Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd - The Best PDF Book on the Music and the Secrets of Pink Floyd
Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd PDF Download
If you are a fan of Pink Floyd, or if you are curious about the history and the secrets of one of the most legendary rock bands of all time, you might want to read Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd. This is a book written by Nick Mason, the drummer and co-founder of Pink Floyd, who shares his personal insights and memories of the band's journey from their humble beginnings to their global fame and beyond. In this article, we will give you a brief overview of what Inside Out is about, why it is worth reading, and how you can download it as a PDF file.
inside out a personal history of pink floyd pdf download
The Early Years: How Pink Floyd was formed and what influenced their music
Pink Floyd was born in the late 1960s, when four young men met at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London. They were Nick Mason, Roger Waters, Richard Wright, and Syd Barrett. They shared a passion for music, especially for jazz, blues, and experimental sounds. They started playing together in various bands, such as Sigma 6, The Abdabs, and The Screaming Abdabs, before settling on the name Pink Floyd, which was inspired by two blues musicians, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council.
The band soon developed a distinctive style that combined psychedelic rock with avant-garde elements, such as sound effects, tape loops, feedback, and improvisation. They also became known for their live performances, which featured light shows, projections, and theatrical elements. They attracted a loyal fan base in the underground scene, especially at the UFO Club in London, where they were regulars.
One of the main creative forces behind Pink Floyd was Syd Barrett, who wrote most of the songs for their first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967). However, Barrett also struggled with mental health issues and drug abuse, which affected his behavior and performance. He eventually left the band in 1968, after being replaced by David Gilmour, a friend and former bandmate of Barrett.
The Rise to Fame: How Pink Floyd became one of the most successful and influential bands of all time
After Barrett's departure, Pink Floyd continued to explore new musical directions and experiment with different concepts and themes. They released several albums that showcased their diversity and creativity, such as A Saucerful of Secrets (1968), Ummagumma (1969), Atom Heart Mother (1970), and Meddle (1971). They also gained more popularity and recognition worldwide, thanks to their tours and concerts in Europe, America, Japan, and Australia.
One of the breakthrough moments for Pink Floyd was the release of The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), which became one of the best-selling and most acclaimed albums of all time. The album was a concept album that dealt with topics such as life, death, madness, money, war, and time. It featured innovative production techniques, such as multitrack recording, synthesizers, spoken word samples, and quadraphonic sound. It also featured some of the most iconic songs by Pink Floyd, such as Money, Time, Us and Them, and Brain Damage/Eclipse.
The Dark Side of the Moon catapulted Pink Floyd to a new level of fame and success, and established them as one of the most influential and respected bands in the history of rock music. They followed up with other masterpiece albums, such as Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), and The Wall (1979), which further cemented their reputation and legacy.
The Dark Side of the Moon: How Pink Floyd created their masterpiece and what it meant for them and their fans
The Dark Side of the Moon was not only a commercial and critical success, but also a personal and artistic achievement for Pink Floyd. The album was the result of a long and collaborative process, in which the band members worked together to create a coherent and cohesive musical vision. They also enlisted the help of other talented people, such as producer Alan Parsons, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, engineer Roger Waters, The album was recorded at the Abbey Road Studios in London, between June 1972 and January 1973. The band used various instruments and equipment, such as guitars, keyboards, drums, saxophone, bass guitar, and a VCS3 synthesizer. They also experimented with sound effects and tape loops, such as clocks ticking, cash registers ringing, heartbeats thumping, and voices speaking. They also invited some guest musicians and vocalists, such as Clare Torry, who sang the wordless vocals on The Great Gig in the Sky, and Dick Parry, who played the saxophone on Us and Them and Money.
The album was also a reflection of the band's personal experiences and feelings at the time. They were influenced by their own struggles with fame, pressure, and stress. They also paid tribute to their former leader Syd Barrett, who had inspired them and haunted them. They also expressed their views on the state of the world and society, which they saw as dark and troubled. They also explored universal themes that resonated with their fans, such as the meaning of life, the passage of time, the fear of death, and the search for happiness.
The Dark Side of the Moon was a landmark album that changed the course of music history. It was praised by critics and loved by fans. It sold over 45 million copies worldwide and stayed on the Billboard charts for 741 weeks. It won several awards and accolades, such as a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year and a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It also influenced countless artists and genres, such as progressive rock, ambient music, electronic music, and hip hop.
The Turbulent Years: How Pink Floyd faced personal and professional challenges and conflicts
Despite their success and fame, Pink Floyd did not have an easy ride in the following years. They faced several difficulties and disputes that threatened to tear them apart. Some of the issues they had to deal with were:
Creative differences: The band members had different opinions and visions about the direction and style of their music. They also had different levels of involvement and contribution to their albums. For example, Roger Waters became more dominant and controlling over the band's output, while David Gilmour felt sidelined and frustrated.
Legal battles: The band had to deal with various lawsuits and disputes over their rights and royalties. For example, they had to fight against their former manager Steve O'Rourke, who claimed he was owed money by the band. They also had to fight against their former label EMI, who wanted to release a compilation album without their consent.
Personal problems: The band members also had to cope with their own personal issues and challenges. For example, Richard Wright was fired from the band by Roger Waters in 1979, after he failed to contribute much to The Wall and suffered from drug addiction. Nick Mason also had marital problems and financial troubles.
All these factors led to a deterioration of the band's relationship and a decline of their quality and popularity. They released two more albums in the 1980s, The Final Cut (1983) and A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987), which were met with mixed reviews and lukewarm sales. They also performed less frequently and rarely appeared together in public.
The Final Cut: How Pink Floyd ended their collaboration and what legacy they left behind
The end of Pink Floyd as a band came in 1985, when Roger Waters announced his departure that Pink Floyd was "a spent force creatively". He also tried to prevent the other members from using the name and the logo of Pink Floyd, claiming that he owned them. This led to another legal battle, which was eventually settled in 1987, when Waters agreed to let Gilmour, Mason, and Wright continue as Pink Floyd, in exchange for a share of their future profits.
Waters pursued a solo career, releasing several albums and staging live performances of The Wall. He also occasionally collaborated with other artists, such as Eric Clapton, The Who, and Eddie Vedder. He also reconciled with some of his former bandmates over the years, such as Wright, who played keyboards on his album Amused to Death (1992), and Gilmour, who joined him on stage for a charity concert in 2010.
Gilmour, Mason, and Wright also continued as Pink Floyd, releasing one more studio album, The Division Bell (1994), and one more live album, Pulse (1995). They also embarked on a world tour, which was documented in a concert film and a book. They also participated in the Live 8 concert in 2005, where they reunited with Waters for a one-off performance. It was the last time that the four original members of Pink Floyd played together on stage.
Wright passed away in 2008, after suffering from cancer. He was mourned by his former bandmates and fans. He was also posthumously credited as a co-writer and co-producer on the last Pink Floyd album, The Endless River (2014), which was based on unreleased material from The Division Bell sessions.
Pink Floyd officially disbanded in 2014, after Gilmour announced that he had no intention of making any more music under that name. He also stated that he wanted to respect Wright's memory and legacy by not continuing without him.
Pink Floyd left behind a remarkable legacy that transcended music and culture. They are widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential bands of all time. They have sold over 250 million records worldwide and have won numerous awards and honors, such as induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the UK Music Hall of Fame. They have also inspired generations of musicians and artists, such as Radiohead, U2, Nine Inch Nails, and Coldplay.
Conclusion: What Inside Out teaches us about Pink Floyd and their music
Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd is a fascinating and insightful book that gives us a rare glimpse into the inner workings and the outer achievements of one of the most legendary rock bands of all time. It is written by Nick Mason, who witnessed and participated in every stage of Pink Floyd's evolution and revolution. It is based on his personal memories and experiences, as well as on interviews and documents that he collected over the years.
The book covers everything from the band's formation and early days, to their rise to fame and glory, to their decline and dissolution. It reveals the stories behind their songs and albums, their concerts and tours, their conflicts and collaborations. It also shows the human side of the band members, their personalities and relationships, their joys and sorrows, their dreams and regrets.
The book is not only a history of Pink Floyd, but also a history of rock music and society in the second half of the 20th century. It reflects the changes and challenges that the band and their fans faced over the decades, such as political turmoil, social unrest, technological innovation, and cultural diversity. It also explores the themes and messages that the band conveyed through their music, such as creativity, individuality, freedom, alienation, and hope.
Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd is a must-read for anyone who loves Pink Floyd or who wants to learn more about them. It is a book that celebrates their music and their legacy, but also acknowledges their flaws and their failures. It is a book that makes us appreciate their artistry and their humanity, but also makes us question their choices and their consequences. It is a book that makes us laugh and cry, but also makes us think and feel.
FAQs: Five common questions and answers about Inside Out and Pink Floyd
Question
Answer
Where can I download Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd as a PDF file?
You can download it from various online sources, such as Amazon, Google Play, or Scribd. However, you might need to pay a fee or sign up for a subscription to access it. Alternatively, you can borrow it from a library or a friend, or buy a physical copy from a bookstore.
Who is the author of Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd?
The author is Nick Mason, the drummer and co-founder of Pink Floyd. He is the only member who has been in the band since its inception in 1965. He is also a car enthusiast, a racing driver, a pilot, and a writer.
When was Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd published?
The book was first published in 2004, and then revised and updated in 2005 and 2011. The latest edition includes new chapters and photos that cover the events that happened after the original publication, such as the Live 8 reunion, the death of Richard Wright, and the release of The Endless River.
What is the meaning of the title Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd?
The title has two meanings. One is that it refers to the fact that the book is written from an insider's perspective, by someone who was part of Pink Floyd and who knows them intimately. The other is that it refers to the fact that the book reveals the inner secrets and the outer achievements of Pink Floyd, by exposing their personal and professional lives.
What are some of the highlights of Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd?
Some of the highlights of the book are:
The anecdotes and stories that Nick Mason shares about the band's adventures and misadventures, such as their encounters with fans, celebrities, authorities, animals, and aliens.
The photos and illustrations that Nick Mason provides to accompany his text, such as rare and candid shots of the band members, their instruments, their studios, their stages, and their artworks.
The insights and opinions that Nick Mason offers about the band's music and legacy, such as his analysis of their albums and songs, his evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses, and his appreciation of their impact and influence.
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