of The Moon,when he paid £37,000 (equivalent to £290,360 in 2023) for one of only 39Ferrari 250 GTOs.He still owns the car, valued now in excess of £30 million.[24]Mason and Gilmour drove the first twoFerrari F40sback to the UK from Maranello.[25]

Mason was invited by Ferrari to purchase one of the 400Enzomodels. He appeared in an episode of the BBC motoring programmeTop Gearin which he allowedJeremy Clarksonto borrow it for a review, on the condition Clarkson promote the release of the bookInside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd.[28]Skirting BBC advertising rules prohibiting product endorsements, Clarkson referenced Pink Floyd songs and album titles in the review of the Enzo andthe Stigdrove around the Top Gear test track with "Another Brick in the Wall"playing, despite the fact that the Enzo does not come equipped with a stereo.[29]Mason later sold the Enzo,[30]and replaced it with a Blu Scozia-colouredLaFerrari.[31]

Mason appeared on Season 2, Episode 8 ofThe Grand Tour.He won against thePolicedrummerStewart Copelandfor the title of "fastest rock drummer from a band that begins with a P" (driving not drumming) in the Celebrity Face Off segment.[32]

24 Hours of Le Mans results

[edit]
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1979 United KingdomDorset Racing Associates United KingdomBrian Joscelyne
United KingdomTony Birchenhough
United KingdomRichard Jenvey 		LolaT297Ford-Cosworth S 2.0 260 18th 2nd
1980 United KingdomDorset Racing Associates United KingdomPeter Clarke
Republic of IrelandMartin Birrane 		LolaT297Ford-Cosworth S 2.0 263 22nd 3rd
1982 United KingdomEMKA Productions United KingdomSteve O'Rourke
United KingdomRichard Down 		BMW M1Gr.5 IMSA GTX 266 DNF DNF
1983 JapanDome Racing United KingdomChris Craft
ChileEliseo Salazar 		Dome RC82Ford-Cosworth C 75 DNF DNF
1984 United KingdomGTi Engineering United KingdomRichard Lloyd
FranceRené Metge 		Porsche 956 C1 139 DSQ DSQ
Sources:[33][34]
Annette Lynton inThe Optimist(1984)

Personal life

[edit]

Mason's first marriage (1969) was to Lindy Rutter, with whom he had two daughters. During this time she contributed uncredited tin whistle and flute parts to two Pink Floyd albums,MoreandUmmagumma.[35]The couple divorced in the late 1980s;[citation needed]Mason is now married to his second wife Annette (Nettie) Lynton, an actress. They have two sons and live inHampstead,London. Since 1995 they have also ownedMiddlewick House,theGrade II listedformer home ofAndrewandCamilla Parker Bowles,just outside theWiltshiretown ofCorsham.[36]

His wealth amounted to £75 million, according to theSunday Times Rich List2015–2016.[37]He is a qualified helicopter pilot, and flies anAerospatiale AS 350 Squirrelhelicopterin specially painted colours.[38]

Mason is part of Football Ventures, a consortium that boughtBolton Wanderers Football Clubout of administration in August 2019.[39]He is a supporter ofArsenal F.C.[40]

Mason's portrait was painted by semi-finalists in a December 2021 episode ofPortrait Artist of the Year.[41]

Views and advocacy

[edit]
Mason'sPaddington Bearstatue—themed "Wish You Were Here" —outsidethe O2Arenain London, auctioned to raise funds for theNSPCC

In common withRoger Waters,Mason has played concerts to raise funds for theCountryside Alliance,a group which campaigned against the ban onfox huntingwith theHunting Act 2004.[42]In 2007 they both performed atHighclere Castlein Hampshire in support of the group.[43]

He is a board member and co-chairman of theFeatured Artists' Coalition.[44][45]As a spokesman for the organisation, Mason has voiced his support for musicians' rights and offered advice to younger artists in a rapidly changing music industry.[46]

In 2014, Mason joined Waters in expressing support for theBoycott, Divestment and Sanctionscampaign against Israel over theIsraeli–Palestinian conflictand urgedthe Rolling Stonesnot to play in Israel.[47]

Also in 2014, Mason designed a "Wish You Were Here" -themedPaddington Bearstatue, exhibited outsidethe O2Arenain London (one of 50 placed around the city). The statues were auctioned to raise funds for theNational Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children(NSPCC).[48]

Mason is anatheist.[49]

Honours and awards

[edit]

On 26 November 2012, Mason received the Honorary title ofDoctor of Lettersfrom theUniversity of Westminsterat the presentation ceremony of the School of Architecture and Built Environment (he had studied architecture at the university's predecessor,Regent Street Polytechnic,1962–1967).[50]

Mason was appointed aCommander of the Order of the British Empire(CBE) in the2019 New Year Honours,"for services to music",[51]and was presented with the award byPrince William, Duke of CambridgeatBuckingham Palaceon 2 May 2019.

On 24 July 2023, ahead of his Pompeii concert with his current band, Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, Mason was awarded with the honorary citizenship of the Italian city of Pompeii.[52]

Discography

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With Pink Floyd

[edit]
Main article:Pink Floyd discography

Solo albums

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Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets

[edit]
  • 2020:Live at the Roundhouse

Box set

With Rick Fenn

[edit]

With Michael Mantler

[edit]
  • The Hapless Child– 1976[10]
  • Something There– 1982[10]
  • Live– 1987[10]
  • Review– 2000
  • Concertos– 2008

As a producer

[edit]

Collaboration

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  • 2008: Robert Wyatt & Friends –Theatre Royal Drury Lane 8th September 1974– With Hugh Hopper,Mike Oldfield,Dave Stewart,Fred Frith, Julie Tippetts, Ivor Cutler, etc.

Books

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  • At the Limit: 21 Classic Race Cars That Shaped a Century of Motorsport(with Mark Hales): Motorbooks International (1998)ISBN978-0760305706
  • Into the Red: 22 Classic Cars That Shaped a Century of Motor Sport(with Mark Hales) – 3 September 1998 (first edition), 9 September 2004 (second edition)
  • Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd– 28 October 2004[7]
  • Passion for Speed: Twenty-Four Classic Cars that Shaped a Century of Motor Sport(with Mark Hales): Carlton Books (2010)ISBN978-1847326393

References

[edit]
  1. ^Leonard designed light machines, which used electric motors to spin perforated discs, casting patterns of lights on the walls. These were demonstrated on an early edition ofTomorrow's World.For a brief time Leonard played keyboard with them, using the front room of his flat for rehearsals.[4]
  2. ^Wright also briefly lived at Leonard's.[5]
  1. ^People of today.London: Debrett's Peerage. 1993. p. 1372.ISBN978-1-870520-14-0.
  2. ^"Bill Mason".The British Entertainment History Project.Retrieved11 December2021.my grandfather was lord mayor of Birmingham
  3. ^Blake 2008,pp. 37–38: Mason meeting Waters while studying architecture at the London Polytechnic;Fitch 2005,p. 335: Waters meeting Mason while studying architecture at the London Polytechnic.
  4. ^abMason 2005,pp. 24–26.
  5. ^abPovey 2008,p. 14.
  6. ^Roberts 2005,p. 391.
  7. ^abcdefghijklmnMabbett, Andy (2010).Pink Floyd – The Music and the Mystery.London: Omnibus.ISBN978-1-84938-370-7.
  8. ^"Pink Floyd are 'done', says Dave Gilmour".The Guardian.14 August 2015.Retrieved19 August2015.
  9. ^Greene, Andy (10 December 2018)."Nick Mason on the State of Pink Floyd: 'It's Silly to Still Be Fighting'".Rolling Stone.Retrieved27 September2020.
  10. ^abcdefghijklMiles, Barry; Mabbett, Andy (1994).Pink Floyd the visual documentary(Updated ed.). London: Omnibus.ISBN0-7119-4109-2.
  11. ^"Beverley Knight, Mick Jagger & Ronnie Wood Charity Single".Save the Children UK.Archived fromthe originalon 23 November 2015.Retrieved23 November2015.
  12. ^"Gold Badge Awards 2012 in pictures – M Magazine".23 October 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 7 January 2020.Retrieved19 January2018.
  13. ^Greene, Andy (13 June 2019)."Why Pink Floyd's Nick Mason Finally Went Solo at 75".Rolling Stone.Retrieved26 September2020.
  14. ^abKielty, Martin (17 April 2018)."Nick Mason Forms Supergroup to Play Early Pink Floyd Music".Ultimate Classic Rock.Retrieved26 September2020.
  15. ^Munro, Scott (11 May 2020)."Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets announce rescheduled European tour".Prog Magazine.Retrieved26 September2020.
  16. ^Pincombe, Sean (26 March 2020)."Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets 'Live at the Roundhouse' release delayed until September 2020".Retrieved7 July2020.Further to the postponement of their 2020 tour, Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets 'Live at the Roundhouse' concert video and audio releases have also been delayed. Owing to the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic, the release has been pushed from April, and will now hit store shelves on September 18th 2020.
  17. ^"Artists".Lpmusic.com. Archived fromthe originalon 9 May 2009.
  18. ^Fitch, Vernon (8 May 2000)."Life Could Be a Dream – The Nick Mason film".pinkfloydarchives.com.Archived fromthe originalon 8 May 2016.Retrieved31 January2017.
  19. ^"Ten Tenths Racing Website".Ten Tenths Racing.Retrieved29 June2020.
  20. ^"GALLERY: Inside Ten Tenths Racing's Legendary Garage".GALLERY: Inside Ten Tenths Racing's Legendary Garage.25 October 2017.
  21. ^Discovery Channel Documentary, "World's Most Expensive Cars"
  22. ^abcdcarwitter."A Visit To Nick Mason's (Pink Floyd) Car Collection".Archived fromthe originalon 18 August 2018.Retrieved17 August2018.
  23. ^abcd"Gallery: inside Nick Mason's toybox".4 May 2012.
  24. ^abFrank, Knight."Classic car investment special: Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason on why he loves his Ferrari 250 GTO".www.knightfrank.co.uk.
  25. ^abcd"Me and My Motor: Nick Mason of Pink Floyd recalls a" stupid "car investment with a £30m return".Driving.co.uk. 15 March 2016.Retrieved21 September2018.
  26. ^"Into the Red".Tentenths.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 6 October 2011.Retrieved22 October2011.
  27. ^Passion for Speed: Twenty-four Classic Cars that Shaped a Century of Motor Sport Hardcover(2nd ed.). Publisher: Carlton Books Ltd; Revised & enlarged edition (10 Sept. 2010). 2010.ISBN978-1-84732-639-3.
  28. ^Darukhanawala, Adil Jal (4 December 2008)."In Conversation: Nick Mason".The Economic Times.ISSN0013-0389.Retrieved14 November2023.
  29. ^"Top Gear: Series 5, Episode 2 – TopGearbox".26 December 2004.Retrieved23 August2021.
  30. ^"Ferrari Enzo – Ex Nick Mason for sale at Talacrest".talacrest.com.Archived fromthe originalon 18 August 2018.Retrieved17 August2018.
  31. ^"Nick Mason's blue LaFerrari is like the dark side of the moon".
  32. ^Ivie, Dave (11 December 2017)."The Grand Tour Season 2 Goes Back to Its Top Gear Roots".Retrieved13 December2017.a future episode [...] will see Nick Mason and Stewart Copeland competing for the title of fastest rock drummer.
  33. ^"Nick Mason".Automobile Club de l'Ouest.Retrieved11 November2023.
  34. ^"Complete Archive of Nick Mason".Racing Sports Cars.Retrieved11 November2023.
  35. ^"Lindy Mason: Credits".AllMusic.Retrieved27 June2024.
  36. ^Yilmaz, Tanya (7 July 2015)."Pink Floyd drummer opens his garden for charity".Wiltshire Times.Retrieved23 November2015.
  37. ^Sunday Times Rich List 2006–2007, A & C Black (ISBN978-0-7136-7941-0)
  38. ^"Stock photography image of Mason in his special painted Aerospatiale AS 350 helicopter".Photographersdirect.com. Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2011.Retrieved22 October2011.
  39. ^Hirst, Paul."Money from Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason stopped Bolton hitting the wall".
  40. ^"Nick Mason (Official)".www.facebook.com.Archived fromthe originalon 26 February 2022.
  41. ^"Portrait Artist of the Year".Sky Television.Retrieved14 December2021.
  42. ^Melia, Daniel (14 March 2006)."Pink Floyd Legends To Play Gig For Pro-Hunt Campaigners".Gigwise.Retrieved15 August2015.
  43. ^Povey, Glenn (2008).Echoes: The Complete History of Pink Floyd.Mind Head Publishing Ltd.ISBN978-0-9554624-1-2.
  44. ^Youngs, Ian (16 October 2010)."Pink Floyd may get back together for charity".BBC Online.Retrieved16 October2010.
  45. ^"FAC Chairman Nick Mason in keynote interview at In The City 2010".Featured Artists' Coalition.20 September 2010.Retrieved16 October2010.[permanent dead link]
  46. ^Youngs, Ian (18 October 2010)."Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason gives advice to new bands".BBC Online.Retrieved15 August2015.
  47. ^"Pink Floyd's Roger Waters and Nick Mason: Why Rolling Stones shouldn't play in Israel".Salon.1 May 2014.Retrieved15 August2015.
  48. ^Marcus, Lilit (24 November 2014)."Why Paddington Bear Statues Have Taken Over London".Condé Nast.Retrieved24 November2023.
  49. ^"Q magazine Questionnaire".Archived fromthe originalon 27 May 2011.Retrieved13 May2011.
  50. ^University of Westminster presentation ceremony programme, 26 November 2012
  51. ^"No. 62507".The London Gazette(1st supplement). 29 December 2018. p. N9.
  52. ^"Nick Mason is now an honorary citizen of Pompeii | ABC Audio Digital Syndication".
  53. ^Kielty, Martin (18 June 2018)."Nick Mason Announces Solo Box Set, 'Unattended Luggage'".Ultimate Classic Rock.Retrieved12 August2019.
  54. ^"Nick Mason | full Official Chart history".Official Charts Company.Retrieved12 August2019.

Sources

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[edit]

Media related toNick Masonat Wikimedia Commons Quotations related toNick Masonat Wikiquote

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