Screengrab from Thesaucerfulofsecrets.com
Back in May 2018 Nick Mason’s new group Saucerful of Secrets played a few intimate gigs in London. It was Mason’s first live show since Pink Floyd played Live 8 in 2005. After such a great reception, they announced they’d be going on a European tour. That tour begins 2 September in Stockholm and runs for 21 dates.
The former Pink Floyd drummer’s band includes Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp, bassist Guy Pratt, guitarist Lee Harris and keyboardist Dom Beken. And the band focus on playing Pink Floyd’s early music from their psychedelic albums like The Piper At The Gates of Dawn and A Saucerful Of Secrets, centring on the songs they created when Syd Barrett was a member of the band.
Pink Floyd at the mixing desk whilst recording their album 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn' in Abbey Road Studios. © Andrew Whittuck
Songs from the London gigs included, “See Emily Play”, “Arnold Layne”, “Bike”, “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun”, “Meddle” and “Obscured by Clouds”. And with Mason being the only member of Pink Floyd who has played on all their studio albums and live shows, he’s perfectly placed to tour their much-loved and praised early music.
But learning all the old tunes didn’t come easy. In a recent interview with Billboard Mason notes, “Being an eternal optimist, I thought it would just come straight back to me. Sadly, I was wrong. Once you start examining Syd’s work carefully it’s quite often more complex than you expect. It's not necessarily written like so many pop songs with an eight-bar section and the middle eights and whatever. It's quite often a completely different set of bar counts to what you're expecting. And that in a way was fun and challenging to get at the feel of the song, but not necessarily feel that we had to sound exactly like Syd or like David or whatever.”
Syd Barrett, whilst with the rest of Pink Floyd, photographed on one of their early shoots. © Andrew Whittuck
The popularity of how the songs went down at the London shows surprised Mason. Although, any fan of Pink Floyd would probably have been able to tell him that Mason and his band playing the early classics, in the same improvised spirit to the freewheeling way they were performed back in the 1960s, was going to be a dream come true.
“It's a real return to some of the improvised sections and the atmosphere of the songs.” said Mason. “The tendency in this day and age is to try and recreate things perfectly. We bring imperfection.”
Nick Mason shot on one of the earliest Pink Floyd photo shoots in 1967 with the band's special lighting effects. Nick describes the lighting as consisting of a 'hand-built rig and some underpowered Aldis 35mm projectors - the kind of machines families used to display their summer holiday snaps - containing slides filled with mixes of oil, water, inks and chemicals that were heated with small butane blow lamps. © Andrew Whittuck
Just don’t expect any songs from The Wall though, because that’s not what this live show is about. Mason explains that using Pink Floyd's’ second album as a name for the band was a quick way to show what music they’d be focusing on. “What I didn't want to get caught up in were a lot of people going, 'Well, why don't you play "Comfortably Numb"?' or 'Why don't you do something from The Wall?' I think the name itself indicates where we are and what we're doing.”
American fans can expect to see Mason and Saucerful of Secrets turn up stateside too. In the Billboard interview he says that he’d underestimated the enthusiasm of the band. Which means more touring may be happening, “Pink Floyd was always enthusiastic, but not like this lot is now. Everyone wants to do everything: 'We want to go to America.' 'We want to go to South America.'” notes Mason, concluding that he’s “delighted” and “really enjoying” how it’s all going.
Pink Floyd in an early shoot in 1967. This image was used in the Pink Floyd V&A exhibition 'Their Mortal Remains'. © Andrew Whittuck
Check out Saucerful of Secrets website for more info and to get tickets for the upcoming tour. And check out a video below of the band playing “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” from one of the London gigs.
A unique collection of images of Pink Floyd, one of the worlds most successful and influential rock bands.
Syd Barrett was a founder member of Pink Floyd and was the lead singer, guitarist and principle songwriter in the band's early years
The idea of beds for the Momentary Lapse cover came from a line of lyric - ‘Visions of an empty bed’ (Yet Another Movie)
This was taken on the Division Bell Tour. The sound and lighting people in their headsets look like the crew of a space ship.
Roger and Nick on a train to Edinburgh, Dark Side of The Moon tour 1974. The band preferred to travel by train rather than bus or plane.
This stark image was a poster designed to promote the Pink Floyd exhibition, Interstellar, at the Paris Cité De La Musique in October 2003.
David Gilmour Dark Side Of The Moon tour 1974. Those Guinness t-shirts were popular on that tour. Roger had one too.
This is what The Wall looked like during an interval of the The Wall Tour at the The Coliseum in Uniondale, Nassau County, New York.
The design team Hipgnosis, had two main players - Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell. Po pictured here with David Gilmour and Roger Waters
Nick Mason, David Gilmour & Roger Waters during a sound-check for the Dark Side of the Moon UK tour.
Dick Parry has played some of the most unforgettable and sublime saxophone solos in the history of rock music - mostly with Pink Floyd.
Two consecutive frames joined together from a shoot of The Wall tour in New York in 1980
David Gilmour’s superb guitar solo during ’Comfortably Numb’ on PinK Floyd's The Wall Tour
Alternative version of the image designed to advertise the Pink Floyd back catalogue in 1997 designed by Storm Thorgerson
Jill Furmanovsky was the official photographer on the Dark Side of the Moon/Wish You Were Here UK tour, taking pictures over c.5 weeks
Storm Thorgerson with Dave Gilmour whilst rehearsing during the Dark Side of the Moon UK Tour.
A rare band shot from this period taken by a young Jill Furmanovksy at the start of her photography career
Photographed as a homage to the Pink Floyd album sleeve 'Animals' for the BBC series 'Britain In Pictures'.
Alternative version of Interstellar poster artwork created for the 2003 Pink Floyd exhibition in Paris
Pink Floyd onstage during their UK Dark Side of the Moon Tour in 1974
Nick Mason shot on one of the earliest Pink Floyd photo shoots in June 1967
Pink Floyd's 'Chip Off The Old Block' artwork designed by Storm Thorgerson: the block represents vinyl singles
Artwork for Pink Floyd's Pulse DVD released in 2006 and designed by Storm Thorgerson
Artwork designed by Storm Thorgerson for the Pink Floyd 30th Anniversary campaign
For their first photo shoot, Colin Prime took the band down to Ruskin park. All the guys were in high spirits at the time
Syd Barrett captured on one of Pink Floyd's earliest photoshoots in June 1967
Rick Wright captured under the band's psychedelic lights early in their career
Relaxing backstage at Abbey Road Studios during the recording of debut album 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'
One of earliest Pink Floyd photo shoots. Rick Wright is enhanced by special psychedelic lighting effects.
Syd Barrett captured in a candid moment at Abbey Road Studios whilst rehearsing for the recording of 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'
Syd Barrett on an early photo shoot in London, not long before recording Pink Floyd's debut album
Candid image of Roger Waters at Abbey Road Studios whilst Pink Floyd finished off recording their debut album
The original Pink Floyd line-up on their first ever photo shoot in Kennington Park, London
Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters & Richard Wright on their first ever photo shoot in Ruskin Park, London
Alternative version of the album cover for Division Bell, subtly different from the iconic original
Alternative version of the cover artwork for Pink Floyd's 1994 album 'Division Bell' designed by Storm Thorgerson
Variant of the album cover for Division Bell using alternative Stone Heads
Inner sleeve artwork for Pink Floyd's album Wish You Were Here by Storm Thorgerson
This was the first time Tony Collins ever saw Pink Floyd live. They played numbers from their new album 'Atom Heart Mother'.
David Gilmour taking a quiet moment backstage, during the Dark Side of the Moon tour 1974.
David Gilmour playing backgammon (with Storm and Rick Wright) in his hotel room during the Dark Side of the Moon tour 1974.
One of Pink Floyd's earliest photo shoots taken in June 1967 using the lighting they used in their gigs
1967 Syd Barrett performs during an early photo session prior to the release of Pink Floyd's debut album
This was Pink Floyd’s first official photo shoot. Although a photographer by trade, Colin Prime’s other love was music
Pink Floyd at the mixing desk whilst recording their debut album 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn' in Abbey Road Studios
Roger Water pictured at one of the first Pink Floyd photo shoots
Taken on the band's first photo shoot in Ruskin Park, London in April 1967
Version of the Interstellar poster art devised for the 2003 Pink Floyd exhibition in Paris
Cover art for the live single of Wish You Were Here. 'What you see is what you get - two lost souls, swimming in a fish bowl'
Pink Floyd in Abbey Road making a new album that became 'Wish You Were Here'. Jill Furmanovsky was asked to drop in and shoot some stills
Roger Waters, Roy Harper and Roy's son listen to a playback at Abbey Road Studios. Roy was guest vocalist on Have a Cigar.
Roger Waters eating a fairy cake in Abbey Road Studios, 1975, during the making of 'Wish You Were Here'
David Gilmour recording Wish You Were Here in Studio Two, at Abbey Road in 1975
Roger Waters messing about in the studio during the 1975 recording sessions for 'Wish You Were Here'
David Gilmour taking time out during the recordings for 'Wish You Were Here' in 1975
Nick Mason & Rick Wright chatting at the mixing desk in Abbey Road Studios whilst working on Wish You Were Here
At the mixing desk whilst working on their classic album 'Wish You Were Here'
Rick Wright in Studio Two, Abbey Road Studios whilst recording Pink Floyd's album 'Wish You Were Here' in 1975
Rare colour image of Roger Waters taken by Jill Furmanovsky during the recording sessions for 'Wish You Were Here' at Abbey Road Studios
David Gilmour in Studio 3, at Abbey Road Studios. The band were recording Have a Cigar that day for their new album Wish You Were Here .
Syd Barret photographed by Mick Rock at his flat in Earls Court, London in 1969.
Taken by Mick Rock during the album cover shoot for Syd Barrett's debut solo album 'The Madcap Laughs'.
Taken in Syd Barrett's flat in Earls Court, London during the photo shoot for his debut album 'The Madcap Laughs'
Iconic Mick photograph of Syd Barrett posing outside his London flat on a Pontiac Parisienne in 1969
Syd Barrett 'in decision' captured by Mick Rock in London in 1969 , a year after he left Pink Floyd
Syd Barrett and 'Iggy the Eskimo' sitting on the pavement outside Syd's flat in Earls Court in 1969
Andrew Whittuck began his photography career in the mid-sixties where he soon took some of the earliest shots of Pink Floyd.
On Record Store Day Pink Floyd re-release their debut album 'Piper at the Gates of Dawn' on original 1967 mono mix.
Blockbuster V&A Pink Floyd exhibition 'Their Mortal Remains' opens in Rome.
Opening at London’s V&A Museum this weekend is 'Their Mortal Remains', a celebration of the music, visuals, and influence of Pink Floyd.
Rock critic and journalist Bill Wyman has ranked every single Pink Floyd song, all 165 of them, from worst to best.
In 1975 Pink Floyd walked into Abbey Road & began work on their 9th album, It was a difficult time, but it got made & the rest is history.
Pink Floyd's widely acclaimed concept album 'Animals' has just turned 40. We wanted to share Jill Furmanovsky's homage to the album cover.
It's less than two months to go now until the first ever major international retrospective of Pink Floyd opens at the V&A.
50 years ago in London's Ruskin Park photographer Colin Prime took Pink Floyd for their first official photoshoot.
50 years ago on the 5th August 1967 Pink Floyd released their debut album 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'.
