Does Pink Floyd Have Drummers?

Yes, Pink Floyd had one main drummer—Nick Mason. He provided a steady rhythmic foundation for the band’s entire run starting in 1965. Though additional percussionists joined certain albums and live performances over the years, Mason was the sole drummer on all of Pink Floyd’s studio recordings, cementing his role as the beating heart of their iconic sound.

The Early Days: Syd Barrett’s Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd originally started as a psychedelic band led by guitarist and lead vocalist Syd Barrett in 1965. Barrett named the group by combining the first names of two obscure blues musicians, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. He recruited his college friend Roger Waters to play bass and provide vocals, his former bandmate from the group Sigma 6 Richard Wright to play keyboards and sing, and his friend Nick Mason to play drums.

This lineup of Barrett, Waters, Wright and Mason recorded Pink Floyd’s first single in 1967, “Arnold Layne,” which charted in the UK. They released their first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, later that year. The album was a hit in the UK and highlighted Barrett’s imaginative songwriting and psychedelic sound.

However, Barrett’s deteriorating mental health and increasingly erratic behavior on stage forced the band to add guitarist David Gilmour to cover for Barrett when he was unable to perform. Barrett officially left Pink Floyd in April 1968.

Building The Pink Floyd Sound

With the departure of Syd Barrett, Roger Waters gradually took over the creative direction of Pink Floyd. The band refined their sound over the coming albums, incorporating elements of hard rock, avant-garde, and progressive rock.

During this evolution of their music, one constant that remained was Nick Mason’s steady, metronomic drumming. While not flashy in technique, Mason provided a solid rhythmic foundation for Pink Floyd’s songs to build upon. Whether delivering a pulsing rock beat or punctuating the dreamy atmospherics with precision fills, Mason’s drumming suited the band perfectly.

Classic Album Era

With the release of 1973’s The Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd catapulted to global mainstream fame. The album showcased their distinctive brand of artful, emotional songwriting fused with innovative production. As always, Mason’s ever-reliable drumming threaded everything together. This album also featured extra percussion from session player Fredric Lieberman on the track “Money.”

Pink Floyd followed up Dark Side’s phenomenal success with 1975’s Wish You Were Here. While Mason remained the sole drummer playing on the recording, they brought in additional percussionists like Roy Harper to help reproduce songs live.

By 1977’s Animals, internal tensions began rising within the band. Roger Waters asserted more artistic control, restricting contributions from Richard Wright and David Gilmour. While Mason stayed neutral in these disputes, his drumming continued accentuating Waters’ thematic vision.

Waters dominated the recording of Pink Floyd’s 1979 epic two-disc album The Wall. Session musicians like Jeff Porcaro supplemented Mason’s parts for a bigger, more theatrical sound. Mason also faced limitations during live shows supporting The Wall due to the elaborate staging built by Waters.

The Post-Waters Era

After 1983’s The Final Cut, bassist and primary lyricist Roger Waters left Pink Floyd in 1985, claiming the band was a “spent force creatively.” However, David Gilmour and Nick Mason disagreed, believing that Pink Floyd still had a future.

Legal battles ensued over the Pink Floyd name, with Waters unsuccessfully trying to prevent Gilmour and Mason from continuing to record and perform under that name. Gilmour and Mason decided to recruit a new lineup to carry on making music as Pink Floyd.

Keyboardist Richard Wright rejoined on a salaried basis for A Momentary Lapse of Reason in 1987 and The Division Bell in 1994. Additional musicians were hired for recording and touring, including a second drummer.

Most notably, percussionist Gary Wallis joined Mason on the Division Bell tour to reproduce the complex, heavily sequenced percussion tracks live. Mason joked about finally being able to take a toilet break during shows thanks to Wallis!

Despite this two-drummer arrangement on stage, Mason remained the sole drummer playing on Pink Floyd’s studio albums throughout their entire run.

The Heartbeat of Pink Floyd

While Pink Floyd evolved their sound across different phases of experimentation, epic concept albums, trailblazing live productions, and triumph over adversity, Nick Mason was with them every step of the way from 1965 through 2014.

His metronomic timekeeping, subtle little flourishes, and adaptable playing supported early Syd Barrett whimsy, Roger Waters’ increasing theatricality, and David Gilmour’s graceful blues-inflected style.

Fans can endlessly debate each member’s instrumental prowess and creative contributions. But one thing is certain – Nick Mason provided the reliable rhythmic foundation at the core of Pink Floyd’s iconic sound. His drumming talents suited the band perfectly rather than stealing the spotlight.

For proof, one need only listen to classics like “Time,” “Money,” “Brain Damage” or “Comfortably Numb.” Mason’s syncopated grooves, textural cymbals, and precisely punctuated fills remain burned into music history.

So while additional percussionists joined their live lineup or supplemented certain studio recordings, Nick Mason was the only true drummer composing and playing on all of Pink Floyd’s original albums. His enduring presence behind the kit makes him the sound and soul of their rhythms. Thanks to Mason’s heartbeat, generations will continue discovering and falling in love with Pink Floyd’s magic for decades to come.