Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel performing on stage at Dodger Stadium, circa 1983
Richard E. Aaron/RedfernsPaul Simon and Art Garfunkel They shared a notoriously rocky relationship, but the legendary folk-rock duo is trying to build their own bridge over the murky waters.
Simon and Garfunkelboth 83, recently met for dinner, the first time in years they had spent time together. Garfunkel opened that evening's Wednesday, December 11 episode of Live with Kelly and Mark.
“I know we recently met for the first time in years,” Garfunkel said. “We had a period of estrangement for several years until – he had a son who moved to where I lived and I knew I was going to meet Harper (Simon) and Harper made dinner and Paul and I went out, for the first time in years. And it was very emotional.
Simon and Garfunkel broke up in 1970 after releasing five studio albums together and writing hit songs such as “The Sound of Silence,” “Mrs. Robinson” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” which remain popular to this day.
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The duo reunited several times in the years that followed, including a reunion concert in Central Park in 1981 that attracted more than 500,000 people. They tried to tour together after that, but their controversial relationship led to them not speaking for the majority of their career.
Their most recent performance together came in 2010 at the American Film Institute's tribute to Mike NicholsWhere they performed the song “Mrs. Robinson.”
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel perform at the 2014 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Skip Pauline/WireImageGarfunkel also spoke about the Last Supper encounter in a November 17 story for The timesHe admitted part of the reason for the dispute.
“First time we've been together in many years,” he said. “I looked at Paul and said: 'What happened? Why haven't we seen each other?' Paul mentioned an old interview in which I said some things. I cried when he told me how much I hurt him.”
Simon shared his thoughts in the 2023 documentary In Troubled Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon. He cited Garfunkel's role in the 1970 film Catch-22 as a turning point in their relationship.
“Artie said, 'Yes, the way it's going to be is I'll be shooting movies for six months, and then I'll come back, and you'll have the songs written, and we'll make the album,' and I thought, 'Yes? Actually, no. That's not going to happen,'” Simon recalls. : “I won't do that.”
While Garfunkel said The times Not sure if the duo will perform together again, he revealed that they have made plans to meet again. For him, he said it's about making “reforms before it's too late.”
“As I think about it now, tears are streaming down my cheeks,” he said. “I can still feel his embrace.”
