When it comes to 60’s counterculture, certain icons come to mind—but few are greater than Simon & Garfunkel.
Having met in elementary school in 1953, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel would go on to create some of the most notable music of our time— but despite their talent, fame, and success, the two shared a rocky relationship, one that Rolling Stone would later deem one of fiercest feuds in music history.
As mentioned, the pair met in elementary school where they wrote their own songs and learned to harmonize together. In college, they performed as ‘Tom and Jerry’, later disbanding to pursue academic goals. When folk music became more popular in the mainstream, they were later signed to Columbia Records, eager to work together again.
After being signed, Simon and Garfunkel worked tirelessly to release their first album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. Unfortunately, the album was considered a commercial failure— performing so poorly, it incited them to split up.
Later, when the album’s producer remixed “The Sound of Silence”, a song from Wednesday Morning 3 A.M., with electric guitars and drums, it soared to the top of the U.S. charts. Hoping to capitalize on this success, Simon & Garfunkel reunited to write another album. They rushed to release the Sounds of Silence in January of 1966 before their newfound fame had run its course.
Once the two achieved global stardom, an incident occurred which planted the seeds of their future feud.
Producer of the documentary Simon and Garfunkel: Songs of America Charlie Grodin attributes most of their issues to a man named Mike Nichols.
Nichols was a skilled Broadway director who later started directing films. He’s known for classics such as Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and The Graduate, which earned him an Academy Award for Best Director.
At one point, Nichols had cast Simon and Garfunkel in his 1970s film adaption of Catch-22. Then, prior to the movie’s filming, he cut Simon’s role out. “That was the beginning of their split-up,” said Grodin.
“I just think this is outrageous— you don’t take Simon & Garfunkel and ask them to be in a movie and then drop one of their roles on them. You just don’t do that.”
At first, Simon was okay with these plans. But as the filming continued to be extended and Garfunkel was forced to stay in Italy, the separation drove a wedge between them. Bruce Fretts, article editor for TV Guide quipped:
“Mike Nichols is the Yoko [Ono] of Simon & Garfunkel.”
Things were never the same after the movie.
Differences in artistic preferences led to an increasingly rocky relationship with both pursuing solo careers. Despite their disagreements, they reunited for special performances— their 1981 concert in Central Park attracting half a million people and currently being considered the 7th most attended concert of all time.
Suffice it to say that whenever Simon and Garfunkel come together, the result is pure magic — the same magic that seems to necessitate them spending most of their time apart.
Thankfully, if this performance is any indication, it looks like they may have put their past behind them. The moment Simon grabs the guitar, both men share a knowing smile.
Watch the video below!
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