During next week's NAMM Believe in Music Week, guitar manufacturers C F Martin & Co are introducing a brace of David Gilmour Custom Signature Edition D-35 guitars. Following the 2019 Christie's Auction, Martin's partners at Westside Distribution in the UK approached Gilmour, who agreed to collaborate with Martin on a six string and a twelve string D-35.

"I was so excited when Westside contacted us about the opportunity to build a signature model for David," said Fred Greene, Vice President of Product Development at Martin Guitar. "He is one of my all-time favorite guitar players, and having the chance to collaborate with him on an instrument was truly a bucket list moment for me. The collaboration is also a perfect fit for Martin Guitar, a company that shares David's hope for a more sustainable world that we can leave in good conscience for generations to come."

"Looking back on the design process," Greene said, "My first thought was that David might want a replica of his 1969 D-35, and, while that would be cool, it would not leave a lot of room for creativity. I was so excited to hear that he was more interested in creating something unique and special to this moment in time. I knew we could provide him with options and features that would allow this new instrument to exist on its own merits, while still drawing upon his original D-35 for inspiration. Much like David's music, this guitar is a unique and inspirational piece of art that hopefully will inspire others to create their own art."

The Martin Custom Shop created three prototypes that would later be presented to David for feedback. Typically made with rosewood, this is the first time Martin built a three-piece back "35" with sinker mahogany. The 6- and 12-string models are both finished in vintage gloss, a historic process normally available only on the Martin Authentic Series models. Both models have head stamps, as found on early Martin guitars, however, this is the first time in its history that Martin has created special head stamps for an artist signature edition.

Both guitars come in a slate blue case, a nod back to the blue case that David's original D-35 would have left the factory in all those years ago. Finally, and as if all this isn’t already special enough, every guitar bears a custom internal paper label, each one individually signed by David himself.

Martin will produce a total of 250 guitars, split between the 6-string and 12-string models. They will be available for purchase at select Martin retailers, with the partnership supporting the David Gilmour Charitable Foundation. For more information, visit www.martinguitar.com/gilmour.

Photo by Polly Samson

Back on September 7th, 2020, we told you about the upcoming book, The Lyrics of Syd Barrett. As a reminder, this is due for publication by Omnibus in Europe on February 18th (just over a month away) and in North America, on May 6th.

Featuring 52 songs and a foreword by Pink Floyd's first manager, Peter Jenner, and an introduction by Rob Chapman (author of Syd Barrett: A Very Irregular Head), this beautifully illustrated and official 96-page book compiles Syd's extraordinary lyrics together for the very first time. David Gilmour has been a key person behind this book, working his way through Syd lyrics checking them for accuracy before the book went to the printers.

As the publisher's rightly note, "legendary Pink Floyd founding member Syd Barrett's songwriting was unique, memorable and utterly brilliant." This book is sure to be a popular choice for many; Syd's lyrics were captivating, sometimes playful, sometimes dark and painful, but always unforgettable. Alongside the lyrics are rare photos and artwork.

London based The Flood Gallery are offering the book in an exclusive bundle, coupling it with their numbered and artist signed Cream-Main Edition Syd Barrett poster - a limited edition of 85 - or only £10 extra. You can place your orders at TheFloodGallery.com.

Other than The Flood Gallery, you can also order the book itself (the print is exclusive to the gallery) through the following links, which in the post-Brexit world might be preferable for some outside the UK. Ordering through our links also helps with BD's ongoing running costs, and we really appreciate it: Amazon UK, Amazon.com, Amazon Canada, Amazon France, Amazon Germany, Amazon Spain and Amazon Italy.

Last weekend, the BBC's long running and much loved Antiques Roadshow had a segment of interest. The show features normal members of the public going along to a "roadshow" that the BBC puts on in various places (stately homes, for example) with family heirlooms, items they've collected, and such like. The resident experts then talk about the items (often explaining detail about objects that the owner previously was unaware of) and give a valuation.

Occasionally, there are music-related items and as you'll see from the clip here, a March 1967 Pink Floyd poster, for their appearance at Enfield College of Technology, was included, alongside a promotional brochure about the band, and an early single.

The clip is hosted by the BBC and hopefully you'll all be able to view it - apologies if they aren't allowing it to be seen in your region.

Arriving in UK stores tomorrow (December 31st), and available worldwide online is the new issue (issue 116) of the UK's Prog Magazine. Always a great read, this month's issue - as made clear from the striking cover - has a major feature of particular interest to Pink Floyd fans.

Inside the magazine is a fascinating ten-page analysis of the Floyd's 1977 album, Animals. Coming after The Dark Side Of The Moon's narrative flow, and Wish You Were Here's evocative sound, Animals arrived at the height of the punk explosion in the UK, and tapped into the feelings of anger and injustice, with a sound and feeling at odds to WYWH, but in line with music emerging at the time. As Prog puts it, the album "captured the moment when Pink Floyd made the giant leap from lush to harsh, from a pillow of winds to cold shafts of broken glass".

The article pulls into sharp relief the background and inspiration for the album, and via some interesting insights from engineer Brian Humphries, much detail on the recording of the album and the then new Britannia Row Studios used for the album. There's also a look at the reaction to the album, and the thoughts of the band members retrospectively on the project.

Alongside the article, there's a look at the background to the rare, sought after (and fun) French record store bins made out of plastic for the release, shaped like the album's cover star; there's an illuminating chat with Howard Bartrop, one of the photographers for the cover; and there's a piece from Steven Wilson with his (very positive) views on Animals.

Finally, there's a look at the supposed Animals box set release, which from what Roger Waters noted, was to include a 5.1 surround mix of the album. Things have all gone quiet on that front, and they ponder on this, wondering if it is still to come in future.

Elsewhere in the magazine are the normal range of features on other artists, the latest news, reviews and more. There's also the results of the 2020 Readers' Poll, and a cover-mounted, 11-track CD of new prog music.

If your local store doesn't stock this magazine, you can get a copy, shipped anywhere in the world, through this direct link.