Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason recently came forward with his thoughts on Roger Waters‘ re-recording of the legendary album, ‘The Dark Side of the Moon,’ during a Q&A session at London’s Dolby Atmos Immersive Studio. Surprisingly, he admitted that he found Waters’ rendition to be ‘annoyingly, absolutely brilliant!’ This news comes after Waters’ announcement last month that he was reworking the iconic album, asserting that it was primarily his project.
The original release of ‘The Dark Side of the Moon,’ which hit the shelves in 1973, is considered one of the greatest records of all time. As the album celebrates its 50th anniversary this month, Waters’ decision to re-record the masterpiece without any of the current Pink Floyd members has stirred up debate amongst fans and bandmates alike.
Initially, Mason was under the impression that Waters’ re-recording would be a direct competition with the original version. However, after Waters sent him a copy of the work in progress, Mason changed his tune. Though he was initially annoyed, he couldn’t deny the brilliance of Waters’ rendition and conceded that it wasn’t a spoiler for the original, but rather an interesting addition to the Pink Floyd legacy.
Here is what the drummer said about Waters’ re-recording:
“I heard the rumor that Roger was working on his own version of it. There was this suggestion that this was going to be a spoiler, and Roger was going to go head-to-head with the original version, and so on. He actually sent me a copy of what he was working on, and I write to him and said, ‘Annoyingly, it’s absolutely brilliant!‘ It was and is. It’s not anything that would be a spoiler for the original at all; it’s an interesting add-on to the thing.”
Waters’ decision to re-release ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ has been a hot topic in the rock community. In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, he made it clear that he believed the album to be his project, although he also acknowledged the others’ contributions. This bold claim has not gone unnoticed, sparking a renewed war of words between Waters and his former Pink Floyd bandmate David Gilmour.
Despite the tension, Mason’s recent statements offer a different perspective on Waters’ re-recording, and rock lovers can’t help but be intrigued by the possibility of experiencing a fresh take on a classic album. It seems that even amidst the conflict, the exceptional quality of Waters’ work is undeniable.
So, Nick Mason’s initial annoyance with Roger Waters’ re-recording of ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ has transformed into admiration for the new version. As fans eagerly await the release, it’s clear that Waters’ rendition won’t overshadow the original but will instead serve as an intriguing addition to the already rich and enduring legacy of Pink Floyd.
