What kind of relationship did Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel have? Are they friendly today? Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel had a complex and often tumultuous relationship, both personally and professionally. They met in elementary school in Queens, New York, and began performing together in the 1950s as Tom & Jerry before achieving massive success in the 1960s as Simon & Garfunkel.
Key Phases of Their Relationship:
Early Days and Success:
Friendship and Early Collaboration: Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel’s relationship started with a strong foundation of friendship and shared musical interests. They bonded over their love of music and started performing together at a young age.
1960s Success: During their peak years in the 1960s, their professional collaboration brought them significant success. Albums like “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and songs such as “The Sound of Silence” became iconic.
Strains and Breakups:
Artistic Differences: As their success grew, so did the tensions. They had differing views on their music and career direction, which often led to conflicts.
Solo Projects: Garfunkel’s interest in acting and Simon’s desire for more control over the musical direction strained their partnership. Garfunkel’s forays into acting, particularly in the film “Catch-22,” caused further friction, leading to a temporary breakup.
1970 Breakup: Their relationship reached a breaking point in 1970, and they disbanded after the release of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
Reunions and Continued Tensions:
Reunion Tours: Despite their differences, Simon and Garfunkel reunited several times for concerts and tours, such as the famous 1981 Central Park concert and the 2003-2004 “Old Friends” tour. These reunions were often successful but did not fully resolve their underlying issues.
Personal Tensions: Throughout the years, they have had public disagreements and personal spats. For example, during their 2003-2004 tour, tensions reportedly flared again.
Their Relationship Today:
As of the most recent updates, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel’s relationship remains strained. While there have been moments of reconciliation and collaboration, underlying tensions and differences continue to impact their relationship. They have not performed together since their last reunion tour, and public statements from both sides suggest that their relationship is more distant than friendly. Garfunkel has made comments in interviews expressing frustration over their relationship, while Simon has also indicated a reluctance to work together again.
In summary, while Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel share a rich history of collaboration and have had moments of camaraderie, their relationship has been marked by significant periods of tension and conflict. They are not particularly close today and are unlikely to work together again in the near future.
