Nick Mason
Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd

THE REVIEW

Much has been said about Pink Floyd, and who knows how much more could be said. One could talk for hours about David Gilmour, one of the most celebrated guitarists of all time, with his unmistakable touch, creator of memorable solos and an excellent singer; one could talk about Roger Waters, the leader, main composer of the group, dark and revolutionary; one could also talk about Rick Wright, skilled keyboardist, a fundamental piece of the "Pink Floyd sound", calm and elegant, never excessive in his choices. And Nick Mason?

Nick Mason is considered by many to be the fourth most important Pink Floyd member: very few episodes see him involved as a vocalist, only an occasional composer, certainly not a virtuoso of his instrument, often in the background in promotional photos and, objectively, the least fascinating of the four. But Nick Mason did something that his illustrious companions never did: he was the only one to write a book about the band.

Inside Out is a biography and autobiography at the same time, and tells everything (or almost) there is to know about the group, from the days of the London Underground to the unforgettable reunion on July 2, 2005, at Live 8.

It is no coincidence that throughout the book Mason's life and the band's story are continually intertwined: as the only member present for the entire duration of the adventure, Mason spares no effort in recounting the well-known past of the band, indeed, the musical aspect is only the backdrop on which a narrative unfolds that instead focuses on the evolution of relationships between the protagonists, without skimping on details and anecdotes.

The book contains everything: from the days when Mason, Waters, and Wright were aspiring architects at Regent Street Polytechnic to the swan song of the Floyd, passing through the psychedelic sixties, Barrett, Gilmour's introduction, The Dark Side of the Moon and success, the gloom of the eighties, the difficult return to the scene with A Momentary Lapse of Reason and The Division Bell. Don't expect to read a musical critique: as Mason states, "the finished record is more a diary of a certain period of my life than an objectively assessable musical work". Indeed, despite all the albums and singles being considered throughout the narrative, Mason emphasizes internal dynamics within the band during various periods, with a look also at the crew, highlighting the weaknesses and peculiarities of individuals, all in an engaging and ironic style, enriched with countless jokes and puns. This is how unknown or little-known aspects and characters emerge: the initial compositional difficulties, overcome thanks to collective efforts; the exhausting trans-European journeys, not to mention the first disastrous tour in the States; Michelangelo Antonioni perpetually dissatisfied with the music of Zabriskie Point; the trips to France; the omnipresent Steve O'Rourke; the professional approach to Dark Side and Wish You Were Here; the financial difficulties and frictions between members; Mason discovering himself more and more as a pilot; the mammoth tours and even more mammoth organization; the silences, up to that July 2, 2005, which marked the end of an era.

Enriched by a decent photographic gallery and an interesting final chronology, Inside Out is a valuable memory that every great fan of the band should possess or at least read, perhaps in English, to fully enjoy it: you won't be disappointed, Pink Floyd has hit the mark once again.