“It Would Take a Nelson Mandela or Someone Like That” Event To Reunite Pink Floyd

The prospect of a Pink Floyd reunion seems elusive, according to drummer Nick Mason, who believes that a monumental event akin to the leadership of Nelson Mandela would be necessary to reconcile David Gilmour and Roger Waters.

In a recent episode of The Story Behind the Song, Mason reflected on the band’s iconic track “Time” and expressed his skepticism about the likelihood of a reunion between the band’s key members. Despite past one-off performances and Mason’s occasional openness to the idea, the divide between Gilmour and Waters appears challenging to bridge.

A Reconciliation Beyond Reach

Mason acknowledged the monumental task of bringing Gilmour and Waters together for a Pink Floyd reunion, emphasizing the need for an extraordinary catalyst. He stated:

“I think it’s highly unlikely, but I would’ve said that before Live 8 — 10 years ago or 12 years ago, whatever it was. The one thing I could think would be possible would be if there was some… if by getting back together we could influence saving the planet, world peace, or whatever.”

Mason went on to suggest that it would take a figure of Nelson Mandela’s stature to lead the way towards reconciliation.

The Legacy of Live 8

Pink Floyd’s Live 8 performance in 2005, held at London’s Hyde Park, briefly reunited the band’s surviving members. However, any hopes of a lasting reunion were dashed when David Gilmour clarified on his website that his appearance was a one-time event. Since then, Gilmour and Waters have remained at odds, with Mason often playing a role as an intermediary.

Mixed Signals and Conflicting Views

While Mason has occasionally expressed his openness to a Pink Floyd reunion and praised Waters’ re-recording of The Dark Side of the Moon, the ongoing tensions between Gilmour and Waters persist. In an earlier incident, Gilmour criticized Waters as a “misogynistic, antisemitic Putin apologist.” This criticism came prior to Waters’ controversial performances in Berlin, where he wore a uniform resembling that of a Nazi SS soldier, prompting an investigation by German police.

The possibility of a full-fledged Pink Floyd reunion appears remote, as Gilmour and Waters remain divided by personal and ideological differences. Nick Mason’s insights shed light on the challenging dynamics that would need to be overcome for such a reunion to materialize.