Here, for the first time, is the story of Pink Floyd from the inside out. With 116 million albums sold worldwide and 25 years on the pop charts to ...
read full description
reviews
Oct 02, 2011
Mitch
rated it: 
"Breezy" is, I think, the best word for this book, and it gets a nudge up from two to three stars simply on the basis of readability. That said, I came away from Inside Out still wishing I'd learned a bit more about the inner workings of the Floyd. But it respectively glosses over a) what actually happened with Syd Barrett and b) the creative processes and tensions that powered the band's development.
Perhaps these expectations were too higher for the band's drummer, seeming More...
Perhaps these expectations were too higher for the band's drummer, seeming More...
Dec 29, 2010
Jim
rated it: 
Another "book for boys", or boys that were into The Floyd anyway. The book has more pictures than text when I think I would have preferred it the other way around, and despite the length it seems to race through a history of the band. One minute they're playing in smoky, hippy London clubs and the next they're in football stadiums in America on the back of the success of the Dark Side of the Moon. Mason, still a big mate of Roger Waters, glosses over the split of the band following The
More...
Jan 10, 2012
Matthew
rated it: 
More of a coffee table book than a memoir, Nick Mason's heavily illustrated (and heavy in weight) look back at Pink Floyd is exactly what it says: a personal history. Since it's personal, Nick would rather remember the good times, though the friction that led to Richard Wright's firing and Roger Water's exit isn't glossed over. What may come as a shock is how funny the relatively brief text is. Mason is a master of droll English sarcasm and rarely wastes an opportunity to poke fun at the odd cir
More...
Aug 09, 2011
I do enjoy Nick Mason's droll style. He's dry and very funny. This would be a good read even if you don't especially like the band, but since a lot of the text ends up being about the recording or production or staging of one or another of their albums, it does help!
I still think it would be a good idea if they recorded some new material. Like most PF fans I am playing David Gilmour's latest album On an Island a fair bit, thinking about potential new material from the band. But I guess it's pret More...
I still think it would be a good idea if they recorded some new material. Like most PF fans I am playing David Gilmour's latest album On an Island a fair bit, thinking about potential new material from the band. But I guess it's pret More...
Feb 13, 2011
Katie
rated it:
This is, quite simply, a brilliant book. The story of Pink Floyd is a long and twisted one, and there's nothing quite like getting an inside perspective on it. Mason's writing style and sense of humor make for an engaging read, and the photographs accompanying the story are wonderful - there are many "behind the scenes" photos that I haven't seen anywhere else. As with any biographical piece, there are going to be "holes in the plot", where the author's memories may be fuzzy
More...
Aug 05, 2011
a very interesting and insightful look behind the scenes of one of the best bands of all time by the only member who has been there since the very beginning. great stories, great background, a great glimpse into the troubled history of this epic band from humble beginnings, thru the crazy barrett years, onto their groundbreaking 70's output, thru the dominating waters led years, the monstrous machine the shows and success generated, the band implosion that followed, and their regrouping in the 8
More...
Sep 21, 2011
Ryan
rated it:
If anyone wanted to know the true history of the band Pink Floyd, they should read it out of a book written by one of the members. Inside out is written by the drummer of the band is gives a very descriptive story of how the band formed to its prime days to its downfall. Though it is a non-fiction book, it reads like a novel and can even be enjoyed by someone who is unfamiliar with the band Pink Floyd. Nick Mason is a drummer, but is writing style makes him seem like an average author and all
More...
Feb 20, 2009
arterialturns
rated it:
Taking my time with this since I actually own it. Admittedly I'm a very biased Pink Floyd fan since 1971 or so (!), but this is a very well written book. A humorous, thoughtful, self-deprecating and not-at-all-pretentious inside look at a band with an interesting history. Nick Mason comes across better than probably anyone else in the band could, given the divisive feelings between the rest of them. Also, it's a fan's dream: an unbelievable amount of great photos and graphics, behind-the-scenes
More...
Feb 09, 2010
This was an awesome book that was well written. Nick Mason gives a real good look at the inside workings of the band. One aspect missing, however, was more details about the instruments used by the band (David's Stratocaster, steel guitar, etc.). Wikipedia has more information than the book (read Wikipedia for valuable information on the band members omitted from the book). Some funny stories in the book that were not common knowledge before came up that made for some amusing reading. Definitely
More...
Dec 26, 2011
Adam
rated it:
Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason never received the same attention that Roger Waters and Syd Barrett did. After all, he was just the drummer. But perhaps he’s just the right guy to write a detailed book about the history of an iconic rock band. It took me about 2 years to gradually read Inside Out: The Personal History of Pink Floyd. The book is packed with color and black and white photos; it must have been a huge project to paginate. I’m sure it was even a bigger deal for the author to write. It is ver
More...
Apr 07, 2008
Brian
rated it:
In the past I simply "liked" Pink Floyd. I was never a huge fan. Thought they were too "out there." And simply didn't get it despite the best efforts of friends like Jeff and Mac.
But at some point, not sure exactly when, I made a turn. Heard more and more and appreciated their artistic professionalism and their contributions to modern rock. (any band like Radiohead and Coldplay that has outstanding technical shows and light displays can thank Pink Floyd)
More...
But at some point, not sure exactly when, I made a turn. Heard more and more and appreciated their artistic professionalism and their contributions to modern rock. (any band like Radiohead and Coldplay that has outstanding technical shows and light displays can thank Pink Floyd)
More...
Mar 11, 2008
Sean
rated it:
I managed to score a hardcover copy of "Inside Out" at a record fair for £12--not a bad find. I was a bit disappointed after reading it, though, as it's not exactly the "compleat insider history" of Pink Floyd I had imagined it to be.
Mason's flashes of very dry wit do help and the early years are covered in some depth, especially the nascent London underground happenings and the recording of "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn". The following years, however, More...
Mason's flashes of very dry wit do help and the early years are covered in some depth, especially the nascent London underground happenings and the recording of "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn". The following years, however, More...
Apr 08, 2008
James
rated it:
For someone with really only a passing interest in Pink Floyd, I would say this seemed kind of an odd choice of reading material. However, what started as somewhat of a mounting chore (the book is rather large and cumbersome), ended up being pretty pleasant.
While a lot of the story of the band itself is told straightforwardly and workman-like, it's saved by the dry English humor that runs rampant (as rampant as dry humor can be) throughout.
The text is also augmented by a More...
While a lot of the story of the band itself is told straightforwardly and workman-like, it's saved by the dry English humor that runs rampant (as rampant as dry humor can be) throughout.
The text is also augmented by a More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 27, 2012
Hriday
rated it:
The blurb describes the book as "original, dry, witty and self deprecating". It is indeed all of these. Considering that Mason is the only Band Member not to have written a single song, it amazes me that he writes so convincingly and lucidly that one is left wondering he did not take up his pen earlier!
The book is told without the pomp and pelf oft displayed by Rock stars and reads brilliantly. I was Laughing throughout. Definitely a 5 starrer!
The book is told without the pomp and pelf oft displayed by Rock stars and reads brilliantly. I was Laughing throughout. Definitely a 5 starrer!
Apr 09, 2008
Jeff
rated it:
I'm a huge fan of the Pink Floyd so why only three stars? Nick Mason does an OK job of relating his experience with one of the world's most loved bands. And maybe it's because I wanted the stories of the band to be larger than life (they aren't really) or maybe I wanted insight into their creative process that I could take advantage of (no secrets, just hard work) and if so I apologize.
But one of the things that is GREAT about this book are the photos generously interspersed througho More...
But one of the things that is GREAT about this book are the photos generously interspersed througho More...
Jun 16, 2011
MohSen
rated it:
کتاب جالبی بود ... البته میشد خـــیلی مختصر تر باشه ولی چه میشه کرد نیک میسونه دیگه :) در کل برای آشنایی بیشتر با سیر اتفاقاتی که برای گروه افتاده و بهتر فک کردن راجع به این سوال همیشگی (و شایدم بیهوده ی) "کدام یکی پینک هستند" مفید بود
پی.اس. : گوش کردن به آهنگاشون موقعی که داره راجع به ساخت آهنگا توی آلبوم مینویسه یا نگاه کردن اجرا های زنده در این بین خـــیلی میچسبه More...
پی.اس. : گوش کردن به آهنگاشون موقعی که داره راجع به ساخت آهنگا توی آلبوم مینویسه یا نگاه کردن اجرا های زنده در این بین خـــیلی میچسبه More...
Jun 20, 2009
Jeremy
rated it: 
It's amazing how little insight an actual member of the band provides. These are all the same old stories any Floyd fan has read about a hundred times, with perhaps a few interesting dry-witted observations of the power struggles within the band.
Apr 01, 2011
Anthony
rated it:
It was a very quick read and a really enjoyable book. It was great to finally hear about what "went on" behind the scenes in Pink Floyd. A must-read for any serious Floyd fan.
Aug 30, 2011
Art
rated it:
Refreshingly casual. Nick Mason's memoirs recall a life as the drummer for one of the greatest bands of all time with no hype and no ego. Not a bad way to earn a living, innit?
Nov 05, 2011
4ZZZ
rated it:
An Ok read from Nick. He had a great time of it but if anything came out of this for me it was that Roger is a bit of a twat at times. For the fan.
Oct 15, 2009
Mike
rated it:
Lots of pics, some words, returned it before I read all the words. Funny thing is I had just finished a history of the band....
Jan 05, 2011
funny.....but lacking in creative details
hope roger waters writes one more on the Creative side of Pink Floyd.
hope roger waters writes one more on the Creative side of Pink Floyd.
Dec 16, 2010
Matt
rated it:
THE GREATEST BOOK ON THE GREATEST BAND!
If you are a Floyd Fan, buy,borrow, or rent this book right now!
If you are a Floyd Fan, buy,borrow, or rent this book right now!
Dec 08, 2011
Terry
rated it:
Mason is unbiased, funny and easy to read. By far the best Floyd history I've read.
Feb 04, 2009
Rob
rated it:
Pretty good. Lots of inside info on Pink Floyd. I didn't know a lot about the band, I guess. Talks about from Syd Barrett days to the Division Bell tour in the mid '90s.
Jul 27, 2007
Michael
rated it:
I'm a big fan of Pink Floyd and when i found out that Nick Mason was writing an autobiography about the band, i thought that this would put an end to the other biographies about this band. Somewhat the same deal with The Beatles Anthology. Reading Inside Out gave me new admiration and appreciation for a band that i've always looked up to and what i consider the main influence on songwriting and guitar playing.
Jul 24, 2008
Sam
rated it:
When I was first into PINK FLOYD, I would constantly judge a book by how many band photos it had in it that I had NEVER SEEN. NICK MASON, the band's drummer, was a pack rat. He kept old flyers, pictures, whatever. Excellent coffee table book and something that any rabid FLOYD fan will want to practically make love to. Every stage of this band's life is detailed and laid out in an oral history format.
Mar 05, 2011
Mark
rated it:
Awesome - I loved it! Added incredible details to stories I'd heard many times before. He includes so much information about their staging and lights. And he does a great job naviagating the controversies with tact. (Add a star if you're into sports cars; remove 3 stars if you're not REALLY into Pink Floyd).
