07-06-2005, 08:08 AM
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#27 (permalink)
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Here's a little on how it came to be
Quote:
Pink Floyd reunion proves that pigs can fly
(Filed: 30/06/2005)
Pink Floyd's ironical drummer tells Robert Sandall how the group's reunion came about
Roger Waters, whose first phone call to Dave Gilmour in over 20 years sealed the Live8 deal, has said nothing. Gilmour has muttered off-the-record that this isn't a proper reunion and that he's more interested in his forthcoming solo album. Rick Wright, the quiet one, has kept quiet. Which leaves Nick Mason, the group's tirelessly ironical drummer and the only Floyder to speak publicly about their historic rapprochement.
Reunited: Pink Floyd
Speaking to me at the end of last week, Mason cheerfully admitted that the band hadn't actually sat down together yet to decide which three songs to play or how to play them - "It's sort of assumed that we'll all remember how they go" - but was optimistic that some kind of rehearsal would take place. Either that or they would have to issue a statement: "Due to commitments, the Pink Floyd will be rehearsing after the show."
Mason confirmed that the truce had been brokered by Geldof, partly to ramp up interest in Live8 in the States, where Pink Floyd are considerably more popular than poor African countries. "Plus I think Bob wanted an addition to what he did last time. He wanted a novelty act basically. It was a toss up between us and the Spice Girls. Not sure if we lost or won." Briefly assuming a straight face, Mason did say that "At this point it's nice to be remembered not just for a bunch of jolly tunes, but for something that might make a real difference to the world."
He also commented that Bob Geldof had been "fabulously persuasive" and that his relationship with Roger Waters - whom he first met when he starred as Pink in Alan Parker's film of The Wall in 1982 - had been crucial. "Roger and Bob have enormous respect for each other, The two of them together are a bit like Hitler and Stalin with a better sense of humour, and in Bob's case, worse hair."
More importantly Mason said he thought the real spur to the Floyd's temporary resurrection was their desire to put the ghost of Live Aid to rest. With legal proceedings just begun in the summer of 1985 to establish who owned the rights to the name, Pink Floyd, only Gilmour turned up for Geldof's first African benefit, playing guitar for Bryan Ferry. " I felt, and I think we all felt, that it was a shame we hadn't played Live Aid," Mason said.
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