Art Garfunkel Admits “I Wanted to Hurt” Paul Simon, Reveals How Simon’s Son Helped Mend the Duo’s Long-Standing Feud

Throughout their time on stage, the duo Simon & Garfunkel solidified themselves as one of the top folk rock groups. Releasing hit songs like “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” and “The Sound of Silence” the duo won numerous awards and sold over 100 million albums. But even with all the fame and success, the duo constantly found themselves at odds. And it appeared to boil over when Art Garfunkel considered Paul Simon a “Jerk” and “Monster.” While hurling a slew of hurtful words at his former friend, Garfunkel recently claimed the two made amends.

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Speaking with NME, Garfunkel recalled how the two sat down for lunch to talk about their career and friendship over the decades. He said, “Paul’s ex-wife, Peggy Simon, had moved into the place where I live, and their son, Harper, ran into me in the halls. I knew this was going to happen sooner or later.” He added, “Harper set up a lunch with Paul and I.”

Not knowing how the lunch would go, both Garfunkel and Simon decided to put it all out on the table. “Paul said to me, ‘Arty, it’s not that you spoke to the British press and that you didn’t do it well. I know you said you wanted to put spice into the image of Simon and Garfunkel. I know you felt that we were too conservative. ’Well, my idea of spice meant a certain candor that must have hurt Paul’s feelings. I realized; I did hurt his feelings.”

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Art Garfunkel Declares “It Basically Ended The Years Of Detachment”

Although the words cut deep, Garfunkel explained, “He said, ‘I felt you wanted to hurt me. That’s what got me. ’And I thought, ‘That’s true’. I wanted to hurt him. The next thing I knew, I burst into tears.”

With Garfunkel pondering on the conversation and the pain he caused his fellow bandmate and friend, he continued, “The admission of the truth is psychological. You give it up and admit that you wanted to hurt somebody. You’re touched by your own confession. And then there were hugs. It was a wonderful moment for Simon & Garfunkel. It basically ended the years of detachment.”

Finding common ground once again, Garfunkel praised Simon, “Paul’s very funny. The basis of the Simon & Garfunkel relationship is laughter and jokes – even more than music. We’re both Lenny Bruce fans. We love Mike Nichols and Elaine May. We love Mel Brooks. Right from the beginning, we laughed all the time, and it was the source of our connection.”

(Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)