Nick Mason talks about art and design
Written by Matt   
Thursday, 01 December 2005

Monday evening (28th November) saw Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason interviewed for two hours at London's Central Saint Martin's College of Art.

Central St Martins
Central Saint Martins College in London
The discussion covered art and design disciplines - looking at how photography, fashion, graphic and stage design, film and animation have all played an important role in the success of great British bands. From The Beatles to The Rolling Stones... Pink Floyd to Radiohead and Blur.

The interview had Nick discussing the impact Pink Floyd had on the design industry - specifically clothing, record cover design, stage design and so forth. Professor Rob Dickins discussed with Nick how the music of the band brought all of these together.

There was also a brief opportunity for the audience to pose questions, and William Hayter, who kindly sent us this report, was there. William mentioned to Nick about his friend, who designed one of the prototype Animals covers when he was working for Hipgnosis. Jeff Cummins designed the image of the boy standing at the bedroon door whilst holding his teddy bear and watching, presumably, his mum and dad having it off.

William asked if he had any words of consolation for Jeff for rejecting the design in favour of Battersea Power Station, tongue in cheek of course. He said he was sorry, and that the band felt it was inappropriate!

William also reported that when asked about any chance of a reunion in the near future, apart from all the usual rhetoric, Nick did state that the "gap" had been far too long and that he was very keen to do it again, especially as technology had moved on and the stage show could be even more impressive (if that is possible). We can only hope that Nick can apply pressure to the other guys to do a little more than a good cause get-together, and do something that could send them out with a bang!