Nick Mason
Author
Discussion

lockhart flawse

Original Poster:

2,101 posts

264 months

Wednesday 20th June 2012
quotequote all
I have been working my way through the Pink Floyd Discovery box set over the last couple of weeks and I have been struck by the impoverished drumming throughout. It is probably fair to say that his simple, relaxed style has contributed towards the Pink Floyd sound but there is little variation - it's the same pace, dabbing away on the ride with the same fills for the best part of 30 years. Nick Mason sounds like a good bloke but he didn't half land on his feet when he joined Pink Floyd. Was there ever a musician who earned so much money for contributing so little content?

L.F.

Edited by lockhart flawse on Wednesday 20th June 16:46

GetCarter

31,226 posts

308 months

Wednesday 20th June 2012
quotequote all
Ringo Star

marcosgt

11,496 posts

205 months

Wednesday 20th June 2012
quotequote all
Both seem to have muddled by somehow though... smile

M

5150

750 posts

284 months

Wednesday 20th June 2012
quotequote all
Mason freely admits he's an average drummer . . . . .

GetCarter

31,226 posts

308 months

Wednesday 20th June 2012
quotequote all
Ringo could only dream of average.

james_gt3rs

4,816 posts

220 months

Wednesday 20th June 2012
quotequote all
If there was ever 'just a drummer' then it's Nick Mason. However it fits will with Pink Floyd, can't imagine Keith Moon sounding right with Floyd!

.Adam.

1,867 posts

292 months

Wednesday 20th June 2012
quotequote all
Not in the same fame/longevity league as Mason/Starr, but Meg White of the White Stripes always sounds to my untrained ear like she hasn't really got a much of clue how to play the drums.

drumsterphil

475 posts

252 months

Wednesday 20th June 2012
quotequote all
Ringo was a great drummer, much underrated and possible the best internal meter ever...

Nick Mason, nope, in terms of talent versus £££'s he scored big.....

I'm tempted to add Roger Taylor to the list but he has actually done some pretty cool things (and again, is perfect for his band....)

kiteless

12,556 posts

233 months

Wednesday 20th June 2012
quotequote all
I've always thought that Nick Mason, like Adam Clayton (U2 bass player), was a perfect case of being in the right place at the right time.


drumsterphil

475 posts

252 months

Wednesday 20th June 2012
quotequote all
Argh, that reminds me - step forward Larry Mullen...out Nick Mason's Nick Mason imo...

kev b

2,756 posts

195 months

Thursday 21st June 2012
quotequote all
Lennon and McCartney kicked out Pete Best and chose Ringo to be the Beatles drummer, Lennon in particular would not put up with a substandard musician. Ringos playing, like Harrisons was perfect for the job which makes him,in my opinion a great drummer. Nick Mason whilst no Buddy Rich, played what was needed, letting the music breathe whilst not trying to be the star of the show.

AdeTuono

7,626 posts

256 months

Thursday 21st June 2012
quotequote all
drumsterphil said:
Argh, that reminds me - step forward Larry Mullen...out Nick Mason's Nick Mason imo...
And the rest of the band as well. Mr. The Edge out-Larry Mullen's Larry Mullen Nick Mason's Nick Mason. IMO.

lockhart flawse

Original Poster:

2,101 posts

264 months

Thursday 21st June 2012
quotequote all
I think Adam Clayton's a good call actually: ponderous, root notes and only the most basic syncopation. Now we need a guitarist. I think the Edge was quite innovative in a way - how about Slash? Guitar playing by numbers...

L.F.

GetCarter

31,226 posts

308 months

Thursday 21st June 2012
quotequote all
kev b said:
Lennon and McCartney kicked out Pete Best and chose Ringo to be the Beatles drummer, Lennon in particular would not put up with a substandard musician. Ringos playing, like Harrisons was perfect for the job which makes him,in my opinion a great drummer. Nick Mason whilst no Buddy Rich, played what was needed, letting the music breathe whilst not trying to be the star of the show.
Fair comment - he was what was needed at the time. However, I employ drummers regularly and Ringo would never, get a gig from me! He just can't play in time within a bar (Not that I've heard him for years, so my apologies if he's improved).

To be fair though things have changed so much since quantisation. If you listen to some of the old Steely Dan tracks (who had some great drummers) the speed variation is outrageous. I've had to work to click tracks almost every day now for 25 years, so incorrect timing (and tuning) just does my head in.... but when I listen to recordings I did before that time, I'm all over the place (and I was convinced I was playing in time).

RobboC

1,760 posts

290 months

Thursday 21st June 2012
quotequote all
drumsterphil said:
Ringo was a great drummer, much underrated and possible the best internal meter ever...

Nick Mason, nope, in terms of talent versus £££'s he scored big.....

I'm tempted to add Roger Taylor to the list but he has actually done some pretty cool things (and again, is perfect for his band....)
What? Roger Taylor is one of the most versatile out there!

RegMolehusband

4,113 posts

286 months

Thursday 21st June 2012
quotequote all
Nick Mason's style of drumming fitted PF perfectly and, apart from playing the drums, I'm sure he contributed ideas on the creative side too.

ratbane

1,395 posts

245 months

Thursday 21st June 2012
quotequote all
Not the "Ringo wasn't even the best drummer in the Beatles" thread again!? He was perfect for the Beatles, that is the genius of the band - it just worked.

Nick Mason - very simple. Again, that's all Floyd needed. If he'd have been as technically mind numbing as, say, Dave Weckl, they'd have ended up like Dream Theatre (thank the lord!!).

...and from a tempo variation point of view, the reality is that perfect timing on modern albums is sterile. Just imagine Ogdens Nut's Gone Flake done to a click track!

Not picking on you GC - we've had our "relative merits of Ringo" convo previously.



Edited by ratbane on Thursday 21st June 11:20


Edited by ratbane on Thursday 21st June 11:22


Edited by ratbane on Thursday 21st June 11:25

GetCarter

31,226 posts

308 months

Thursday 21st June 2012
quotequote all
ratbane said:
He was perfect for the Beatles, that is the genius of the band - it just worked.
I agree with that /\

The great thing about drummers like Dave Weckl and Neal Wilkinson are that if you want 4 on the floor straight ahead, they can do it - perfectly. Shove them with Chick Corea and they are asked to become 'Phil Allgaps'... and they can do that too. More often than not I'll use Neal (if he's in the UK) and if you ask for simple, you get simple. (He is also arguably the best reader in the world - well according to Drummer Magazine!)


Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 21st June 12:20

ratbane

1,395 posts

245 months

Thursday 21st June 2012
quotequote all
RobboC said:
What? Roger Taylor is one of the most versatile out there!
...like he could sing too??

Justin Cyder

12,624 posts

178 months

Thursday 21st June 2012
quotequote all
I always thought that the thing with Nick Mason was the space he allowed for the music to breathe. Never occurred to me he was no good?

Conversely, Reni. Now there's a guy who knows how to fill a gap.