Newly launched is a wonderful official website for founding member of Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett. It is a celebration of his life and work, covering not just his music, but with a strong focus on his major passion which spanned his whole life - art.

The site includes a news section, a biography, discography, and a webstore which features some newly created t-shirts that are bound to be extremely popular.

The main attraction of the site for many though is the gallery, split into Syd's artworks, and photos of Syd. The former displays some seventeen fascinating images, some only seen at the recent exhibition as part of The City Wakes, and the latter has twelve pictures of Syd on his own, and with the rest of the Floyd. Great stuff, and they promise more to come!

So, don't delay, visit www.SydBarrett.com now...

The London-based registered charity Youth Music Theatre are holding their annual Christmas fundraiser. Nick Mason is a long-standing supporter of YMT, and he has donated a signed copy of the Pink Floyd studio album box set "Oh By The Way", to auction off via their website.

People are able to participate in the online auction until midday on December 23rd. More details of the charity, and how to bid, can be found at www.ymtuk.org/auction08. Not only is it a fantastic item but all money raised goes to a great cause. Good luck to all bidders...

Last year he donated a signed box set to YMT, which raised £500, and he also donated a tour of his classic car collection along with a signed book, which raised a further £450 for the charity.

Our friend Mark Blake's recently published book, "Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story Of Pink Floyd" (titled "Pigs Might Fly" in the UK) has been very well received by the Floyd community.

Drawing on his own interviews with all of the band members, plus almost a hundred new interviews with the group's friends, road crew, producers, designers, former housemates and university colleagues, the book is from our perspective, a superb, incredibly detailed, and essential look at the band's history. Our review, and ordering information, here.

Mark is giving away 15 signed copies of the US paperback edition, in a prize draw that you have over a month to participate in. Go to his website - www.markrblake.com - and sign-up to the free mailing list to enter. The draw will take place on February 1st 2009. Good luck!

Just published and in European stores now is the long-awaited paperback version of Marcus Hearn's "Pink Floyd - Rex Collections", a 160-page compilation of the best Pink Floyd pictures from the extensive archives of Rex Features, London's top picture library.

From the nervous young lads, resplendent in their Carnaby Street finery, through to the serious musicians crafting atmospheres and moods through extended improvisation, to the polished mega-shows of the late 1980s and early 1990s, each section is full of treats for the Floyd fan who enjoys the visual side of things. Read our full review of the book here.

The first, hardback edition was limited to 1000 copies, and these sold out very quickly. This paperback version will be very welcome for all those who have searched for a copy of the hardback to no avail... To order the book, saving up to 37% on the recommended selling price, visit: Amazon US/International, Canada, UK/Europe, France, or Germany. The US and Canadian market won't be getting the book until April 1st, 2009, but pre-orders are being taken now for this.