poll: favorite member (old or current)

I had previously not voted on this poll, but I just voted for Nick... to give him a little help. And besides... he's a friggin' good drummer. 'Fess up, everybody... he IS!
My signature should explain all.

He was. He Friggin' was.

I like Nick, and I admit I don't know much about drumming, beyond whether they can keep time well or not. But here is an excerpt of an interview with Clive Welham, Dave's lifelong best friend, and drummer for Joker's Wild, talking of Nick:

"I was aware of Nick Mason when we did gigs with the T-Set. I don't really know him very well. We exchanged ideas on drumming when we met at those gigs and I've met him at Pink Floyd concerts since, where Dave re-introduced me to him.
(Laughs) I've worked with so many semi-pro players who could play him off the boards! That's the truth of the matter. If you talk about other supergroups then you've got people like Bill Bruford---I mean, there's no comparison---- He's adequate, and he may add other things to the band, of course. I think he's quite sort of arty. He had something to do with some of the tapes, so his contribution might be better measured there."

I'm sure there is a bit of sour grapes there, but that's his opinion.

nick mason is good for the music of pink floyd. but its true he can't hold a candle to the likes of bruford, palmer or ringo.

And there, my Fond Fellow Floyd Fanatics, lies the true essence of the band and it's mystique.

It could also answer the age-old question of which one's Pink.

Mr. Welham went on to make that very point himself:

"Being objective, I think that technically PF aren't a great band, in terms of playing skills.........I suppose their thing is more a merger of music and theatre, really. That's what they're very good at. As creative musicians, I think they're excellent, but the session guys they hire on-stage do help them tremendously."

That was noble. Kinda like throwing yourself on a grenade to save a friend. Yer a good man, Shane.

thats jacked up.

As I said, there may be a little bitterness there since he was never invited to be one of the "onstage-hires" for PF stuff.

Yay, Big Dave wins !!!

true.

Getting back on the subject of Nick...

You don't have to be a flashy player (like the drummer from Rush, Neil Peart) to be a a good drummer. I like Nick so much because his drumming fits the Floyd's music so well.

Still, am I the only guy who likes to watch One of These Days from the Pompeii film over and over, just to see what Nick's doing?
He also drops a stick; I do the same thing sometimes when I play drums. I guess it just goes to show that Nick Mason is a human being.

Interestingly enough--I've heard Neil Peart likes Mr. Mason, and even said so in an interview once (even though I don't know where to find the exact quote).

Isn't THAT interesting? I think it proves your point, Shane.

I remember reading the same thing somewhere, too.
Isn't that funny? That a drummer virtuioso (sic.) can be inspired by a 'simple' drummer. Makes me laugh!

did he say he liked him or was inspired by him?