Many of you will have read the reports and seen the pictures sent in from Nick Mason's recent official launch of his Relics print at Birmingham's St Pauls Gallery. Thanks to our friends at the gallery, we have some additional information on Nick's startled reaction to the mayor, along with some exclusive, official pictures from the event!

[Story updated] Phil Taylor's wonderful book, "The Black Strat: A History Of David Gilmour's Black Fender Stratocaster" (reviewed here), will hopefully be published by the Hal Leonard Corporation as a hard-backed book on September 15th, assuming all goes to plan.

Taylor, David Gilmour's long-term guitar technician, studio manager, production director and much more, takes a careful and detailed look at one of rock's most iconic instruments. Rather than a dry, technical manual, suited only to those who already know guitars inside and out, it is a rewarding and accessible book that Pink Floyd fans the world over will thoroughly enjoy.

Perhaps the last interview with the late Norman "Hurricane" Smith, legendary musician and producer for the Beatles and Pink Floyd (from the early singles, right through to Atom Heart Mother), is now available to read online. Visit MWE3.com/20th Century Guitar mag online to read Robert Silverstein's chat with Norman, who sadly passed away on March 5th, 2008.

Norman's biography, "John Lennon Called Me Normal", was ready for publication prior to his passing, and we sincerely hope that his memoirs are published soon as a fitting reminder of what a key person he was for many top groups in the 1960s and 70s.

Good news for our Russian readers: Roger Waters is confirmed by his management as playing The Palace Square, in St Petersburg, Russia on June 6th 2008.

Palace Square, in front of The Hermitage and Winter Palace, was the site of the "Bloody Sunday" massacre in January 1905, and promises to be a very special venue for Roger's music. Information on ticketing should be with us very shortly, and as ever, a dedicated page for this concert will be set up to provide all you need to know both before, and after, the concert.