The most recent, biggest -hitting news about Pink Floyd, direct from http://www.brain-damage.co.uk https://www.brain-damage.co.uk Thu, 05 Nov 2026 04:51:55 +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/happy-halloween-its-2026s-pink-floyd-pumpkin.html Happy Halloween to you all! Regulars to Brain Damage over the years will know that our friend Joe Ringus is a hugely talented pumpkin artist, and each year crafts a Pink Floyd themed pumpkin for Halloween (which is celebrated by many, principally on October 31st, but in a number of places it covers a number of days). Those regulars will no doubt be as keen as we have been to see if Joe would be continuing the tradition this year, and if so, what design would be picked. The great news is that, after some thought, Joe had some inspiration for a design he'd not yet done, so has been hard at work yet again, and has done a lovely job yet again! We're delighted to share his incredible carving with you. Joe: "I was pretty excited to do this one and think it transferred to the pumpkin well." We agree! Thanks Joe - we think you've done another superb job! It's a great tradition and we know many of our visitors love to see them. If there are any other pumpkin artists out there who have created Floyd designs, we'd love to see them. Thu, 29 Oct 2026 05:12:49 +0100 https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/roger-waters-and-g.e.-smith-performing-next-month-in-new-york.html Just announced is "An Intimate Evening With Roger Waters & G.E. Smith", being held on Sunday November 22nd, 2026, at 7pm. It is billed as an "acoustic evening with Roger Waters playing his originals joined by G.E. Smith sharing two decades of music and friendship". Some of you will recall that a similar event took place on October 30th, 2015, at the Bay Street Theatre in New York, as part of Smith's then series of shows called Portraits. Smith, of course, played guitars, bass and mandolin on The Wall Live tour. The show takes place at The Suffolk, a 1930's art deco theatre in Riverhead, New York, and tickets are now on sale from TheSuffolk.org (https://thesuffolk.org/event/roger-waters-ge-smith/). Thu, 29 Oct 2026 03:29:21 +0100 https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/other-related-interviews/a-cake-for-the-announcer-by-roger-waters.html With The Wall, the English art rock band Pink Floyd created a milestone in music history at the end of the 1970s. To date, the double album has sold more than 30 million copies. For years, Another Brick in the Wall, ringing out from the voices of a children's choir, has remained an earworm. In 1980, the band fronted by Roger Waters embarked on a tour. Because of the elaborate stage design the tour was limited to four cities: Los Angeles, New York, London and Dortmund. Willi Thomczyk, now 72, still remembers the concert at Dortmund's Westfalenhalle – because he himself was on stage back then. Dortmund, February 20, 1981: In the sold-out Westfalenhalle, thousands of people are eagerly waiting for the much-anticipated event of the century. But instead of Pink Floyd, a man in a tailcoat with teased hair walks onto the stage and announces over the microphone that fireworks and recording are not permitted. The crowd responds with a barrage of boos. "The band will be ready shortly", the announcer tells the increasingly impatient concertgoers, getting on their nerves. Then the band begins to play, and thunderous applause for the four musicians drowns out the announcer's words. Götterdämmerung at Dortmund's Westfalenhalle. Pink Floyd's "The Wall" stood literally between the band and its announcer Willi Thomczyk (pictured), who never saw the four musicians anywhere but on stage. Photo from Willi Thomczyk's private collection, taken by Brigitte Krämer. "I felt that 20,000 people hated me", recalls Herne-based Willi Thomczyk of his role as an announcer that night. Only later did he learn more about the purpose of his role backstage. What happened on stage that night went down in music history and surpassed anything audiences had seen before. While the four members of Pink Floyd played their instruments, a 12-metre-high and 60-metre-long wall was built, stone by stone. Oversized hammers marched in step across the stage, a fighter jet flew over the audience, and giant dolls and marionettes with glowing eyes moved around the stage. Then the colossal wall collapsed, leaving the audience wide-eyed and open-mouthed. Sun, 25 Oct 2026 04:05:49 +0100 https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/cambridge-united-fc-unveil-syd-barrett-football-shirt.html As part of October's Syd Barrett celebrations in Cambridge - as a reminder, this year would have marked his 80th birthday - the local (League One) football team Cambridge United have unveiled a special-edition fourth shirt for the season inspired by the life of Syd. It was first worn at the team's game against Blackpool on World Mental Health Day, and was created in collaboration with the Barrett Estate and supported by Sony Music and Pink Floyd. Rosemary Breen, Barrett's sister, said: "We are delighted and honoured to collaborate with Cambridge United on this initiative which helps highlight World Mental Health Day through the legacy of Syd." Mental health initiatives will benefit from the shirt, with a proportion of replica shirt sales and proceeds from an auction of match-worn shirts being donated. Produced with Umbro and Kitlocker, it features a diamond pattern inspired by Shine On You Crazy Diamond, with an orange and blue colour scheme inspired by Barrett's solo album cover, The Madcap Laughs. On the bottom of the shirt is a diamond logo as shown to the right above. Here's the club's announcement video for the shirt: Orders are now being taken in adult short and long sleeve designs, and a child's short sleeve design, through CambridgeUnited.com (https://shop.cambridgeunited.com/kit/fourth/). Deliveries will begin in November. Sat, 24 Oct 2026 03:32:27 +0100 https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/mark-blakes-pink-floyd-shine-on-the-definitive-oral-history-book-in-pape.html A year after the hardback was published, the paperback of another fascinating and essential book from acclaimed author Mark Blake is now available. Blake is best known in the Floyd community for his excellent book, Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story Of Pink Floyd (known as Comfortably Numb in the US) which originally came out in 2007, and subsequently updated. Other books worth searching out by Blake include titles covering Queen and Freddie Mercury, Peter Grant (Led Zeppelin's manager) and The Who. Pink Floyd Shine On: The Definitive Oral History, which is now available as a paperback, hardback (with HMV - link below - having signed copies) or in Amazon's Kindle format, and is well worth getting your hands on. Here's how the publishers have described it: "The definitive oral history of Pink Floyd as told by friends, associates, family members and the band themselves through exclusive, never before published interviews. "Bestselling music author Mark Blake has been an associate and collaborator of Pink Floyd for over thirty years. Shine On takes on the behemoth task of capturing the most comprehensive history of the band ever compiled, drawing on huge amounts of new, archive and unpublished interview material with Gilmour, Waters, Mason and Wright. No other writer has interviewed the members of Pink Floyd as often nor as thoroughly, which is candidly apparent in this textured, gripping and consistently surprising biography. For the first time, the band's story is told as an oral history with each chapter presented through the words of the band, their friends, contemporaries and supporting musicians. The accessible structure and high level of detail means that the narrative is both approachable to casual readers and magnetic to the committed. "Shine On is comprised of a significant amount of previously unpublished material, including a rare interview with Rosemary Breen lamenting that her younger brother Roger, aka Syd Barrett, should have never become a musician as well as exclusive new interviews with Pink Floyd's Nick Mason and Guy Pratt, reflecting on their enduring legacy and rather more complicated recent twists and turns in the bands story. "Shine On is a forensic retelling of one of the most turbulent and enduring groups in rock music history, a complex history that only someone as skilled and insightful as Blake can navigate." Mark's new book is another fascinating, accessible and in-depth (some 400 pages) look at the band, and we definitely recommend it. ORDERING INFO:As we participate in their affiliate programme, ordering any item after entering Amazon through our links helps with BD's ongoing running costs, and we really appreciate it. You can order the book - also as a hardback, or in Kindle format - from Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1917923082/braindamage-20), Amazon UK (https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1917923082/braindamage-21), Amazon Canada (http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/1917923082/braindamageon-20), Germany (http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/1917923082/braindamage0f-21), France (http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/1917923082/braindamageon-21), Italy (http://www.amazon.it/gp/product/1917923082/bradamonl-21) and Spain (http://www.amazon.es/gp/product/1917923082/braidama01-21). Not all stores are showing it yet at time of posting this, so please keep trying until they do! You can also order it from HMV.com (https://hmv.com/store/pop-culture/booksandgraphicnovels/pink-floyd-shine-on-the-definitive-oral-history) which has a limited number of hardback copies signed by the author, and has free delivery (to the UK). Sat, 24 Oct 2026 02:51:59 +0100 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/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/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