As someone who should be considered an unofficial member of the group, Thorgerson has plenty of interesting opinions. He makes clear he found the title for Nice Pair, the reissue of the band’s first two albums, sexist, dull, and apologizes that “my own misogyny led me to go along with it.”
He also tackles what he claims is “a persistent rumor … that the experience of listening to Pink Floyd music is enhanced by the ingestion of narcotics.” He calls “absolute tosh” on that and other charges about them being a druggy band, in terms of how their music was created and references in their work.
I understand why he would make the argument. An artist deserves full credit for their ideas and execution and likely wouldn’t want to give credit to performance-enhancing drugs. However, his argument is flawed. First, other than Syd, I have never heard or read any member talk about a drug habit of any kind. Second and more importantly, he has it backwards. While the experience of listening to Pink Floyd music may not be enhanced by the ingestion of narcotics, the experience of narcotics and recreational drugs is certainly enhanced by the ingestion of Pink Floyd as can be verified by any number of individuals in black-lit rooms willing to admit it. Guaranteed, anyone who has this book on their coffee table takes stronger drugs than caffeine.
Mind Over Matter is a great addition to a Pink Floyd collection.
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