Wish You Were Here - A People’s History of Pink Floyd is the title of a new book about the Floyd, although author Richard Houghton readily admits that the book isn't entirely new, as it's an update of an earlier work from 2017.
The book tells the story of Pink Floyd through more than 500 eyewitness accounts, mixing concert memories with other encounters with the band. As well as stories from the beginnings of the band's career and accounts of arena shows, there are a number of more intimate encounters. One example is the story of Norman Whitehall, who travelled with a friend to Bridgend in Wales to see Pink Floyd at the tiny Kee Club in March 1969, only to be told that they couldn't get in because it was a members-only club. A disconsolate Norman wandered the streets with his friend until they bumped into the band themselves, who took pity on them and escorted them into the club and through to their dressing room, where band and fans shared a joint.
Richard said: "I had a book entitled Pink Floyd - I Was There published in paperback, but that book has been out of print for a few years. I've managed to acquire the rights to the book and decided to republish it through my own company, Spenwood Books, and give the material in the book the treatment it deserves. The new book is coming out in hardback in a larger format, with full colour photos on high quality paper. I've also collected over 100 new accounts of seeing the Floyd live that weren't in the original book. This includes several tales from the period when Syd was in the band. So it's a fascinating look back at Pink Floyd as it's their history told in the words of fans, and it provides a very different take on a story that's been told many times before.
Richard is still interested in hearing from anyone who saw Pink Floyd, particularly if they have a concert memory from the Sixties, and he can be reached at
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The deadline for fresh material is 31st May.
Wish You Were Here - A People’s History of Pink Floyd is published by Spenwood Books and is available to order now at SpenwoodBooks.com. Orders placed by 14th July will receive a 20% discount on the RRP of £30 and early bird purchasers will also be named as sponsors in the book.
At long last, the much anticipated documentary about Syd Barrett, called Have You Got It Yet? The Story Of Syd Barrett & Pink Floyd, has been officially announced with a trailer giving a first glimpse. The film was directed by Storm Thorgerson (Hipgnosis) and award-winning director Roddy Bogawa, and features new interviews with Syd's friends, lovers, family and band mates Roger Waters, David Gilmour, and Nick Mason. This has been in the works for many years and it is great that it will finally be seen. It promises "rarely seen excerpts of Syd backstage, never-before seen photographs and a soundtrack full of Floyd's music". Needless to say, this sounds an essential watch.
Apart from a screening for an invited audience tomorrow in London, the film will premiere across Everyman Cinemas in the UK from Monday 15th May - please visit EverymanCinema.com for more details. It will hit cinemas in the US and Canada from late June, and hopefully elsewhere too in due course. For more details of the film, see SydBarrettFilm.com.
Last month, our good friends at Rockarchive.com gave Brain Damage visitors an exclusive opportunity to own a very special TDSOTM anniversary limited edition book and print set. This is just a warning that there are just 20 or so left, AND the price will be going up after today, when the offer is extended to their mailing list for any remaining copies!
The special set comprises a copy of Pink Floyd's 'The Dark Side of the Moon: The Official 50th Anniversary Book', signed by Jill Furmanovsky and a Rockarchive limited edition 10x8" print of the band, also signed by Jill.
The stunning 160-page book features 129 backstage and onstage images taken by Jill along with Storm Thorgerson during the album tours of 1972 to 1975, visual conception of the iconic album artwork and a review of the October 1972 Wembley concert originally published in Melody Maker.
The special print image was taken by Jill when she accompanied Pink Floyd on their British Winter Tour in 1974. Each 10x8" fine art print is from a limited edition of just 100 and hand-signed by Jill.
There were just 100 special sets available and these are being offered exclusively via Brain Damage until the end of today (24th April). From tomorrow, the price will rise and will be offered out to Rockarchive's mailing list. To order or find out more use this special direct link at RockArchive.com, or click the image to the right to see it all in more detail at their website.
We expect the final copies of this very limited edition to sell quickly, so we suggest if you are interested, you don't delay placing your order. We'd also like to thank RockArchive for making this special edition available through Brain Damage!
Back in December, we told you about a new, streaming-only release from Roger Waters - The Lockdown Sessions. The album consists of six songs, and runs for 39 and a half minutes. At that time, there were no publicised plans for a physical release of this, but the good news for those of you interested in this, is that this afternoon a CD and vinyl LP has been announced, for release on June 2nd, 2023.
Housed in a gatefold cover, the tracks on the album are Mother, Two Suns In The Sunset, Vera, The Gunner's Dream, The Bravery Of Being Out Of Range, and Comfortably Numb 2022.
Roger explained that he was going to do an album of unusual encores, but then lockdown struck.
"Our Us and Them Tour lasted three years... At every gig we did an encore after the main show closed with Comfortably Numb… the encore was always Mother... I can't remember why I decided to start doing other songs?... Anyway, at some point after the end of the tour… I started thinking, "It could make an interesting album, all those encores"… "The Encores". "Yeah, has a nice ring to it!" Then…I'm in England doing the Ginger Baker tribute gig one Tuesday night at the Hammersmith Odeon with Eric Clapton and… the following Saturday marching from The Australian Embassy to Parliament Square to make a speech in support of Julian Assange, when bugger me, Covid…Schlummmm!
"For me it was Friday March 13th 2020. Lockdown! So much for the "Encores" project. Unless… We've tacked C. Numb on the end of the collection, as an appropriate exclamation point in closing this circle of love." The Lockdown Sessions were recorded at home during the Covid lockdown between 2020 and 2021.
ORDERING LINKS: Not all these are live yet but please keep trying if your chosen store doesn't have it available yet. All purchases made after using one of our links make a small but vital contribution toward the site running costs, and we really appreciate it!
Tomorrow, Thursday April 20th (or - please note - tonight in certain parts of the world, such as the Americas), Pink Floyd are marking the 50th Anniversary of The Dark Side Of The Moon with a listening event timed to a rare solar eclipse in Exmouth, Western Australia.
The Ningaloo Eclipse will see eight lucky competition winners at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Marine Park (Nyinggulu) heading to a special secluded beach location in the region to hear The Dark Side of the Moon in full – with Roger Waters iconic closing lines "But the sun is eclipsed by the moon…" from the album's final song Eclipse timed to align with the extraordinary moment of total eclipse at 11.29am WST.
Thankfully, there's going to be a live stream which starts around 3:30am UK/10:30am WST, which you can join here:
UPDATE: That was fun, wasn't it? Now the stream is over, the original video itself is no longer available, but as you'll note above, the stream is now available to watch on demand. Enjoy!
Older News Archive 
Wish You Were Here - A People’s History of Pink Floyd is the title of a new book about the Floyd, although author Richard Houghton readily admits that the book isn't entirely new, as it's an update of an earlier work from 2017.
Back in December, we told you about a new, streaming-only release from Roger Waters - The Lockdown Sessions. The album consists of six songs, and runs for 39 and a half minutes. At that time, there were no publicised plans for a physical release of this, but the good news for those of you interested in this, is that this afternoon a CD and vinyl LP has been announced, for release on June 2nd, 2023.
