View source for Nick Mason

{{Short description|English drummer (born 1944)}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Nick Mason
| honorific_suffix  = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|CBE|size=100%}}
| image             = Nick Mason 2018 (cropped2).jpg
<!-- NOTE: Do not replace NickMason_2022-10-28.jpg unless it is with a photo under a public domain or free license (meaning NOT fair use). Any fair use photos (i.e. 'promotional photos') violate the Fair Use Policy and will be deleted. See [[Wikipedia:Fair]] use criteria -->| alt               = 
| caption           = Mason performing in 2018
| birth_name        = Nicholas Berkeley Mason
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1944|1|27}}
| birth_place       = [[Birmingham]], [[Warwickshire]], England
| origin            = [[Hampstead, London]], England
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Progressive rock]]|[[psychedelic rock]]}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Musician|composer|record producer|author|auto racer}}<!--Please do not add to this list without first discussing your proposal on the talk page. -->
| instrument        = {{hlist|Drums|percussion}}<!--- If you think an instrument should be listed or removed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Infobox_musical_artist#instrument--->
| years_active      = 1964–present
| current_member_of = {{hlist|[[Pink Floyd]]|[[Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets]]}}
}}

'''Nicholas Berkeley Mason''' (born 27 January 1944) is an English drummer and a founder member <!---♦♦♦ NOT "founding" as [[WP:ENGVAR]] ♦♦♦---> of the rock band [[Pink Floyd]]. He has been the only constant member since the band's formation in 1965, and the only member to appear on every Pink Floyd album. He co-wrote Pink Floyd compositions including "[[Echoes (Pink Floyd song)|Echoes]]", "[[Time (Pink Floyd song)|Time]]", "[[Careful with That Axe, Eugene]]" and "[[One of These Days (instrumental)|One of These Days]]".

In 1996, Mason was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] as a member of Pink Floyd. In 2018, he formed a new band, [[Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets]], to perform music from Pink Floyd's early years. Mason collects classic cars and competes in [[motorsport]] races, and has produced books and documentaries on the subject.

==Early life==
Mason was born on 27 January 1944 in [[Birmingham]] to Ailsa Sarah (née Kershaw) and [[Bill Mason (director)|Bill Mason]], a documentary filmmaker;<ref>{{cite book |title=People of today |date=1993 |publisher=Debrett's Peerage |location=London |isbn=978-1-870520-14-0 |page=1372 |url=https://archive.org/details/peopleoftoday0000unse/page/1372/}}</ref> one of his paternal great-grandfathers was [[Rowland Hill Berkeley]], who was [[Lord Mayor of Birmingham]] in 1904–1905.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bill Mason |url=http://historyproject.org.uk/interview/bill-mason |publisher=The British Entertainment History Project |access-date=11 December 2021 |quotation=my grandfather was lord mayor of Birmingham}}</ref>

Mason was brought up in [[Hampstead]], London, and attended [[the Hall School, Hampstead]], and [[Frensham Heights School]], near [[Farnham]], Surrey. While studying architecture at the [[University of Westminster|Regent Street Polytechnic]] (now the University of Westminster), he formed a band, Sigma 6, an early incarnation of Pink Floyd, with [[Roger Waters]], [[Bob Klose]] and [[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]] in 1964.<ref>{{harvnb|Blake|2008|pp=37–38}}: Mason meeting Waters while studying architecture at the London Polytechnic; {{harvnb|Fitch|2005|p=335}}: Waters meeting Mason while studying architecture at the London Polytechnic.</ref> In September 1963, Waters and Mason moved into a flat near [[Crouch End]] in London, owned by Mike Leonard, a part-time tutor at the nearby [[Hornsey College of Art]] and the Regent Street Polytechnic.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp=24–26}}{{refn|Leonard designed light machines, which used electric motors to spin perforated discs, casting patterns of lights on the walls. These were demonstrated on an early edition of ''[[Tomorrow's World]]''. For a brief time Leonard played keyboard with them, using the front room of his flat for rehearsals.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp=24–26}}|group=nb}} Mason moved out after the 1964 academic year.{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=14}}{{refn|Wright also briefly lived at Leonard's.{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=14}}|group=nb}}

==Drumming career==

=== Pink Floyd ===
Pink Floyd released their debut album, [[The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|''The'' ''Piper at the Gates of Dawn'']], in 1967.{{sfn|Roberts|2005|p=391}} Mason has played on every Pink Floyd album since.<ref name="Mabbett-3" /> The only Pink Floyd compositions credited solely to Mason are "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party" (from ''[[Ummagumma]]'') and "[[Speak to Me]]" (from ''[[The Dark Side of the Moon]]'').<ref name="Mabbett-3" /> The track "Nick's Boogie" was named after him.<ref name="Mabbett-3" />

The only occasions on which Mason's voice has been included on Pink Floyd's albums are "[[Corporal Clegg]]"; the single spoken line in "[[One of These Days (instrumental)|One of These Days]]"; and spoken parts of "[[Signs of Life (Pink Floyd song)|Signs of Life]]" and "[[Learning to Fly (Pink Floyd song)|Learning to Fly]]" (the latter taken from an actual recording of Mason's first solo flight) from ''[[A Momentary Lapse of Reason]]''.<ref name="Mabbett-3" /> He sang lead vocals on two unreleased but heavily bootlegged tracks, "[[Scream Thy Last Scream]]" (1967), penned by original group leader [[Syd Barrett]], and "The Merry Xmas Song" (1975–76). In live performances of the song "[[Sheep (Pink Floyd song)|Sheep]]", Mason delivered the spoken section.<ref name="Mabbett-3" />

[[File:London, The O2, The Wall Live, 2011-05-12 (19) (6203136479).jpg|thumb|left|Mason and guitarist [[David Gilmour]] at Roger Waters' [[The Wall Live (2010–13)|The Wall Tour]], May 2011]]

Despite legal conflicts over ownership of the name "Pink Floyd", which began when Waters left the group in 1985 and lasted roughly seven years, Waters and Mason are reportedly on good terms.<ref name="Mabbett-3" /> Mason joined Waters on the last two nights of [[In the Flesh – Live|his 2002 world tour]] to play drums on the Pink Floyd song "[[Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun]]", and he also played drums on some concerts of Waters' [[The Dark Side of the Moon Live|European tour in 2006]], and during performances in Los Angeles and New York City in the United States.

In July 2005, Mason, Gilmour, Wright, and Waters played together on stage for the first time in 24 years at the [[Live 8 concert, London|Live 8 concert in London]].<ref name="Mabbett-3" /> Mason joined Gilmour and Wright again for the encore during [[David Gilmour Live at the Albert Hall|Gilmour's show]] at the [[Royal Albert Hall]], London, on 31 May 2006. He also stated in 2006 that Pink Floyd had not officially disbanded, but with the death of Wright in 2008, the band effectively came to an end, as confirmed by Gilmour.<ref name=done>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/aug/14/pink-floyd-are-done-says-dave-gilmour|title=Pink Floyd are 'done', says Dave Gilmour|newspaper=The Guardian|date=14 August 2015|access-date=19 August 2015}}</ref> While Gilmour and Waters continued to quarrel, Mason remained close to both.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=10 December 2018 |title=Nick Mason on the State of Pink Floyd: 'It's Silly to Still Be Fighting' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pink-floyd-nick-mason-talks-roger-waters-david-gilmour-763670/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |access-date=27 September 2020}}</ref>

On 12 May 2007, Mason joined Waters on stage at [[Earls Court Exhibition Centre|Earls Court]] to play ''[[The Dark Side of the Moon]]''. On 12 May 2011, Mason was featured (along with Gilmour) on the encore "[[Outside the Wall (song)|Outside the Wall]]" at a concert by Waters, who was performing ''[[The Wall]]'' in its entirety (Gilmour also performed on "[[Comfortably Numb]]" that night). Mason worked with musicians including [[Steve Hillage]] (as drummer and producer), [[Robert Wyatt]] (with whom he appeared on ''[[Top of the Pops]]''<ref name="Mabbett-3" />), [[The Damned (band)|the Damned]] and [[Gong (band)|Gong]].<ref name="Mabbett-1" /> He also drummed for [[Michael Mantler]].<ref name="Mabbett-1" /> 

Mason's memoir, ''[[Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd]]'', was published in the UK in October 2004.<ref name="Mabbett-3" /> It is also available, abridged, as a 3-CD audio book, read by Mason.<ref name="Mabbett-3" /> An updated edition was published in paperback in 2011.

Mason performed in the closing ceremony of the [[2012 Olympic Games]] on 12 August 2012. He produced and played on the charity single "Save the Children (Look Into Your Heart)", which also featured [[Beverley Knight]], [[Mick Jagger]] and [[Ronnie Wood]] and which was released in May 2015 in aid of [[Save the Children]]'s [[May 2015 Nepal earthquake|Nepal Earthquake]] Appeal.<ref name="StC">{{cite web|url=http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/2015-05/beverley-knight-mick-jagger-ronnie-wood-charity-single|title=Beverley Knight, Mick Jagger & Ronnie Wood Charity Single|publisher=[[Save the Children UK]]|access-date=23 November 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123231454/http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/2015-05/beverley-knight-mick-jagger-ronnie-wood-charity-single|archive-date=23 November 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> On 17 October 2012, Mason was presented with a [[BASCA]] Gold Badge Award in recognition of his contributions to music.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.m-magazine.co.uk/features/gold-badge-awards-2012-in-pictures/|title=Gold Badge Awards 2012 in pictures – M Magazine|date=23 October 2012|access-date=19 January 2018|archive-date=7 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107185216/https://www.m-magazine.co.uk/features/gold-badge-awards-2012-in-pictures/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mason said in 2018 that, while he remained close to Gilmour and Waters, the two remained "at loggerheads".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=10 December 2018 |title=Nick Mason on the State of Pink Floyd: 'It's Silly to Still Be Fighting' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pink-floyd-nick-mason-talks-roger-waters-david-gilmour-763670/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108093832/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pink-floyd-nick-mason-talks-roger-waters-david-gilmour-763670/ |archive-date=8 November 2020 |access-date=27 September 2020 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets===
{{main|Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets}}
In 2018, Mason formed a new band, Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets, to perform Pink Floyd's early [[Psychedelic rock|psychedelic]] material.<ref name=":0">{{cite magazine|last=Greene|first=Andy|date=13 June 2019|title=Why Pink Floyd's Nick Mason Finally Went Solo at 75|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/pink-floyd-nick-mason-interview-saucerful-of-secrets-tour-846765/|access-date=26 September 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> Along with Mason, the band comprises guitarist Lee Harris, formerly of [[the Blockheads]], bassist and Pink Floyd collaborator [[Guy Pratt]], vocalist and guitarist [[Gary Kemp]] of [[Spandau Ballet]], and [[the Orb]] keyboardist Dom Beken.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|last=Kielty|first=Martin|title=Nick Mason Forms Supergroup to Play Early Pink Floyd Music|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/nick-mason-saucerful-of-secrets-band/|access-date=26 September 2020|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=17 April 2018}}</ref> As many fans had discovered Pink Floyd with ''The Dark Side of the Moon'', Mason wanted to bring their earlier material to a wider audience.<ref name=":1" /> The band toured Europe and North America in 2018 and 2019, with a third tour postponed to 2021 due to the [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|date=11 May 2020|first=Scott |last=Munro|title=Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets announce rescheduled European tour|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/nick-masons-saucerful-of-secrets-announce-rescheduled-european-tour|access-date=26 September 2020|website=Prog Magazine}}</ref> In September 2020, they released a live album and film, ''Live at the Roundhouse''.<ref name="PinkFloydz2">{{cite web|last=Pincombe|first=Sean|date=26 March 2020|title=Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets 'Live at the Roundhouse' release delayed until September 2020|url=https://www.pinkfloydz.com/nick-masons-saucerful-of-secrets-live-at-the-roundhouse-release-delayed-until-september-2020/|access-date=7 July 2020|quote=Further to the postponement of their 2020 tour, Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets 'Live at the Roundhouse' concert video and audio releases have also been delayed. Owing to the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic, the release has been pushed from April, and will now hit store shelves on September 18th 2020.}}</ref>

==Drumming style==
[[File:Pink Floyd Their Mortal Remains - 2017-10-13 - Andy Mabbett - 27.jpg|thumb|A selection of Mason's customised drumsticks, from various makers, displayed at the ''[[Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains]]'' exhibition]]
Influenced by [[jazz music|jazz]] and [[big band]] music, Mason embraced acoustic drums (both single- and double-headed), tuned percussion, electronic drums and Rototoms, melding all of these into a melodic whole. His snare drum sound shifted from harsh demarcation of beats 2 and 4 ("Careful with that Axe, Eugene") to a fatter and gentler timbre ("Echoes") — a change that reflected growing studio skills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lpmusic.com/Pros_That_Play_LP/Players_Roster/mason.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509235222/http://www.lpmusic.com/Pros_That_Play_LP/Players_Roster/mason.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-05-09 |title=Artists |publisher=Lpmusic.com }}</ref>

Mason's style was gentler and more laid back than that of other progressive rock drummers of the time. He soloed on a few Pink Floyd compositions including "Nick's Boogie", "A Saucerful of Secrets", "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party", "Up The Khyber", "Skins", and "Time". Due to the dynamic live performances of Pink Floyd, Mason's style was more energetic and complex live, and can be heard on such albums as ''[[Ummagumma]]'' and ''[[Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii|Live at Pompeii]]''.

Mason began using [[Premier Percussion|Premier]] drums but changed to [[Ludwig-Musser|Ludwig]] drums after seeing [[Ginger Baker]] use them. He also briefly used [[Fibes Drums]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/drums/the-drumming-wisdom-of-nick-mason-626757|title=The Drumming Wisdom of Nick Mason|website=[[MusicRadar]]|first=Rich|last=Chamberlain|date=12 September 2015|access-date=21 September 2024}}</ref> He currently uses [[Drum Workshop]] (DW) drums, pedals and hardware. His kit is a DW double bass kit with the ''Dark Side of the Moon'' logo on the drums. He has also used [[Paiste]] cymbals during his entire career with Pink Floyd and currently uses a mixture of Paiste Traditional, Signature and 2002 cymbals. He also endorses [[Remo]] drumheads, [[Latin Percussion]] and [[Pro-Mark]] sticks.

==Motor racing career==
{{Infobox Le Mans driver
| Name        = Nick Mason
| Image       = Bugatti 35 B - Nick Mason 15.08.1981.jpg
| Caption     = Mason in 1981
| Nationality = {{Flagicon|UK}} British
| Years       = 1979–80, 1982–84
| Team(s)     = Dorset Racing Associates<br />[[EMKA Racing|EMKA Productions]]<br />[[Dome (constructor)|Dome Racing]]<br />[[GTi Engineering]]
| Best Finish = 18th <small>([[1979 24 Hours of Le Mans|1979]])</small>
| Class Wins  = 0
}}
As Pink Floyd's recording and touring schedule grew more sporadic, Mason had more time to pursue his favourite hobby, [[motor racing]]. This interest was documented in the 1986 short film ''Life Could Be a Dream''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pinkfloydarchives.com/Articles/LCBAD.htm |title=Life Could Be a Dream – The Nick Mason film |first=Vernon |last=Fitch |website=pinkfloydarchives.com |date=8 May 2000 |access-date=31 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508140557/http://pinkfloydarchives.com/Articles/LCBAD.htm |archive-date=8 May 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He owns (through his company Ten Tenths<ref>{{cite web |title=Ten Tenths Racing Website |url=https://www.tentenths.co.uk/ |website=Ten Tenths Racing |access-date=29 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=GALLERY: Inside Ten Tenths Racing's Legendary Garage |url=https://petrolicious.com/articles/gallery-inside-ten-tenths-racing-garage-nick-mason-car-collection |website=GALLERY: Inside Ten Tenths Racing's Legendary Garage|date=25 October 2017}}</ref>) and races several [[classic car]]s, and has competed at the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]].<ref>Discovery Channel Documentary, "World's Most Expensive Cars"</ref> His racing cars include: 

* [[Alfa Romeo 8C]]<ref name=OpsLock />
* [[Bentley 4½ Litre]] (his father's racing car)<ref name=OpsLock /> 
* [[BRM P30]] (which he previously raced)<ref name=driving />
* [[Bugatti Type 35]]<ref name=TopGearToyBox /> 
* [[Jaguar D-Type]];<ref name=OpsLock /> 
* [[Ferrari 250#250 LM|Ferrari 250 LM]]<ref name=TopGearToyBox /> 
* [[Ferrari 512BB/LM|Ferrari BB LM]]<ref name=OpsLock>{{cite web|url=https://oppositelock.kinja.com/a-visit-to-nick-masons-pink-floyd-car-collection-1549764305|title=A Visit To Nick Mason's (Pink Floyd) Car Collection|last=carwitter|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818052218/https://oppositelock.kinja.com/a-visit-to-nick-masons-pink-floyd-car-collection-1549764305|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=TopGearToyBox /> 
* [[Maserati Tipo 61]]<ref name=knightfrank />
* [[McLaren F1 GTR]]<ref name=TopGearToyBox>{{cite web|url=https://www.topgear.com/car-news/classic/gallery-inside-nick-mason%E2%80%99s-toybox#1|title=Gallery: inside Nick Mason's toybox|work=Top Gear |date=4 May 2012}}</ref> 

In 1998, Mason published a book, ''Into the Red'', in which he documents his experience with his cars, along with some histories.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tentenths.co.uk/www/index2.htm |title=Into the Red |publisher=Tentenths.co.uk |access-date=22 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006061114/http://www.tentenths.co.uk/www/index2.htm |archive-date=6 October 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> It was followed in 2010 by a second book, ''Passion for Speed: Twenty-four Classic Cars that Shaped a Century of Motor Sport''.<ref>{{cite book |title=Passion for Speed: Twenty-four Classic Cars that Shaped a Century of Motor Sport Hardcover |year=2010 |publisher=Publisher: Carlton Books Ltd; Revised & enlarged edition (10 Sept. 2010) |isbn=978-1-84732-639-3 |edition=2nd}}</ref>

Mason is associated with the Italian manufacturer [[Ferrari]], and estimates he has owned 40 Ferrari cars.<ref name=driving /> His first purchase in the early 1970s was a [[Ferrari 275]] GTB/4, which he comments would regularly wet-plug (when spark plugs are coated with unburned fuel).<ref name=driving>{{cite web|url=https://www.driving.co.uk/news/interview/me-and-my-motor-nick-mason-of-pink-floyd-recalls-a-stupid-car-investment-with-a-30m-return/ |title=Me and My Motor: Nick Mason of Pink Floyd recalls a "stupid" car investment with a £30m return |publisher=Driving.co.uk |date= 15 March 2016|access-date=2018-09-21}}</ref> His most notable purchase was in 1977 from his proceeds from the sale of the Pink Floyd album ''Dark Side Of The Moon'', when he paid £37,000 ({{Inflation|UK|37000|1977|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}) for one of only 39 [[Ferrari 250 GTO]]s. He still owns the car, valued now in excess of £30 million.<ref name=knightfrank>{{cite web|url=http://www.knightfrank.co.uk/blog/2017/10/19/classic-car-investment-special-pink-floyd-drummer-nick-mason-on-why-he-loves-his-ferrari-250-gto|title=Classic car investment special: Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason on why he loves his Ferrari 250 GTO|first=Knight|last=Frank|website=Knightfrank.co.uk |date=14 January 2025 }}</ref> Mason and Gilmour drove the first two [[Ferrari F40]]s back to the UK from Maranello.<ref name=driving />

Mason was invited by Ferrari to purchase one of the 399 original [[Enzo Ferrari (automobile)|Enzo]] cars. He appeared in an episode of the BBC motoring programme ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' in which he allowed [[Jeremy Clarkson]] to borrow it for a review, on the condition Clarkson promote the release of the book ''[[Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Darukhanawala |first=Adil Jal |date=2008-12-04 |title=In Conversation: Nick Mason |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/in-conversation-nick-mason/articleshow/3790354.cms |access-date=2023-11-14 |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> Skirting BBC advertising rules prohibiting product endorsements, Clarkson referenced Pink Floyd songs and album titles in the review of the Enzo and [[the Stig]] drove around the Top Gear test track with "[[Another Brick in the Wall]]" playing, despite the fact that the Enzo does not come equipped with a stereo.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Top Gear: Series 5, Episode 2 – TopGearbox|date=26 December 2004 |url=https://www.topgearbox.com/cars/entertainment/top-gear/episode-guides/series-5/series-5-episode-2/|access-date=2021-08-23|language=en-US}}</ref> Mason later sold the Enzo,<ref>{{cite web |title=Ferrari Enzo – Ex Nick Mason for sale at Talacrest |url=https://talacrest.com/stockdetails.asp?StockId=4572 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818020954/https://talacrest.com/stockdetails.asp?StockId=4572 |archive-date=18 August 2018 |access-date=17 August 2018 |website=talacrest.com}}</ref> and replaced it with a Blu Scozia-coloured [[LaFerrari]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uk.motor1.com/news/249531/nick-mason-laferrari-london/|title=Nick Mason's blue LaFerrari is like the dark side of the moon|website=Uk.motor1.com|access-date=27 January 2025}}</ref>

Mason appeared on Season 2, Episode 8 of ''[[The Grand Tour]]''. He won against [[the Police]] drummer [[Stewart Copeland]] for the title of "fastest rock drummer from a band that begins with a P" (driving not drumming) in the Celebrity Face Off segment.<ref name="vulture">{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/12/the-grand-tour-season-2-top-gear-changes.html|title=The Grand Tour Season 2 Goes Back to Its Top Gear Roots|first=Dave|last=Ivie|quote=a future episode [...] will see Nick Mason and Stewart Copeland competing for the title of fastest rock drummer.|date=11 December 2017|access-date=13 December 2017}}</ref>

===24 Hours of Le Mans results===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
|-
! Year
! Team
! Co-Drivers
! Car
! Class
! Laps
! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}}
! {{Tooltip|Class<br />Pos.|Class Position}}
|-
! {{24hLM|1979}}
| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Dorset Racing Associates
| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Brian Joscelyne<br />{{flagicon|GBR}} Tony Birchenhough<br />{{flagicon|GBR}} Richard Jenvey
| align="left"| [[Lola Cars|Lola]] T297 [[Cosworth|Ford-Cosworth]]
| S 2.0
| 260
| 18th
| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| '''2nd'''
|-
! {{24hLM|1980}}
| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Dorset Racing Associates
| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Peter Clarke<br />{{flagicon|IRL}} [[Martin Birrane]]
| align="left"| [[Lola Cars|Lola]] T297 [[Cosworth|Ford-Cosworth]]
| S 2.0
| 263
| 22nd
| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| '''3rd'''
|-
! {{24hLM|1982}}
| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[EMKA Racing|EMKA Productions]]
| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Steve O'Rourke]]<br />{{flagicon|GBR}} Richard Down
| align="left"| [[BMW M1]] Gr.5
| IMSA GTX
| 266
| DNF
| DNF
|-
! {{24hLM|1983}}
| align="left"| {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Dome (constructor)|Dome Racing]]
| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Chris Craft (racing driver)|Chris Craft]]<br />{{flagicon|CHI}} [[Eliseo Salazar]]
| align="left"| [[Dome RC82]] [[Cosworth|Ford-Cosworth]]
| C
| 75
| DNF
| DNF
|-
! {{24hLM|1984}}
| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[GTi Engineering]]
| align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Richard Lloyd (racing driver)|Richard Lloyd]]<br />{{flagicon|FRA}} [[René Metge]]
| align="left"| [[Porsche 956]]
| C1
| 139
| style="background:#000000; color:white"| DSQ
| style="background:#000000; color:white"| DSQ
|-
!colspan="8"|{{center|Sources:<ref>{{cite web|title=Nick Mason|url=https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/track-record/driver/nick-mason-7098|publisher=[[Automobile Club de l'Ouest]]|access-date=11 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Complete Archive of Nick Mason|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/archive/Nick-Mason-GB.html|publisher=Racing Sports Cars|access-date=11 November 2023}}</ref>}}
|}

[[File:"Wish You Were Here" Paddington Bear, The O2 - geograph.org.uk - 4261944.jpg|thumb|upright|Mason's [[Paddington Bear]] statue outside [[The O2 Arena|the O<sub>2</sub> Arena]] in London, auctioned to raise funds for the [[National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children|NSPCC]]]]

==Personal life==
Mason's first marriage was to Lindy Rutter in 1969, with whom he had two daughters, Holly and Chloe. During this time, she contributed uncredited tin whistle and flute parts to two Pink Floyd albums, ''[[More (soundtrack)|More]]'' and ''[[Ummagumma]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lindy Mason: Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lindy-mason-mn0001290028 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref> The couple divorced in 1988,{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}} and in 1990, Mason married Annette (Nettie) Lynton, an actress. They live in [[Hampstead]], London with their two sons, Cary and Guy. Since 1995, the family has also owned [[Middlewick House]], the [[Grade II listed]] former home of [[Andrew Parker Bowles|Andrew]] and [[Camilla Parker Bowles]], just outside the [[Wiltshire]] town of [[Corsham]].<ref name="Yilmaz">{{cite web|last=Yilmaz|first=Tanya|date=7 July 2015|title=Pink Floyd drummer opens his garden for charity|url=http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/13374391.Pink_Floyd_drummer_opens_his_garden_for_charity/|access-date=23 November 2015|work=[[Wiltshire Times]]}}</ref>

Mason is an [[Atheism|atheist]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Q magazine Questionnaire|url=http://www.pinkfloyd-co.com/band/interviews/nbm/nbmquestions.html|access-date=13 May 2011|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527170254/http://www.pinkfloyd-co.com/band/interviews/nbm/nbmquestions.html|archive-date=27 May 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> His wealth amounted to £75 million, according to the ''[[Sunday Times Rich List]]'' 2015–2016.<ref>Sunday Times Rich List 2006–2007, A & C Black ({{ISBN|978-0-7136-7941-0}})</ref> In addition to vintage car collecting, Mason is a qualified helicopter pilot, and flies an [[Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil|Aerospatiale AS 350 Squirrel]] [[helicopter]] in specially painted colours.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.photographersdirect.com/buyers/stockphoto.asp?imageid=1010980 |title=Stock photography image of Mason in his special painted Aerospatiale AS 350 helicopter |publisher=Photographersdirect.com |access-date=22 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927103503/http://www.photographersdirect.com/buyers/stockphoto.asp?imageid=1010980 |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

Mason is part of Football Ventures, a consortium that bought [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers Football Club]] out of administration in August 2019.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/money-from-pink-floyd-drummer-nick-mason-stopped-bolton-hitting-the-wall-sdr9fqskd | title=Money from Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason stopped Bolton hitting the wall|newspaper=[[The Times]]| last1=Hirst| first1=Paul}}</ref> He is a supporter of [[Arsenal F.C.]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/NickMasonDrums/posts/206436426063672 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/165738013466847/206436426063672 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Nick Mason (Official)|website=Facebook.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In December 2021, Mason's portrait was painted by semi-finalists on an episode of ''[[Portrait Artist of the Year]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Portrait Artist of the Year |url=https://www.sky.com/watch/title/series/3e1cfda1-28a9-42f2-be75-220b7e8863ca/portrait-artist-of-the-year/episodes/season-8/episode-9 |publisher=[[Sky UK|Sky Television]] |access-date=14 December 2021}}</ref>

===Views and advocacy===
Like Roger Waters, Mason has played concerts to raise funds for the [[Countryside Alliance]], a group which campaigned against the ban on [[fox hunting]] with the [[Hunting Act 2004]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/14561/pink-floyd-legends-to-play-gig-for-pro-hunt-campaigners |title= Pink Floyd Legends To Play Gig For Pro-Hunt Campaigners |work=[[Gigwise]] |first=Daniel |last=Melia |date=14 March 2006 |access-date=15 August 2015}}</ref> In 2007 they both performed at [[Highclere Castle]] in Hampshire in support of the group.<ref name="Povey">{{cite book |last=Povey |first=Glenn |title=Echoes: The Complete History of Pink Floyd|year=2008|publisher=Mind Head Publishing Ltd|isbn=978-0-9554624-1-2}}</ref>

Mason is a board member and co-chairman of the [[Featured Artists' Coalition]].<ref name="Youngs">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11556101|title=Pink Floyd may get back together for charity|last=Youngs|first=Ian|date=16 October 2010|work=[[BBC Online]]|access-date=16 October 2010}}</ref><ref name="FAC-2010-09-20">{{cite web|url=http://www.featuredartistscoalition.com/showscreen.php?site_id=161&screentype=site&screenid=161&loginreq=0&blogaction=showitem&bloginfo=1208|title=FAC Chairman Nick Mason in keynote interview at In The City 2010|date=20 September 2010|publisher=[[Featured Artists' Coalition]]|access-date=16 October 2010}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> As a spokesman for the organisation, he has voiced his support for musicians' rights and offered advice to younger artists in a rapidly changing music industry.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11564393|title=Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason gives advice to new bands|last=Youngs|first=Ian|date=18 October 2010|work=[[BBC Online]]|access-date=15 August 2015}}</ref>
[[File:Nick Mason and Wiltshire Air Ambulance mascot Marsha.jpg|thumb|upright|Mason with Wiltshire Air Ambulance mascot Marsha at Middlewick House Open Gardens in 2019]]
In 2014, Mason joined Waters in expressing support for the [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]] campaign against Israel over the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] and urged [[the Rolling Stones]] not to play in Israel.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.salon.com/2014/05/01/pink_floyds_roger_waters_and_nick_mason_why_rolling_stones_shouldnt_play_in_israel/ |title= Pink Floyd's Roger Waters and Nick Mason: Why Rolling Stones shouldn't play in Israel |work=[[Salon (website)|Salon]] |date=1 May 2014 |access-date=15 August 2015}}</ref>

In November of that year, Mason designed a "Wish You Were Here"-themed [[Paddington Bear]] statue, exhibited outside [[The O2 Arena|the O<sub>2</sub> Arena]] in London (one of 50 placed around the city). The statues were auctioned to raise funds for the [[National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children]] (NSPCC).<ref>{{cite news |last=Marcus |first=Lilit |date=24 November 2014 |title=Why Paddington Bear Statues Have Taken Over London |work=Condé Nast |url=https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2014-11-24/paddington-bear-statues-taken-over-london-david-beckham-benedict-cumberbatch |access-date=24 November 2023}}</ref>

Mason and his wife have been supporters of [[Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity]] for many years,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Nick and Annette Mason |url=https://www.wiltshirebathairambulance.org.uk/our-lifesaving-work/our-team/nick-and-annette-mason |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity |language=en}}</ref> including opening the gardens of their home, [[Middlewick House]], to raise money for the charity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Middlewick House Open Garden |url=https://middlewickhouseopengarden.com |access-date=2025-01-21 |website= |language=en}}</ref>

==Honours and awards==
On 26 November 2012, Mason received the Honorary title of [[Doctor of Letters]] from the [[University of Westminster]] at the presentation ceremony of the School of Architecture and Built Environment (he had studied architecture at the university's predecessor, [[Regent Street Polytechnic]], 1962–1967).<ref>University of Westminster presentation ceremony programme, 26 November 2012</ref>

Mason was appointed a [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in the [[2019 New Year Honours]], "for services to music",<ref>{{London Gazette

| issue = 62507
| date = 29 December 2018
| page = N9
| supp = 1
}}</ref> and was presented with the award by [[Prince William, Duke of Cambridge]] at [[Buckingham Palace]] on 2 May 2019.

On 24 July 2023, ahead of his Pompeii concert with his band Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, Mason was awarded with the honorary citizenship of the Italian city of Pompeii.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/nick-mason-now-honorary-citizen-pompeii | title=Nick Mason is now an honorary citizen of Pompeii|website=Digital.abcaudio.com}}</ref>

==Discography==
===With Pink Floyd===
{{Main|Pink Floyd discography}}

===Solo albums===
* ''[[Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports]]'' – 3 May 1981<ref name="Mabbett-3" />

===Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets===
* 2020 : ''Live at the Roundhouse''

'''Box set'''
* ''Unattended Luggage'' – 31 August 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/nick-mason-unattended-luggage-box/|title=Nick Mason Announces Solo Box Set, 'Unattended Luggage'|website=[[Ultimate Classic Rock]]|last=Kielty|first=Martin|date=18 June 2018|access-date=12 August 2019}}</ref> (No. 94 [[UK Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/54183/nick-mason/|title=Nick Mason {{!}} full Official Chart history|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=12 August 2019}}</ref>)

===With Rick Fenn===
* ''[[Profiles (Nick Mason and Rick Fenn album)|Profiles]]'' – 29 July 1985<ref name="Mabbett-3" />
* ''Life Could Be a Dream'' – 1986 (soundtrack)
* ''[[White of the Eye (film)#Soundtrack|White of the Eye]]'' – 1 January 1987 (soundtrack)<ref name="Mabbett-3" />
* ''[[Body Contact (film)|Body Contact]]'' – 1987 (soundtrack, unreleased)
* ''[[Tank Malling#Soundtrack|Tank Malling]]'' – 1988 (soundtrack, unreleased)

===With Michael Mantler===
* ''The Hapless Child'' – 1976<ref name="Mabbett-1">{{Cite book
| edition = Updated
| publisher = Omnibus
| isbn = 0-7119-4109-2
| last1 = Miles
| first1 = Barry
| first2 = Andy
| last2 = Mabbett
| title = Pink Floyd the visual documentary
| location = London
| year = 1994
}}</ref>
* ''Something There'' – 1982<ref name="Mabbett-1" />
* ''Live'' – 1987<ref name="Mabbett-1" />
* ''Review'' – 2000
* ''Concertos'' – 2008

===As a producer===
* Screw – ''Banks of the River / Devil's Hour'' (1969), a 10" single, rel. on '''Shagrat Recs'''.
* Chimera – ''Chimera'' (1969/70; re-released 2002), w/ [[Richard Wright (musician)|Rick Wright]] and [[Bob Weston (guitarist)|Bob Weston]] collaborating{{clarify|Collaborating how?|date=October 2017}}
* [[Principal Edwards Magic Theatre]] – ''The Asmoto Running Band'' (1971)<ref name="Mabbett-1" />
* Principal Edwards Magic Theatre – ''Round One'' (1974)<ref name="Mabbett-1" />
* [[Robert Wyatt]] – ''[[Rock Bottom (album)|Rock Bottom]]'' (1974)<ref name="Mabbett-1" />
** The associated non-album single, "[[I'm a Believer]]"; Mason was a member of Wyatt's backing band when he performed the song on ''[[Top of the Pops]]''<ref name="Mabbett-1" />
* [[Gong (band)|Gong]] – ''[[Shamal (album)|Shamal]]'' (1976)<ref name="Mabbett-1" />
* [[The Damned (band)|The Damned]] – ''[[Music for Pleasure (The Damned album)|Music for Pleasure]]'' (1977)<ref name="Mabbett-1" />
* [[Steve Hillage]] – ''[[Green (Steve Hillage album)|Green]]'' (1978); co-produced w/ Steve Hillage. Mason also plays drums on "Leylines to Glassdom"<ref name="Mabbett-1" />

===Collaboration===
* 2008 : Robert Wyatt & Friends – ''Theatre Royal Drury Lane 8th September 1974'' – With Hugh Hopper, [[Mike Oldfield]], [[Dave Stewart (musician, born 1950)|Dave Stewart]], Fred Frith, Julie Tippetts, Ivor Cutler, etc.

==Books==
* ''At the Limit: 21 Classic Race Cars That Shaped a Century of Motorsport'' (with Mark Hales): Motorbooks International (1998) {{ISBN|978-0760305706}}
* ''Into the Red: 22 Classic Cars That Shaped a Century of Motor Sport'' (with Mark Hales) – 3 September 1998 (first edition), 9 September 2004 (second edition)
* ''[[Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd]]'' – 28 October 2004<ref name="Mabbett-3">{{Cite book
| publisher = Omnibus
| isbn = 978-1-84938-370-7
| last = Mabbett
| first = Andy
| title = Pink Floyd – The Music and the Mystery
| location = London
| year = 2010
}}</ref>
* ''Passion for Speed: Twenty-Four Classic Cars that Shaped a Century of Motor Sport'' (with Mark Hales): Carlton Books (2010) {{ISBN|978-1847326393}}

==References==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{cite book|last=Blake|first=Mark|title=Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jmJbSIn1LacC|publisher=Da Capo Press |year=2008|isbn=978-0-306-81752-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Fitch|first=Vernon|title=The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia|edition=Third |year=2005|publisher=Collector's Guide Publishing|isbn=978-1-894959-24-7}}
* {{cite book|last=Mason|first=Nick|author-link=Nick Mason|title=Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd|publisher=Phoenix |edition=Paperback |editor1-last=Dodd|editor1-first=Philip|year=2005|orig-year=2004|isbn=978-0-7538-1906-7}}
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Roberts|editor1-first=David|title=British Hit Singles & Albums |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |edition=18 |year=2005 |isbn=978-1-904994-00-8 }}
* Robert Wyatt & Friends* – Theatre Royal Drury Lane 8 September 1974 : [https://www.discogs.com/fr/Robert-Wyatt-Friends-Theatre-Royal-Drury-Lane-8th-September-1974/release/587196 Robert Wyatt & Friends* - Theatre Royal Drury Lane 8th September 1974]
* Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets – Live At The Roundhouse : [https://www.discogs.com/fr/Nick-Masons-Saucerful-Of-Secrets-Live-At-The-Roundhouse/release/15927877 Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets - Live At The Roundhouse]

==External links==
* [https://motorstories.fr/nick-mason-pink-floyd-ferrari/ Nick Mason - From the rhythm of Pink Floyd to the beat of legendary engines]: An Article on Nick Mason's Car Collection 
* {{discogs artist|Nick Mason}}
* {{IMDb name|0556885}}

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{{Nick Mason|state=uncollapsed}}
{{Pink Floyd}}
{{1996 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mason, Nick}}
[[Category:Nick Mason| ]]
[[Category:1944 births]]
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[[Category:20th-century English drummers]]
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