Saucerful of Secrets is the first in-depth biography of this very private group. At the heart of the saga is Syd Barrett, the group's brilli...
read full description
reviews
Dec 20, 2007
Loyola University Chicago Libraries
rated it: 
The music of Pink Floyd gains much more meaning when placed in the context of the band’s history, and that is precisely what Schaffner does in Saucerful of Secrets. From the early days of Syd Barrett and the underground London scene to Dark Side of the Moon and straight on through the Gilmour and Waters solo albums, the book reveals the creative processes, internal conflicts, triumphs, and tragedies of this timeless band while progressing chronologically through Pink Floyd’s albums. Don’t expe
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 29, 2011
Doug
rated it: 
Every Pink Floyd fan should own "Saucerful of Secrets". It a fascinating book about this very private, secretive group. The writing is skillfully done, and it's a quick read. I used this book as the basis for an entire class I taught about Pink Floyd.
The book carries us through the history of the band from their births to the book's publication date in 1991. The early lives of the band members are interesting, but once the band is formed, it becomes fabulous. The book goes i More...
The book carries us through the history of the band from their births to the book's publication date in 1991. The early lives of the band members are interesting, but once the band is formed, it becomes fabulous. The book goes i More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Mar 05, 2011
Chris
rated it: 
Comprehensive history of one of the greatest rock bands ever (I'd say _the_ greatest but YMMV). A history which is however flawed by one omission - Schaffner admits that he couldn't get Roger Waters, bassist and creative force behind much of the band's output post-Syd - to speak to him at all. So one third of the original line up (if you don't include Bob "why ask me I was only in the band for five minutes" Klose) was unavailable for comment. As there are two offstage narratives in the
More...
Dec 16, 2009
Jason
rated it:
I thought this was an adequate book, certainly a decent history of Pink Floyd from the band's origins up to about the mid-80s, but I felt the whole thing was skewed by the fact that Schaffner clearly has an overdeveloped hero worship of Syd Barrett and writes the whole book as a sort of tribute to what might have been rather than the greatness that was. He tends to downplay David Gilmour's genius, a crime in my opinion, and subtly argues that Roger Waters was just a guy who had to soldier on af
More...
Oct 07, 2008
Glen
rated it:
The recent demise of Pink Floyd keyboardist Rick Wright was my impetus for reading this well-researched biography of the rock group. I'm a fan of the Waters/Gilmour Floyd (as opposed to the Syd Barrett Floyd or the Waters-less Floyd), and Schaffner does a great job of distinguishing these different periods of the band, putting a nice perspective on the way the transitions occurred given the personalities involved. It's interesting to note that Floyd was unlike many other rock groups at the time,
More...
Jan 05, 2010
Thomas
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
May 31, 2011
Jason
rated it:
This book is the definitive biography of Pink Floyd and no fan of the band should be without it. Shaffer brilliantly weaves together the Pink Floyd saga from its Cambridge roots to psychedelic London to international acclaim and leaves nothing out.
Where a lesser author (and fan) would have been frustrated by the band members' isolation or the spotty early history, Schaffner presses on. He includes interviews with Barrett and the rest of the Floyds, documentation of the early gigs, re More...
Where a lesser author (and fan) would have been frustrated by the band members' isolation or the spotty early history, Schaffner presses on. He includes interviews with Barrett and the rest of the Floyds, documentation of the early gigs, re More...
Dec 17, 2007
Scott
rated it:
I think the most profound aspect of this book is its explanation of Pink Floyd in its early days, its performances at the London underground club the UFO, and especially its in depth coverage of Syd Barrett.
I remember reading this book as a teenager and being so moved by the story of Syd Barrett and being fascinated by this 'untold' history. Too often, people only think of the Floyd as the band that wrote and performed "Dark Side of the Moon" and "The Wall." The More...
I remember reading this book as a teenager and being so moved by the story of Syd Barrett and being fascinated by this 'untold' history. Too often, people only think of the Floyd as the band that wrote and performed "Dark Side of the Moon" and "The Wall." The More...
Jun 11, 2008
Brian
rated it:
If you are more than just a casual fan of Pink Floyd, this book is a no-brainer. It not only delves into the inspiration behind each of their albums and waxes eloquently about their mind-bending live shows, but it discusses in great detail the personalities behind this largely anonymous band. From the days of Syd Barrett, through Barrett's inevitable descent into drugs and psychosis, through the golden years of "Dark Side of the Moon" and "The Wall", and into the dark times
More...
Aug 06, 2011
Michael
rated it: 
Read this in a day and enjoyed it for what it is. What became apparent to me while reading it is actually how slim the Floyd claim to greaness is - Piper, DSOTM, WYWH and odd bits and pieces here and there constitute their legacy.
Aug 25, 2009
Jessie (saxgrl1)
rated it:
A great biography of The Pink Floyd. I read it soon after I began to obsess over the band and the music in my early high school days. A must read for a diehard fan.
Nov 27, 2009
Smartiyan
rated it:
Set up beautifully -- first half about Sid -- second half, diced up into chapters explaining explaining each epic Floyd album.
May 07, 2009
Brian
rated it:
Every step of Pink Floyd's journey is covered here up through the late 90's and since they've only played one show together since then, you would have to say this story pretty much covers it. When you are in love with a band or writer or filmmaker and you find a book that tells you as much about them, things you didn't know like in a book like this, you can't help but enjoy it.
Negative side note: Roger Waters refused to be interviewed for the book so you do feel an absence of perspe More...
Negative side note: Roger Waters refused to be interviewed for the book so you do feel an absence of perspe More...
Sep 17, 2008
Crckt
rated it: 
This might be the world's most boring band. That is not to say that I don't like the Floyd, but jeez, for a band that was the soundtrack for so many psychedelic fueled bouts of bad poetry writing and other stoner pastimes, these dudes were duds. They were all pretty rich before becoming rock stars, Roger Waters is a complete megalomaniac, and the greatest disappointment was they really didn't even take that many drugs. It's a sad day to discover that a band regarded as visionary and legendary
More...
Jan 22, 2009
Barbara
rated it:
I've given this book as presents many, many times. I recommend this one highly!
Jul 17, 2007
Kimberly
rated it:
This book hand-holds you through the Floyd chronology and every chapter has titles lifted from the band's discography (something that is often irritating in how far-reaching it is,) and the author is obviously deeply in love with the Floyd. However, it's a great tool for anyone wishing to make sense of the band's history, conflicts, tragedies, and album concepts. Read it cover to cover (or almost--you really don't need the last chapters about the post-Floyd stinker solo albums) and you will have
More...
Aug 31, 2008
Geoff
rated it:
This book is pretty comprehensive. I don't recall it being very expansive about the falling out between Waters and the rest of the band which is fine by this reader. Great description of the development of the band in the underground during the height of the scene in London. A clear depiction of the rise and fall of Syd Barrett and the makings of their great 70s albums. It's not very technical music-wise, but the story's there.
Jul 24, 2008
Sam
rated it:
I have to find my copy of this and re-read it. Now that NICK MASON's tell-all has come out, this first telling might seem kind of pedestrian. However, the late Nicholas Schaffner's bio was the most detailed of the time. I guess when a member of the band writes a tell-all, it kind of makes the previous book irrelevant, but this is still a fantastic book for fans.
Sep 06, 2007
Jeff
rated it:
When I originally bought this book I was hoping for some sort of explanation why Pink Floyd decided to sound the way they do. Instead I happened upon (as most of the reviewers had said when I was searching for the best book on the subject) a review of how Pink Floyd came to be, and a chronology of their albums and lives. Pretty in-depth coverage.
Sep 03, 2011
MOG
rated it:
This book is fascinating. It was a gift from Racer.
Well written and the band, well, it's Floyd isn't it?
Well written and the band, well, it's Floyd isn't it?
Mar 31, 2010
Sharon
rated it:
Outstanding history of one of the greatest bands to ever make tunes. Fascinating from beginning to end.
Dec 16, 2009
Jenna.L.D
rated it:
Great bio on an amazing band. Follows Pink Floyd from the time they met through the loss of Syd Barrett to madness and the eventual split between David Gilmore and Roger Waters.
Jul 03, 2009
Chevy
rated it:
I dedicate my re-reading this book to my friend Reggie, who is probably the closest thing to Roger Waters that I'll ever encounter.
Dec 17, 2009
Quinn
rated it:
If I had never read "The Love you Make" this would have gotten more stars, seriously, read it. ("The Love you Make"
Feb 23, 2012
Feb 22, 2012
