BBC Music's Matt Everitt got an exclusive interview with Pink Floyd's David Gilmour (guitarist/singer) and Nick Mason (drummer) ahead of the release of their new album.
In the interview they reveal this will be their last ever album and talked candidly about keyboard player Rick Wright who died in 2008 and to whom the album is a tribute.
Matt Everitt said: "Pink Floyd are without doubt one of the greatest and most successful bands in the history of popular music, so a chance to speak to them about their first album in 20 years was incredible. Also hearing them speak with such affection and honesty about their late bandmate Rick Wright - to whom the album is a tribute - was something pretty special. But it was also sad to hear David Gilmour confirming that this will be their last ever album. It was an emotional interview to say the least."
Matt Everitt: The album has been described as a tribute to Rick [Wright, keyboard player, who died in 2008], so do you feel his contribution to Pink Floyd was under-estimated?
David Gilmour: 'Yes, he has been underestimated by the public, by the media and by us at times I hate to say. I didn't necessarily always give him his proper due. People have very different attitudes to the way they work and we can become very judgemental and think someone is not quite pulling his weight enough, without realising that theirs is a different weight to pull.'
Nick Mason: 'I think the tendency is that the most attention is played to the songs or the guitar part or whatever, and sad old drummers and keyboard players get left behind. I think it's been a great opportunity; it is a great opportunity to recognise, remember and maybe give some credit rather late on. He was very gentle, very quiet, which doesn't help if you're in a band looking to promote yourself of course.
Matt Everitt: The only full song ' with lyrics - on the album is called 'Louder Than Words' with words by author Polly Samson and it directly talks about the band's relationship and musical connection. Why was now the right point to tackle that complex subject?
David Gilmour: 'Well, Rick is gone. This is the last thing that'll be out from us.'
Matt Everitt: 'Definitely?'
David Gilmour: 'Yes, I'm pretty certain there will not be any follow up to this. And Polly, my wife, thought that would be a very good lyrical idea to go out on. A way of describing the symbiosis that we have. Or had. '
Matt Everitt: Why is the album called The Endless River?
Nick Mason: 'I think it encapsulates a certain element of the band. It's something that we've been doing since 1966 really, which is this business of taking an idea, extending it, exploring it and doing something that's slightly outside the normal pop song, pop industry length of song piece or whatever. I don't think it's the entire thing laid out in one way, but it certainly links into some sort of theme of continuous development. It can be seen as being something to do with the band. It is extraordinary when you have a band that's not unique, but slightly extraordinary when you have a band that has changed and developed, where people have come and gone but still seems to have a sound of its own almost, something that is slightly, the sum is greater than the parts I suppose.
In the interview they reveal this will be their last ever album and talked candidly about keyboard player Rick Wright who died in 2008 and to whom the album is a tribute.
Matt Everitt said: "Pink Floyd are without doubt one of the greatest and most successful bands in the history of popular music, so a chance to speak to them about their first album in 20 years was incredible. Also hearing them speak with such affection and honesty about their late bandmate Rick Wright - to whom the album is a tribute - was something pretty special. But it was also sad to hear David Gilmour confirming that this will be their last ever album. It was an emotional interview to say the least."
Matt Everitt: The album has been described as a tribute to Rick [Wright, keyboard player, who died in 2008], so do you feel his contribution to Pink Floyd was under-estimated?
David Gilmour: 'Yes, he has been underestimated by the public, by the media and by us at times I hate to say. I didn't necessarily always give him his proper due. People have very different attitudes to the way they work and we can become very judgemental and think someone is not quite pulling his weight enough, without realising that theirs is a different weight to pull.'
Nick Mason: 'I think the tendency is that the most attention is played to the songs or the guitar part or whatever, and sad old drummers and keyboard players get left behind. I think it's been a great opportunity; it is a great opportunity to recognise, remember and maybe give some credit rather late on. He was very gentle, very quiet, which doesn't help if you're in a band looking to promote yourself of course.
Matt Everitt: The only full song ' with lyrics - on the album is called 'Louder Than Words' with words by author Polly Samson and it directly talks about the band's relationship and musical connection. Why was now the right point to tackle that complex subject?
David Gilmour: 'Well, Rick is gone. This is the last thing that'll be out from us.'
Matt Everitt: 'Definitely?'
David Gilmour: 'Yes, I'm pretty certain there will not be any follow up to this. And Polly, my wife, thought that would be a very good lyrical idea to go out on. A way of describing the symbiosis that we have. Or had. '
Matt Everitt: Why is the album called The Endless River?
Nick Mason: 'I think it encapsulates a certain element of the band. It's something that we've been doing since 1966 really, which is this business of taking an idea, extending it, exploring it and doing something that's slightly outside the normal pop song, pop industry length of song piece or whatever. I don't think it's the entire thing laid out in one way, but it certainly links into some sort of theme of continuous development. It can be seen as being something to do with the band. It is extraordinary when you have a band that's not unique, but slightly extraordinary when you have a band that has changed and developed, where people have come and gone but still seems to have a sound of its own almost, something that is slightly, the sum is greater than the parts I suppose.
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