The BBC documentary, "EMI... And Me" (see the news item from last month for more details) featured a short Pink Floyd segment. Following a passage talking about the Beatles "Sgt Pepper" album, the show then entered its "Hippie Hippie Shake" segment.

Starting with a bit of footage of a '67 outdoor "happening", with a youth looking remarkably like Roger relaxing with a young lady (see picture, left), and a voiceover commenting that the rise of psychedelia had meant "EMI [were] frightened of being left behind", the sounds and visions of the Look Of The Week Astronomy Domine performance appeared. Three people were then interviewed:

Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters will be featured on a new song recorded by Ringo Starr. The song, which is still without a title, is a tribute to the late Beatle George Harrison. The new number was co-written by Eric Clapton, and will appear on Starr's next album, set for a March 2003 release on KOCH Records.

There was also a strong rumour that Roger would be appearing at last night's George Harrison tribute concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. Prior to the show, Mark Fenwick, Roger's manager, confirmed that Roger was NOT appearing...

The Secret Policeman's Ball gets a release on DVD finally. The legendary charity event is released as a 4 DVD box set (The Complete Edition), featuring over ten hours of classic footage spanning three decades of alternative comedy and music from seven Amnesty International shows. There is also a separate music only disc. Both editions feature Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush with David Gilmour.

Yesterday lunchtime saw the conclusion of an auction run on behalf of Tommy's, a UK charity which looks into the causes of cot deaths and premature birth. The auction involved a large number of stars of sport, music, the arts, and fashion, being given a plain child's building block and being given free reign to design it however they wanted. The auction was run on eBay.

Nick Mason was one of the musicians who was invited to design a block. The description of the block was as follows:

A hand sanded tulipwood block, decorated with the legendary Dark Side of the Moon prism. The top part of the block has a recess cut into it and a small clear plastic prism has been placed inside. Inside this a red LED flashes continuously. The block is signed by Nick Mason, drummer for Pink Floyd. (NB) the LED will work for some time but after several weeks may need fresh batteries, which can be easily fitted. Size: 9.7cm.

When the auction finished, the final selling price was a princely GBP490 - which was an excellent amount raised for a very worthwhile charity.