In a heartfelt moment that brought tears, Art Garfunkel recently reunited with his former musical partner Paul Simon for an emotional lunch, admitting that he felt he had “hurt” Simon after years of tension. Once known for their harmonious melodies in songs like Bridge Over Troubled Water and The Sound of Silence, Simon & Garfunkel have also been marked by an infamously rocky relationship that’s kept them mostly apart since their 1970 breakup.
The two icons have attempted to reunite multiple times, most notably with a major North American tour planned in 2010 that ultimately fell apart due to Garfunkel’s vocal struggles. Paul Simon later confessed to feeling “let down” by the cancellation, a sentiment that deepened the rift, with Garfunkel famously responding by calling Simon “a monster with a Napoleon complex.”
However, Garfunkel’s recent reflections offer a glimpse into healing, describing their recent lunch as “very, very warm and wonderful.” While speaking to The Sun, he shared that there were tears and hugs, recalling that at one point, he broke down. “There were tears. I was crying at a certain point because I felt that I had hurt him. But there were hugs. I’m cherishing this two-week-old memory of having lunch with Paul Simon.”
Meanwhile, Paul Simon has been quietly working through his own struggles, particularly with the near-total loss of hearing in his left ear. In an interview last month, he expressed new optimism for a return to live music, despite the “scary, frustrating” condition. After facing a sudden end to touring during his 2018 “Farewell” tour, Simon may now be approaching a comeback, hinting that he’s considering solutions to perform again in full.
As fans hold out hope for Simon & Garfunkel’s story to take yet another turn, it’s clear that even after decades, their connection remains deep and complex.
Photo: Douglas R. Gilbert/Redferns
