Paul Simon has recently shed light on the factors that led to the split of the iconic folk duo Simon & Garfunkel, citing creative tensions and Art Garfunkel’s foray into acting as the perfect “recipe for the breakup.” This revelation comes as part of the new MGM+ documentary series, In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon.
The documentary’s first episode delves into the origins of Simon & Garfunkel, from their initial meeting in elementary school in Queens, New York City, through the release of their debut album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. in 1964, and ultimately to their disbandment following their commercially triumphant, yet final, album Bridge over Troubled Water in 1970.
According to Simon in the documentary, the bond between the duo began to fray after the completion of the soundtrack for the 1967 film The Graduate and Garfunkel’s decision to take on a role in the movie Catch-22. “We were really best friends up until Bridge over Troubled Water,” Simon reflects. “[Afterwards], it didn’t have the harmony of the friendship… that was broken.”
Creative Control and Unequal Partnership
A significant aspect of the tension, as highlighted by Simon, was the inherent imbalance in their working dynamic. Simon was the primary songwriter and effectively the driving force in the studio sessions. He detailed his role, stating, “We had an uneven partnership because I was writing all of the songs and basically running the sessions because I would say, ‘This is how it goes, and this is the guitar part, and you should be playing that on drums, and the bass should be doing this’.”
While Garfunkel was present during production, offering feedback alongside producer Roy Halee, Simon felt the weight of creative responsibility rested heavily on his shoulders. This uneven distribution of power contributed to underlying frustrations within the partnership.
Art Garfunkel’s Acting Ambitions: A Turning Point
The decision by Art Garfunkel to pursue acting, specifically his role in Catch-22, appears to be a critical catalyst in the unraveling of Simon & Garfunkel. Initially planned as a brief six-week commitment, the filming schedule for Catch-22 significantly overran, causing disruption and resentment.
Art Garfunkel (left) and Paul Simon in 2003
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, the iconic duo Simon & Garfunkel, photographed in 2003. Garfunkel’s acting career and creative disagreements contributed to their split.
Simon recounted the escalating conflict, “‘The movie ran over,’ explains Simon. “‘You have to come back.’ ‘No, I can’t because we have to shoot this week in Mexico. Send me down what you did, and I’ll give it a listen,’ ‘No, that’s no good. You have to change this and this.’ It was like, everything got disrupted. It was a recipe for the breakup of Simon & Garfunkel.” This clash of schedules and creative control created a breaking point in their professional and personal relationship.
The End of a Friendship: A Sad Conclusion
The documentary episode poignantly concludes with Simon expressing sadness over the deterioration of their friendship alongside their musical partnership. “That was a good friendship,” Simon lamented. “That was a real first friendship of somebody that got it. For me, to turn into a person that I hope I never see again – that’s a long way.”
In essence, the breakup of Simon & Garfunkel was not a singular event but a culmination of factors. Creative imbalances, fueled by Simon’s dominant songwriting role, and exacerbated by Garfunkel’s diverging career path into acting, particularly the disruptive filming of Catch-22, ultimately eroded their partnership and deeply impacted their friendship. The documentary In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon offers a deeper exploration into these complex dynamics that led to the end of one of music history’s most beloved duos.
