Nick Mason

[Ian Williams]

Nick Mason has been drummer and performed percussion support on every Pink Floyd album, up to date. He has some jazz bits, R&B and shuffle background, while playing the drums.

He used Premier Drums from the late 60's to late 70's. After that, he used Ludwig Drums until early 90's. He currently uses DW (Drum Workshop) Drums, pedals and hardware. His actual kit is a DW Double Bass with the Dark Side of the Moon logo.

Any comments to share?

Thanks & Regards,

[drumac]

I like Nick Mason. It took me a long time to appreciate the nuances in Nick's playing, but he is a cool guy to listen to. I love when he doesn't use a ride or hats to lead in certain movements of the song "Time." I always thought that was classy. He may not be a shredder, but he certainly knows how to write and execute a great drum part that adds to the song. To me, that is one of the greatest talents that a drummer in a band can have. Not to mention, he is part of Pink Floyd. It's kind of hard to say anything bad about that! If you are ever bored, play "In the Flesh." It's lots of fun.

[Cadet311]

Nick is a great example of leaving something out and being perfect. I was driving one day and air drumming to Comfortably Numb and I was air drumming a fill, but Nick wasn't. And in that one moment, everything he did made sense.

[Ian Williams]

I appreciate your input, fellows. Nick also plays guitar, bass, keyboards but He loves his usual drums. In addition, He is a Musician, Producer and Author.

Check: http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Nick_Mason.html

Cheers,

[Jeremy Bender]

A nice pic. of his set-up. Love the roto-toms!

[percussivelibrarian]

I love Nick Mason's playing, especially during Floyd's space rock period ca. '68-71, pre-Dark Side of the Moon. Tunes like Careful with that Axe Eugene, Saucerful of Secrets, Atom Heart Mother, and the awesome tom-tom work on Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun. Mason was never known for his awe-inspiring technique, but his playing is so atmospheric and seems to perfectly complement the various moods and textures of the band's sound...

[Pollyanna]

I like Nick's playing. His simplicity gave Floyd's music the space and clarity it needed.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Ditto on the Roto Toms. Imagine the myriad of sounds that could be obtained.

[pirate]

I love Nick Mason's playing, especially during Floyd's space rock period ca. '68-71, pre-Dark Side of the Moon. Tunes like Careful with that Axe Eugene, Saucerful of Secrets, Atom Heart Mother, and the awesome tom-tom work on Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun. Mason was never known for his awe-inspiring technique, but his playing is so atmospheric and seems to perfectly complement the various moods and textures of the band's sound...

same here! I like better the pre-Dark Side of the Moon... great stuff.

[bonzolead]

I like Nick Mason except he always had Double-Bass and I can't. think of one Pink Floyd tune that has double bass in it.

Besides that he is one of those great less is more drummers and don't. think the Floyd tunes would sound the same with a different drummer.

Bonzolead

[jimmy5578]

I love Nick's playing and it frustrates me that he dosen't get the credit he deserves. I think his playing is beautiful and it moves me much more than the mathematicians that seem to get all the praise from drummers (bill bruford, neil peart, etc...). I was listening to Floyd tonight and I was tuning into Nick and the way he plays things that compliment the song (and just as importantly the things he DOSENT play) really surprised me. He's such a great song drummer and he has such a great sense of time and dynamics. Definitely way underrated.

[harryconway]

Nick is a great example of leaving something out and being perfect. I was driving one day and air drumming to Comfortably Numb and I was air drumming a fill, but Nick wasn't. And in that one moment, everything he did made sense.

Indeed, Nick is one of those masters who understands that the space between the notes is just as important (or more so) than the notes themselves. Yet he's also one of the best psychedelic drummers.