Nick Mason, the legendary drummer and co-founder of Pink Floyd, will celebrate his 80th birthday this Saturday. Mason is the only member of the iconic rock band who has played on every album and every tour, from their psychedelic debut in 1967 to their final farewell in 2014. He is also the only one who has maintained a friendly relationship with David Gilmour and Roger Waters, the two creative forces who often clashed over the band's direction.
Mason is not only a musician, but also a historian, a collector, a writer, a pilot, and a businessman. He is the unofficial archivist of Pink Floyd, preserving and documenting their legacy for future generations. He is also an avid fan of vintage sports cars, owning and racing several rare and expensive models. He has written four books, three of them about his passion for cars and one about his experiences with Pink Floyd. He is also a helicopter pilot and one of the owners of Football Ventures, a consortium that bought Bolton Wanderers Football Club in 2019.
Mason is still active in the music scene, leading a tribute band called Saucerful of Secrets, which plays songs from the early years of Pink Floyd, before they achieved worldwide fame with The Dark Side of the Moon. Mason says he wants to showcase the lesser known but equally brilliant work of the band, especially the contributions of the late Syd Barrett, the original leader and songwriter who left the band due to mental health issues.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]