Sound of silence to end (Simon and Garfunkel to reunite)

thisislondon ^ | 2/20/2003 | Richard Simpson

[TLBSHOW]

Sound of silence to end

They split up 33 years ago after creating some of the 20th century's most enduring music.

Now Simon and Garfunkel are set to reunite for a series of concerts which would see them earn hundreds of millions of dollars.

Secret negotiations are under way between the long-estranged superstars for an extended world tour. The very fact that Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are in contact is a sign of a dramatic thawing in their tempestuous relationship. Until last year they were not even talking.

The only potential sticking point is the cut of the enormous profits that each will receive.

A source said: "The problem is who gets what. Paul wants the split to be in his favour - after all he did write the songs. Art wants an even split down the middle, because he is the voice of Simon and Garfunkel.

"But Art may be softening - he is beginning to accept that a large chunk of a nine-figure sum is still a seriously significant amount of money."

Even if the talks do break down, the Standard can reveal that the duo could perform together this weekend - in front of one billion TV viewers. They will receive a lifetime achievement award at the Grammys in New York on Sunday, and organisers have asked them to give a performance. A source in New York said: "Paul and Art's management agreed they will do one song. Bridge Over Troubled Water seems the obvious choice."

The two men are in rehearsals for the event at Madison Square Garden, and unless they fall out again in the next few days, they will perform for an audience including P Diddy, Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé Knowles, Coldplay, Nelly, No Doubt and Alicia Keys. The Grammys performance will whet the world's appetite for a reunion tour which, if agreed, could be announced within weeks.

The signs are that they will tour - and London is certain to be on the itinerary. Only last month Garfunkel said: "I would love nothing better than to sing with Paul again. We have a special sound, and I know a lot of people would love to hear us. It is tempting."

The source said: "Things are still strained between them, but they know how exciting the prospect of a reunion would be to people around the world."

The pairmet at junior school and by the time they were teenagers were trying to get a record deal. As folk-rock musicians in the early Sixties, they released an unsuccessful debut album. But then their producer overlaid their strongest song, The Sounds Of Silence, with Beatles-style electric guitars and drums. It became a huge hit.

As their success grew so did the creative tension between them and they split in 1970 as their seminal album Bridge Over Troubled Water was released. They reunited in the early Eighties and for an ill-fated 1993 collaboration.

Garfunkel said: "We had a terrible fight, the worst ever. We never shouted at each other until our tour turned sour and we called it quits - maybe for the last time."

Then again, maybe not.

[dfwgator]

"Things are still strained between them, but they know how exciting the prospect of a reunion would be to people around the world."

Translation: Art needs the money.

[Treebeard]

I always wondered what happened to the Funkel brothers, Simon and Gar...

[Rocko]

Paul won't turn down his share.

[newgeezer]

I wonder if they're reuniting to be part of the "peace" movement.

[bigfootbob]

I can just see it now, another Bush bashing, anti-American venue for some over the hill POS.

[Rocko]

They're likely part of the larger "piece of change" movement.

[TroutStalker]

Garfunkel said: "We had a terrible fight, the worst ever. We never shouted at each other until our tour turned sour and we called it quits - maybe for the last time."

Come on fellas, can't we all get along. Give peace a chance. Love, not hate. No war about money. Please Paul, just because you wrote the songs and not Art doesn't mean you shouldn't share evenly with him. Don't be a greedy capitalist, share.

What's that? A Dangling Conversation?

[HELLRAISER II]

I don't know that it will or it won't but I do know that when they together they were great musicians, I hope that they do not become the anti-war POS's that you say.

[TLBSHOW]

Powell Hails Recipients of Kennedy Center Honors


I got to know Paul Simon in the summer of 1991. It was after the Gulf War. It was a very intense period of time for me, but I went up to the Hamptons. You all know the Hamptons. (Laughter.) The white wine-swilling Hamptons. (Laughter.) And I went to a concert where Paul was performing and I had a baseball hat on my head. I had admired his work for so many years and I just leaned against a fence and enjoyed that marvelous performance.

So we met that day and we hit it off and we have stayed in touch over the years. Paul and I have also worked together on a program called The Children's Health Fund that Paul founded that provides mobile healthcare vans to homeless children and others in New York City and other cities around the country. Typical of Paul to give back to his community to those less needy.

Paul grew up in Queens and I grew up in the Bronx. Actually, it wasn't Paul; it was me and Julio down in the schoolyard. (Laughter.) But if there ever was an artist tuned to the infinite rhythms of the human heart, whether those hearts are beating in the boroughs of New York City or the townships of Soweto or the villas of Rio de Janeiro, it is my friend, Paul Simon. Paul, just as it says in the title of one of your most recent albums, "You're the One." Thanks, buddy. (Applause.)

http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/s120702.htm

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

I've always wondered what the story was about the bad blood between these two. Anyone have any clue?

Saw their concert in Central Park re-broadcast a few weeks ago... wonderful stuff. It was nice to see Garfunkel smile and be enjoyable, as IMHO he's always come off as one pissy dude.

[marshmallow]

they will perform for an audience including P Diddy, Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé Knowles, Coldplay, Nelly, No Doubt and Alicia Keys. .....

Big deal. I've never even heard of most of these nonentities but I'm sure their musical talent combined does not amount to a fraction of Simon's alone. Talk about casting pearls before swine.

As with many of the musicians of their era, the beautiful melodies were a Trojan Horse by which to convey an empty, liberal philosophy to a confused and muddled generation

[js1138]

As with many of the musicians of their era, the beautiful melodies were a Trojan Horse by which to convey an empty, liberal philosophy to a confused and muddled generation

But it was a really great horse. Fortunately the words just flow past like water, without getting anyone wet.

[Desdemona]

Darn. The silence was so much better than their pap.

[dead]

I've seen them twice. Once at Central Park, and once at the Theater in MSG.

The show in The Theater (formerly the Felt Forum) was a retrospective of Paul Simon's career. It opened with Simon and Garfunkel, and then a parade of people from Pheobe Snow, Blind Boys of Alabama, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and a whole bunch of other stars came out and sang their hits with Simon.

The encore was Simon and Garfunkle again. A fantastic show.

[TLBSHOW]

BUMP