The most recent, biggest -hitting news about Pink Floyd, direct from http://www.brain-damage.co.uk https://www.brain-damage.co.uk Fri, 09 Oct 2026 23:27:29 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/images/M_images/rss.png https://www.brain-damage.co.uk The most recent, biggest -hitting news about Pink Floyd, direct from http://www.brain-damage.co.uk https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/european-shows-announced-for-roger-waters-presents-legacy-a-pink-floyd.html More dates have been revealed for the new Roger Waters Legacy project, which is billed as "a Pink Floyd show performed by the Harry Waters Band" (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/roger-waters-presents-legacy-a-pink-floyd-show.html). To reiterate, Roger himself does not perform on these shows. The first of the European concerts have been announced, as shown below with the ticket links, and they note that they "are planning further shows in additional countries in Europe such as Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain, Luxembourg and Slovenia, which will be announced shortly". Here are the new European dates so far: 22 May 2027 - Oslo, Norway: Konserthus. TICKETS (https://billetter.okh.no/nb/buyingflow/tickets/49448/99237/) 23 May 2027 - Stockholm, Sweden: Cirkus. TICKETS (https://biljetter.cirkus.se/sv/buyingflow/tickets/32958/135577/) 25 May 2027 - Helsinki, Finland: Veikkaus Arena. TICKETS (https://www.livenation.fi/roger-waters-presents-legacy-tickets-adp1698523) 27 May 2027 - Aalborg, Denmark: Kultur & Kongress Center. TICKETS (https://www.ticketmaster.dk/event/996936879?language=da-dk) 28 May 2027 - Copenhagen, Denmark: Falkonersalen. TICKETS (https://www.ticketmaster.dk/event/996936879?language=da-dk) 30 May 2027 - Warsaw, Poland: Torwar. TICKETS (https://www.livenation.pl/event/roger-waters-presents-legacy-warsaw-tickets-edp1698525) 31 May 2027 - Bratislava, Slovakia: Peugeot Arena NTC. TICKETS (https://www.vivien.sk/en/roger-waters-legacy-2027) 1 Jun 2027 - Budapest, Hungary: Budapest Arena. TICKETS (https://www.livenation.hu/tickets/edp1697753) 3 Jun 2027 - Bucharest, Romania: Sala Palatului. TICKETS (https://www.entertix.ro/g/1253/roger-waters-presents-legacy.html) 5 Jun 2027 - Belgrade, Serbia: Sava Centre Blue Hall. TICKETS (https://honeycomb-live.com/roger-waters-legacy-belgrade-june-2027) 6 Jun 2027 - Sofia, Bulgaria: NDK, Hall 1. TICKETS (https://ticketstation.bg/en/p6002-roger-waters-sofia) 8 Jun 2027 - Prague, Czechia: O2 Universum. TICKETS (https://www.livenation.cz/show/1698154/roger-waters-presents-legacy/praha/2027-06-08/en) 10 Jun 2027 - Rotterdam, Holland: De Doelen. TICKETS (https://www.ticketmaster.nl/event/449346723) 11 Jun 2027 - Rotterdam, Holland: De Doelen. TICKETS (https://www.ticketmaster.nl/event/405548423) 13 Jun 2027 - Paris, France: Salle Pleyel. TICKETS (https://www.aegpresents.fr/event/roger-waters-presents-legacy/) 14 Jun 2027 - Brussels, Belgium: Cirque Royal. TICKETS (https://www.ticketmaster.be/event/1075134438) 16 Jun 2027 - Manchester, England: O2 Apollo. TICKETS (https://www.eventim.co.uk/artist/roger-waters-presents-legacy/) 17 Jun 2027 - Glasgow, Scotland: Royal Concert Hall. TICKETS (https://www.eventim.co.uk/artist/roger-waters-presents-legacy/) 19 Jun 2027 - Edinburgh, Scotland: Playhouse. TICKETS (https://www.eventim.co.uk/artist/roger-waters-presents-legacy/) 20 Jun 2027 - Newcastle, England: O2 City Hall. TICKETS (https://www.eventim.co.uk/artist/roger-waters-presents-legacy/) 22 Jun 2027 - Sheffield, England: City Hall. TICKETS (https://www.eventim.co.uk/artist/roger-waters-presents-legacy/) 23 Jun 2027 - Southend, England: Cliffs Pavilion. TICKETS (https://www.eventim.co.uk/artist/roger-waters-presents-legacy/) 25 Jun 2027 - Brighton, England: Brighton Centre. TICKETS (https://www.eventim.co.uk/artist/roger-waters-presents-legacy/) 26 Jun 2027 - Wolverhampton, England: The Civic At The Halls. TICKETS (https://www.eventim.co.uk/artist/roger-waters-presents-legacy/) 27 Jun 2027 - London, England: Hammersmith Eventim Apollo. TICKETS (https://www.eventim.co.uk/artist/roger-waters-presents-legacy/) 29 Jun 2027 - Dublin, Ireland: 3Arena. TICKETS (https://www.ticketmaster.ie/artist/5755584?venueId=197033) We'll update this story when additional shows are announced. Tue, 06 Oct 2026 10:14:48 +0100 https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/roger-waters-presents-legacy-a-pink-floyd-show.html Just announced are the details of the new Roger Waters project: Legacy - A Pink Floyd Show, which sees Roger and his son Harry team up for a new touring production. You may recall back in April there was a call put out by Roger for a vocalist for the band (which resulted in more than 3000 submissions!). Dates in the US and Canada have been announced with most of the tickets going on sale on Friday (October 2nd) although some might already be on sale, and the details are shown below. To explain the project, here's the official description: "The father's legacy. The son's band. The music that defined a generation. AEG Presents and ICON LIVE today announced Roger Waters Presents LEGACY - A Pink Floyd Show, an all-new live production created under the direction of Roger Waters with a band led by his son Harry Waters, a longtime touring musician, pianist, and composer. An extensive tour will launch in February 15, 2027 and visit more than 100 cities in North America and Europe. Celebrating the defining music and visual world of Pink Floyd's golden era from 1971-1979, LEGACY brings together a world-class 10-piece band performing selections from The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, and The Wall. The new stage presentation shaped by Roger's team features a pictorial retrospective of stunning imagery inspired by the original Pink Floyd work, with visuals that the father created during his tenure as the creative force in Pink Floyd. While Harry the son serves as musical director and leads the band on B3 organ, piano, and vocals, all this is presented on hi-def LED video screens. Tickets for the North American tour dates go on sale October 2, but some dates are now on presale so don't delay! European dates will be announced soon. For more information, visit RogerWatersLegacy.com (https://www.RogerWatersLegacy.com). "These songs have meant so much to so many people for so many years, and I'm excited for audiences to come together and experience them live again," says Roger Waters. "Harry has assembled a terrific band, and I can't wait for fans around the world to see the special show we've created together." "I fell in love with the music immediately," says Harry. "It really had an impact on me, irrespective of any bias because it was Dad's music. I still love it deeply to this day. Collaborating with Dad on this new production is such an honour, and I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to bring this music to fans old and new, around the world." Harry's connection to the music began long before he became a professional musician. As a child, his voice appeared on Pink Floyd's The Wall on "Goodbye Blue Sky," and he recalls witnessing the original The Wall production while still very young. He later spent more than 15 years performing alongside his father on major tours, including The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall, as well as the 2016 Desert Trip concerts. Musically, the production aims to recreate the original recordings as closely as possible. "We are going to authentically recreate the albums as close to note-for-note as we possibly can," Harry said. Beyond recreating the sound, Harry says LEGACY is intended to reconnect audiences with the ideas at the heart of the music. Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:33:33 +0100 https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/pink-floyd-comfortably-numb-pilgrimage-to-the-wall.html 45 years ago, Pink Floyd performed The Wall for the last time, in London. The end of an era and at the same time the beginning of a turbulent decade. A fitting subject for a new book about the album and associated concerts. The book has just been published and is selling well, hence this reminder for those of you who are yet to order your copy. In the Dutch language book Aangenaam Verdoofd - Bedevaart Naar The Wall (which translates to COMFORTABLY NUMB – PILGRIMAGE TO THE WALL), Charles Beterams and Wouter Bessels describe the complex origin story of the album and the film and the overwhelming impact that the – no more than 31 – concerts have on the visitors. Pink Floyd didn't include The Netherlands on their schedule for The Wall shows. The devoted Dutch followers had to do their utmost to get their hands on the scarce tickets for concerts in London and Dortmund. They become, without having foreseen it, part of a historical journey, a pilgrimage to The Wall in 1980 and 1981. Upon their return, there are the stories, concert reports in the newspapers, and – secretly taken – photos. That history is now captured for the first time in a 120-page richly illustrated book. The authors spoke with concertgoers and other involved parties and uncovered a lot of unique and previously unpublished footage. In the years that follow, Roger Waters remains inextricably linked to the album, even after the film's release in 1982. It is therefore not surprising that a reprise follows in Berlin in 1990 after a turbulent decade in which everything seems to be overshadowed by The Wall. The book concludes with a detailed description of the particulars of the 31 concerts and a discography. Aangenaam Verdoofd - Bedevaart Naar The Wall has been released as a luxury hardcover edition. 120 pages on 170-gram paper, size 22 x 22 cm. There are two options available: a limited, numbered, and one-time Regular Edition of 600 copies (https://www.floydstuff.com/product/23407133/pink-floyd-aangenaam-verdoofd-bedevaart-naar-the-wall-regular-edition-book). They put aside 100 copies of that which are available as a Signature Edition in a luxury magnetic box (https://www.floydstuff.com/product/23407141/pink-floyd-aangenaam-verdoofd-bedevaart-naar-the-wall-signature-edition-book-box) with foil printing, containing a signed copy of the book and exclusively a printed silk-like retro scarf as was also sold at the concerts back then. Both versions are now available for order - while stocks last - from Floydstuff.com (https://www.floydstuff.com) who are the exclusive stockists of this book. Those who have seen their previous books will know that they are very well designed and produced, and are well worth adding to your Floydian bookshelves! Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:39:27 +0100 https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/pink-floyds-meddle-san-tropez-orange-marble-vinyl-for-national-album-day.html Just announced: Pink Floyd are releasing a new San Tropez Orange Marble vinyl edition of their landmark 1971 album Meddle, for this year's National Album Day, via Sony Music. It will be in stores/online from October 17th, 2026 while stocks last, and ordering links are below. National Album Day is an annual celebration in the UK, with this year's theme celebrating music "Icons" – encompassing legendary, cultural and contemporary artists and recordings. A pivotal moment in the band's development, Meddle was the sixth studio album by the British rock group, originally released in 1971. Produced between touring commitments and widely regarded as a notable progression from their previous work, the band devised a series of novel recording and writing experiments, which also inspired the album's signature track, Echoes. Echoes immediately became an enduring fan favourite, regularly played live during the busy five year period of 1971 - 1975, and featured heavily in Pink Floyd Live At Pompeii, with the song split into two halves, to bookend the movie. Echoes was resurrected at the start of the 1987 A Momentary Lapse Of Reason tour for the first eleven shows that year, then for David Gilmour's 2006 On An Island tour Echoes closed the main set of each show. Sixteen years later, Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets added Echoes to their set to much acclaim. Echoes is seen as one of the key musical pieces from the band's earlier period, with Meddle a key, essential album. The man behind the Saucers concept - Lee Harris - is performing Meddle in full next March in a set of three gigs at the Half Moon in Putney, London, with fellow Saucer Dom Beken, along with Yaron Stavi and Ged Lynch. Alongside this, it's also been announced that a newly restored high-resolution version of the iconic Echoes sequence from cult-classic 1973 surf film Crystal Voyager will be available via Pink Floyd's YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/pinkfloyd) on the same date, October 17th. ORDERING INFORMATION: As this is a UK-only limited edition release, you can order it from Rough Trade (https://www.roughtrade.com/product/pink-floyd/meddle-national-album-day-2026-so?algolia_query_id=008802514a61e12912c444c579d03fac&algolia_object_id=58509168836939&algolia_index=shopify_prod_products&algolia_position=4#58509168836939) who ship internationally, HMV.com (https://hmv.com/store/music/vinyl/meddle-(national-album-day-2026)), and Amazon UK (https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0GW3VS5ZW/braindamage-21), as well as other participating UK record stores. It is possible that retailers in other countries may have stock but this doesn't normally happen with these releases. Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:19:06 +0100 https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/hear-eclipse-a-piece-for-assorted-lunatics-performed-live-first-time-since.html Click here to purchase yours once they go on sale (https://www.leejharris.com). Mon, 14 Sep 2026 15:40:46 +0100 https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/roger-waters-happy-83rd-birthday.html The combined wishes of all of us on the Brain Damage team, along no doubt with many of you reading this, go to Roger Waters, who celebrates the very special occasion of his 83rd birthday today! Roger was born in Great Bookham, Surrey, in 1943, moving to Cambridge when he was two years old. It was there that he met, and became childhood friends with, a number of key people in the story of Pink Floyd. Of course, Roger has been extremely busy over recent years, having successfully taken Dark Side Of The Moon on tour in 2006, through to 2008. On completing that, he immediately started work on a new version of The Wall - which finally opened in September 2010. That tour was spectacularly successful, wrapping up in Paris for show number 217 in September 2013. Recordings of that tour turned into the film, shown in cinemas and released on DVD/Blu-ray and as part of a mammoth Super Deluxe Edition. More recently, he performed his highly acclaimed Us + Them world tour, which was filmed and was shown in cinemas worldwide, with the home release of it on Blu-ray, 2CD, 3LP vinyl and DVD that followed. He also released his latest full solo album, Is This The Life We Really Want? as well as overseeing the release of the late Nick Sedgwick's book about the band, and in particular, the 1974 tour of The Dark Side of the Moon. 2022 saw him back on tour for This Is Not A Drill, originally due to start in 2020 but delayed due to Covid-19, with the stage presentation being "in the round". The powerful presentations, with the unique staging which sees Roger wandering around, addressing attendees on all sides of the arenas, thrilled audiences in many countries with more shows in 2023. His appearance in Prague was broadcast live in cinemas, and subsequently returned to cinemas in July in a brand new edit which is pretty spectacular. It has also, a year ago, received a home release, and is available as a 4LP, 2CD, Blu-ray and DVD. There's also been the release of the six-song album, The Lockdown Sessions, which gathered together new versions of Mother, Two Suns In The Sunset, Vera, The Gunner's Dream, The Bravery Of Being Out Of Range, and Comfortably Numb 2022. This was followed with Roger's Redux version of The Dark Side Of The Moon, and he presented that in a pair of shows at the legendary London Palladium. At those shows, he narrated extracts from his memoir, which should be published at some point hopefully soon, and also performed a longer version of The Bar which we hear is the subject of his next album. We hope you have a great day, Roger. Many happy returns! Sun, 06 Sep 2026 08:50:58 +0100 https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/david-gilmour-on-an-island-20th-anniversary-limited-edition-splatter.html Blood-Records.co.uk (http://www.blood-records.co.uk/products/gilmour). We expect them to sell quickly so if you are interested, don't delay placing your order. Sat, 05 Sep 2026 16:00:00 +0100 https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/pink-floyd-the-inside-story-of-the-1980-81-wall-tour.html September 2026 issue of Classic Rock Magazine (issue 357) which has a large cover feature on Pink Floyd (https://www.magazinesdirect.com/row/classic-rock-sep-26-single-issue/dp/27635979). From the publisher's description, '[Pink Floyd's] hugely ambitious 1980/81 tour for The Wall redefined rock shows. But, plagued by power grabs, bad blood, sackings and bitter dysfunction, it also tore the band apart. 'There's a quote from Roger Waters in this month’s cover feature that sums up the state of the Pink Floyd nation during their very ambitious – and very fractious – tour supporting The Wall album, which drew to a close 45 years ago. "We have been pretending we're all jolly good chaps together," he said, "but that hasn't been true in seven years." 'While the Gilmour/ Waters-led Floyd would go on to record one more album together, 1983's The Final Cut – and quite how they managed that is anyone's guess – The Wall tour really did spell the dissolution of the band. Was it the sheer scale and ambition of the trek, the financial ramifications, creative differences or something else entirely that brought things to a head?' Also in Classic Rock 357: Aerosmith, Faster Pussycat, Blackie Lawless, Airbourne, Bruce Hornsby, Carmine Appice, Billy Morrison, Amy Lee, Pat Travers and more. You can order the magazine worldwide through this direct link (https://www.magazinesdirect.com/row/classic-rock-sep-26-single-issue/dp/27635979), and find it in selected physical stores in the UK and the odd place elsewhere. These days though online purchase is the simplest and quickest way to secure your copy... Fri, 14 Aug 2026 10:58:36 +0100 https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/ron-geesin-interviewed-in-new-podcast.html A new episode of the previously Beatles-exclusive podcast, I Am The Eggpod (https://iamtheeggpod.com/2026/08/02/ron-geesin-the-road-to-atom-heart-mother-melody-maker-8-march-1969/) will, we're sure, be of interest to you all. The wonderful Ron Geesin discusses his work, and the road to co-writing Pink Floyd's first number one album Atom Heart Mother via an article in the 8 March 1969 issue of Melody Maker. The chat covers how he got to meet Pink Floyd, and work with them on Atom Heart Mother as well as Music From The Body. The episode, which is just over an hour long, can be heard through your favourite podcast app, or directly below: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:40:23 +0100 https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/other-related-interviews/thirty-years-and-two-years-a-conversation-with-rob-chapman-syd-barretts-biogr.html Marcelo Paulo de Souza is a Brazilian Pink Floyd collector and aficionado who has lived in London for over 30 years. Our thanks to Marcelo for kindly supplying the following chat with author Rob Chapman. During The Madcap's Lasting Laugh, the eight-day celebration of Syd Barrett's life at The Piper in St Leonards-on-Sea, I had the chance to speak with Rob Chapman, the author of Syd Barrett: A Very Irregular Head, widely considered the definitive biography of Syd, and of Psychedelia and Other Colours, his acclaimed history of psychedelia and a Guardian, Mojo and Rough Trade Book of the Year. We talked outside the venue on Sunday 5 July, the day after his talk Syd's Last Stand, where he was interviewed on stage by Tony Higgins. I wrote about the festival and the unveiling of Syd's famous floorboards in my earlier feature for Brain Damage (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/various-other-items/the-piper-st-leonards-where-syd-barretts-floorboards-found-a.html); this is the second article from that weekend. This was the third time I have met Rob. The first was at the premiere of Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd, the documentary about Syd. The second was at a talk and book signing organised by the Walthamstow Rock ‘n' Roll Book Club, practically around the corner from my house, where he spoke about Unsung Unsaid and signed my copies of his Syd biography and the lyrics book. On both occasions he was welcoming and always ready to talk. A lifetime of thinking I opened by repeating something many fans believe: that his book is considered the best because he spent ten years researching it. Rob corrected me, and his answer was better than the legend. He wrote the Mojo obituary when Syd died in 2006, and shortly after that he got a contract through Faber to write the book, which he submitted in 2009. So the research took about two years. But then he reached for a famous story about Picasso. Someone once told Picasso that a child of five could have made one of his works in five minutes. Picasso answered that it took him a lifetime to do it in five minutes. It is the same with the book, Rob told me: a lifetime of thinking and evaluating went into it before the research even began. "It took me 30 years and 2 years." Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:41:10 +0100 https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/other-related-interviews/mark-wilkinson-reveals-story-behind-his-syd-barrett-cove.html Full details can be found here, along with ordering details for Clowns And Jugglers: The Songs Of Syd Barrett on double vinyl and double CD (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/syd-barretts-80th-birthday-celebrations-in-cambridge-and-tribute.html). The cover of the album has been hand-created by Mark Wilkinson, an artist who has created artwork for various artists including Marillion, Fish, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. He created the cover of the 2003 DVD, The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story, and Mark has kindly revealed to us the story behind his latest cover design... I painted a portrait of Syd Barrett last year, one of my cultural heroes ever since I heard Arnold Layne, Emily and The Piper. I joined the Pink Floyd fanclub in 1968, there were around 500 of us then, with George Best and John Peel as celebrity members. It was an exciting time when anything seemed possible in the arts, and this man, full of beautiful music, writing lyrics unlike anyone else with a wildly colourful imagination was legendary and way ahead of his time. The painting wasn't commissioned for any purpose, it was simply a passion project, which took 4 months on and off. It's painted on a 91cm square canvas primed with 10 coats of gesso, sanded down to create a mirror-smooth surface to airbrush and paint on. I called it "The Mirror Guitar". Syd Barrett bought a Fender Esquire guitar in early 1965. In late 1966, he wrapped it in silver melinex and glued on some mirror discs, using the guitar to reflect the light shows Pink Floyd had in their early years back into the audience. He switched to a black Telecaster after that but was quoted as saying "The Mirror Guitar" was by far his favourite. Its current whereabouts is unknown. A friend of mine posed for the painting, crosslegged with his guitar as I wanted to 're-imagine' Syd in Wetherby Mansions where his first solo album cover 'The Madcap Laughs' was photographed. I changed the direction of the floor boards to create a dynamic perspective, then added the mirror guitar even though it had been lost a few years before. It was an era filled with symbolism. The iconic floor boards, the vase of flowers, and I tried to recreate some of Syd's paintings and drawings leaning against the wall. I stuck mirror discs to the painting of the silver guitar just as Syd had done. The unfailing creativity, strangeness and charisma of Syd Barrett, reunited, out of time with his lost mirror guitar. When I first exhibited it I met Syd's nephew who invited me to take the painting to The Artyst bar/venue in Cambridge where I met Neil Jones (who had been 20 years director at The Corn Exchange). Neil suggested a concert in what would have been Syd's 80th birthday year in 2026. Rob Ayling then suggested a covers album showcasing Syd's songs. We then decided to have an exhibition to celebrate Syd's life and influence inviting some contemporary artists to show new artwork as well as displaying some of Syd's own art. October 10th is World Mental Health Day (https://mentalhealth-uk.org/get-involved/mental-health-awareness-days/world-mental-health-day/), which seemed perfect to pull all of these elements together. We've all given our time free to this project because we are fans of Syd's unique talents, and in the process it will raise funds for mental health charities chosen by the Barrett family. Our thanks to Mark for sharing the background to the cover art. For more details of the events in Cambridge in October, please click here (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/syd-barretts-80th-birthday-celebrations-in-cambridge-and-tribute.html). Fri, 10 Jul 2026 09:28:02 +0100 https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/various-other-items/the-piper-st-leonards-where-syd-barretts-floorboards-found-a.html Marcelo Paulo de Souza is a Brazilian Pink Floyd collector and aficionado who has lived in London for over 30 years. Marcelo kindly supplied this report from a very special event this week in the south of England, with pictures by Marcelo and also Beata Kruczkowska. Our thanks to both of them! Twenty years after Syd Barrett's death, and in the year he would have turned 80, a grassroots music venue on the south coast of England is keeping his memory alive in the most literal way possible: with the painted floorboards from his London flat on display for anyone to come and see. I was at the venue on Sunday 5 July, the day of the unveiling, where I recorded video interviews with the people at the heart of the celebration. The Piper in St Leonards-on-Sea has just turned seven years old. Its name comes from The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Pink Floyd's debut album, and the location is no accident. Hastings Pier, directly across from the venue, was where Syd played his final gig with Pink Floyd on 20 January 1968. Owner Chris Barnett, who I interviewed outside the venue on the day of the unveiling, moved to the coast from Hackney in London, where he had watched pub after pub close down. When he found this beautiful building standing empty and derelict, he decided to turn it into a new grassroots music venue: a home for bands, DJs, and what he calls the collective psychedelic alternative community. The pub was called the Norman Arms. He renamed it The Piper. Even the Wi-Fi password is a nod to the album. Eight days for Syd This week the venue is running The Madcap's Lasting Laugh, an eight-day celebration of Syd's life, marking the 20th anniversary of his passing on 7 July and the unveiling of his iconic floorboards. The opening weekend brought Twink (the drummer known for his work with the Pretty Things and the Pink Fairies, and a member of Stars, the short-lived supergroup he formed with Syd in Cambridge in 1972), along with talks, a film screening and panel discussions. Still to come are Ozric Tentacles, Bernard Butler, a Sydfest all-dayer of psychedelic bands, and the Mystery Jets. The guest list reads like a who's who of Syd's world. Jenny Spires, Syd's former girlfriend from the Cambridge days. Ian Barrett, Syd's nephew. Jerry Shirley, who played on both The Madcap Laughs and Barrett, and who performed alongside David Gilmour at Syd's 1970 show at Kensington Olympia. Biographer Rob Chapman. And Jill Drower: former habitué of the UFO Club, member of the Exploding Galaxy, the radical performance art collective of 1967-69, and film maker. Her film about the group, Exploders, was screened at the venue with her own introduction. Twink, Ian Barrett, Rob Chapman and other guests also came together for Shine On You Crazy Diamond, a panel discussion and celebration held on Monday 6 July, the eve of the anniversary, followed by the Exploders screening. Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:42:43 +0100 https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/syd-barretts-80th-birthday-celebrations-in-cambridge-and-tribute.html This year, to mark what would have been Roger "Syd" Barrett's 80 birthday, a range of celebrations have been arranged, including a concert and a major exhibition in Cambridge, as well as a commemorative double LP and double CD, all of which raising money for mental health charities, with all proceeds donated to them. First, the concert. A natural choice for the location has been picked: Cambridge Corn Exchange, where he gave his final live performance on February 24th 1972. On October 10th, audiences will experience a special concert featuring Kula Shaker, Soft Machine, Men on the Border, Diana Silveira The Psychedelic Circus, Radhika and Pünk Floyd, with additional surprise guests still to be announced. The event will also feature an immersive liquid light show by Los Angeles visual artist The Mad Alchemist. Tickets for the concert go on sale at 10am BST on Friday (June 19th) through Cornex.co.uk (https://www.cornex.co.uk/events/a-tribute-to-syd-barrett-official-80th-anniversary-celebrations), the website for the venue. The anniversary will also be marked by the release of Clowns And Jugglers: The Songs Of Syd Barrett, a commemorative double coloured vinyl and double CD album on October 9th 2026, featuring new recordings, previously unreleased material and standout live performances celebrating Barrett's enduring influence. The cover has been created by Mark Wilkinson, most known for artwork for the likes of Marillion, but who also did the cover for the 2003 DVD, The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story. Contributors to the album include Kula Shaker, Mystery Jets, Rosalie Cunningham, Pink Floyd, David Gilmour and Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets. The full track listing of the vinyl edition can be seen below (the CD track listing is still being finalised). Alongside the concert and album, a major exhibition exploring Barrett's life, art and cultural impact will run from October 3rd–9th at camopen.space (https://bio.site/camopen.space/). The exhibition will showcase original paintings and sketches by Syd Barrett, alongside prints of larger works. Visitors will also be able to view work by a number of guest artists, including Barrett’s nephew Ian Barrett, Mark Wilkinson, Mick Rock, Spadge Hopkins, Mikey Georgeson, James Wilkinson and Justin Wiggan & Dominick Allen. A programme of talks from leading Barrett biographers will further explore the life and legacy of one of Britain’s most fascinating creative minds. Neil Jones, co-organiser of the events, said: "Eighty years after his birth, Syd Barrett's influence remains as powerful as ever. His music, creativity and unique vision continue to inspire artists and audiences across generations. It's especially fitting that this celebration takes place in Cambridge, the city at the heart of his story. Bringing together live music, art and a new album on World Mental Health Day is a fitting tribute to one of the city's most extraordinary cultural figures". Rosemary Breen, Barrett's sister, said: "The family wholeheartedly support these exciting events in aid of mental health charities. Syd would have been so happy and honoured to know his music was still being enjoyed in Cambridge." ORDERING INFORMATION: For ease, we've listed the various editions below from different retailers. Amazon purchases qualify for their pre-order price guarantee, where you should be automatically charged the lowest amount between the time you ordered the album, and release. All purchases made after using one of our links make a small but vital contribution toward the site running costs, at no extra cost to yourself, and we really appreciate it! This is because we participate in the Amazon Affiliate program. 2LP Colour Vinyl: Amazon UK (https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0H63BPTJD/braindamage-21) Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0H63BPTJD/braindamage-20) Canada (http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0H63BPTJD/braindamageon-20) Germany (http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0H63BPTJD/braindamage0f-21) France (http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0H63BPTJD/braindamageon-21) Italy (http://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B0H63BPTJD/bradamonl-21) Spain (http://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B0H63BPTJD/braidama01-21) HMV.com (https://hmv.com/store/music/vinyl/clowns-and-jugglers-the-songs-of-syd-barre-da78315) Amazon UK (https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0H63M5VPB/braindamage-21) Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0H63M5VPB/braindamage-20) Canada (http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0H63M5VPB/braindamageon-20) Germany (http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0H63M5VPB/braindamage0f-21) France (http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0H63M5VPB/braindamageon-21) Italy (http://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B0H63M5VPB/bradamonl-21) Spain (http://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B0H63M5VPB/braidama01-21) HMV.com (https://hmv.com/store/music/vinyl/clowns-and-jugglers-the-songs-of-syd-barre-5278353) Amazon UK (https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0H633WJDK/braindamage-21) Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0H633WJDK/braindamage-20) Canada (http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0H633WJDK/braindamageon-20) Germany (http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0H633WJDK/braindamage0f-21) France (http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0H633WJDK/braindamageon-21) Italy (http://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B0H633WJDK/bradamonl-21) Spain (http://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B0H633WJDK/braidama01-21) HMV.com (https://hmv.com/store/music/cd/clowns-and-jugglers-the-songs-of-syd-barrett) Burning Shed (https://burningshed.com/syd-barrett_clowns-and-jugglers_2cd) Wed, 17 Jun 2026 20:31:47 +0100