Nick Mason Donates Pink Floyd Drumheads To COVID-19 Charity

Words by Riley Fitzgerald
Graphic by Press

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason has donated a pair of ‘Pharoah’ drumheads to auction house Bonhams to raise money for COVID-19 affected British health care workers.

The prints are replicas, taking their design from a pair of painted drum skins Mason used during Pink Floyd’s tours in the early 1970s.

As with their ’70s counterparts, Mason’s heads have been lovingly handpainted and were taken from a set of 10 owned by Mason.

With the current bidding sitting at $2,733 the heads will no doubt fetch a handsome sum.

Bids for Mason’s drum heads close 12 noon British Summer Time on April 29.

Those interested in bidding may do so here.

Mason’s drumheads are not the only Pink Floyd relic to have found their way to a charitable cause in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour recently donated a signed copy of Pink Floyd’s Wish you Were Here and The Division Bell to a local British bookshop, both of which auctioned well in excess of $1,000.

With Pink Floyd well known for their humanitarian work (and considerable net worth), it is likely a more concerted charity effort will emerge in the coming months.

News of Mason’s donation follows the postponement of the drummer’s forthcoming UK and European tour with ‘early years’ era Pink Floyd tribute outfit Saucerful of Secrets.

“The safety and wellbeing of the fans,” the band shared via an official statement, “the crew and band members are of paramount importance to those involved in the Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets UK & European tour that was due to start on April 23. Under the advice of the government due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the unilateral decision by the theatres to close at these uncertain times, we have had to postpone the UK shows until October.”

Mason’s new tour dates below.

With all proceeds going to @NHSCharities Covid-19 appeal, Nick has donated a pair of rare, hand finished drum heads from a very limited edition reproduction of his Pharaoh skins. The online only auction finishes at 12 noon UK, Wednesday 29 April, at https://t.co/HAmej9swcV pic.twitter.com/IV72uTHz8j

— Nick Mason (@nickmasondrums) April 28, 2020