Renowned drummer Nick Mason reflects on his illustrious journey with Pink Floyd, revealing that while he holds few regrets, one particular thought has resurfaced with the upcoming theatrical return of Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii. This classic film featured the band during the creation of their iconic 1973 album, Dark Side of the Moon, yet surprisingly, a dedicated concert film showcasing this landmark album was never produced. In reality, it wasn’t until 1995, with the release of Pulse, that Pink Floyd finally offered a live rendition of Dark Side of the Moon, long after the departure of founding member Roger Waters.
Reflecting on this missed opportunity, Mason shares with Rolling Stone, “If we could relive those moments, we should have dedicated more time to performing Dark Side live instead of rushing back into the studio to create Wish You Were Here. We spent a significant amount of time in the studio, not enjoying ourselves, when we could have extended our live performances and captured more footage.”
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The concept behind Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii was quite unique, featuring the band performing in the historic ruins of a Roman amphitheater without a live audience. Unfortunately, the film did not yield significant profits, which may have contributed to Pink Floyd’s hesitation to produce another concert film for many years. Mason reflects, “We might not have realized the potential value in filming our performances. Perhaps the financial underperformance of the movie played a role, but it’s unfortunate that we didn’t take more time to replicate this experience with Dark Side of the Moon.”
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Recently, Mason returned to the historic site of Pompeii, where he performed a couple of years ago at the Grand Theater with his band, Saucerful of Secrets, an offshoot of Pink Floyd. His musical endeavors continued with a successful 35-show tour last year, which featured a memorable performance at London’s prestigious Royal Festival Hall.
However, Mason expresses uncertainty about their plans for 2025, stating, “We genuinely don’t know what’s on the horizon. We might have overextended ourselves last year, and everyone is feeling quite fatigued. We certainly want to continue performing, but it’s essential to identify the right opportunities.”
The re-release of Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii marks a significant milestone, being the first major project since Sony acquired their extensive back catalog for approximately $400 million. This restored version has been meticulously enhanced from its original 35mm prints, receiving a stunning 4K remaster and a remix by Steven Wilson, and is now titled Pink Floyd at Pompeii: MCMLXXII.
Mason is optimistic about the catalog sale, stating, “I still believe that selling the catalog was a wise decision. I trust that Sony will manage it more effectively than we could have. We often found ourselves embroiled in disputes.”
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Gallery Credit: Nick DeRiso
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