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Brighton Psychedelic Singer-Songwriter Astral Gray Releases Debut Album ‘The Past Is In The Way’

Brighton’s vibrant music scene welcomes another rising star as celestial prog-psych-rock singer-songwriter Astral Gray drops his highly anticipated debut album, ‘The Past Is In The Way’. Known for his distinctive blend of 70s-infused soundscapes, prog and psychedelic undertones, and introspective songwriting, Astral Gray has been captivating audiences across the city and beyond. With a repertoire […]

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A very happy birthday to Nick Mason!

All of us here at Brain Damage offer our very best wishes to Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, who celebrates the very special occasion of his 80th birthday today (January 27th). We all hope you are going to have a fantastic day, Nick! The cornerstone of the band, he had his first drum kit at the tender age of 13. A member of Pink Floyd since the earliest iterations, he is the only one to have appeared on every one of their albums. Thanks to his late father Bill, he has been a petrol head from a young boy, and cars have been – and remain – one of his major passions in life. His most recent book, Passion for Speed (http://www.brain-damage.co.uk/books/passion-for-speed-nick-mason-and-mark-hales-2.html), is worth checking out, as is the DVD of the same name (http://www.brain-damage.co.uk/dvds-and-videos/passion-for-speed-ferrari-enzo-dvd-nick-mason-and-mark-2.html) focusing on his Ferrari Enzo car (with Nick heavily involved). Of course, for those who haven’t read it, Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd (http://www.brain-damage.co.uk/books/inside-out-2011-edition-updated-paperback-nick-mason-2.html) is an absolutely essential read, and available in a variety of editions: hardback, paperback and an audiobook, which is read by Nick himself… Nick has contributed to a number of magazines on motoring issues over the years (including a fascinating monthly column in Octane Magazine), and also became president of the Guild of Motoring Writers. He is a trustee of the Beaulieu National Motor Museum, and a life member and Guardian of the BRDC (British Racing Drivers Club). He has been involved in motor racing since the early 1970s and has entered Le Mans five times. Musically, of course, the big news over the last few years was the launch of his new band, Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets. The four initial, small gigs in May 2018 held in London lead to a very successful and critically acclaimed European tour in September. This was followed, of course, in 2019 with dates in the US, Canada, and more dates in the UK and Europe. 2020 saw the release of the superb London Roundhouse concert film on audio and video formats, and was due to see the band play more shows. Sadly, the pandemic put the halt on any such plans for 2020 and 2021, but the band were back with a bang in 2022 and 2023! This year, Nick and the band will be back on tour, with six dates in Italy, and one in Germany, announced so far – click here to see all the 2024 gigs as it stands (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/nick-mason-s-sos-2024/index.php) – and we suspect there are plans for other shows too. Obviously, we’ll let you know as and when we get any further dates through. Many happy returns, Nick, and see you on the road!

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Happy Christmas; visit Nick Mason’s home, and Hipgnosis documentary now on Netflix!

Well, it’s that time of year when would like to take this opportunity to thank you all so much for your support and kindness – the site is done purely for you, and as the current version of the site alone approaches 100 million visitors (with the previous version of the site reaching an additional 21 million visitor), we look forward to continuing to bring you news and information from the Floydian world! Whatever your plans for Christmas, the Holidays, and the New Year we hope you have a peaceful, happy and healthy time, and here’s to 2024! Roger Waters has finished tour his striking This Is Not A Drill, for now at least, and as he mentioned at the Palladium in October, he has written his memoirs. Will we see those next year – and will he release any new material, a live recording from the TINAD tour, or even perform more shows? As we now know, Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets head out on the road again after such a superb 2022/2023 tour, with six dates just announced for July 2024, in Italy. Hopefully there will be some gigs elsewhere too! As for David Gilmour, there’s just been a number of pictures posted of him in a studio, which bodes well for the potential of something from him. And, as we know from previous years, there’s also often the odd surprise here and there as well, so who knows – it could be another busy year! Talking of Nick Mason – he is hosting another open weekend at his home in Corsham, Wiltshire, to raise vital funds for The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust and Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Being held on Saturday 8th June & Sunday 9th June, the day offers a fabulous day out for the whole family: gardens to meander through, Nick’s outstanding classic and super cars on show, farm animals to visit, live music (NOT Nick playing though!), children’s entertainment, face painting, a bouncy castle plus more, a fantastic array of stalls to browse and shop – such as plant stalls, clothing, homeware, local food and wine products, a selection of food stalls from BBQ to Smoked Salmon. Tea, coffee and cakes are available throughout the day. Dogs are allowed but must be kept on leads. Tickets for this can be bought through this link (https://events.liveit.io/the-wiltshire-bobby-van-trust/middlewick-house-open-garden-2024/), now. They tend to sell out so we urge you to buy them soon to avoid disappointment. For those near the Leicester area of England, the UK’s National Space Centre (which is located in the city) is hosting the fulldome planetarium show of The Dark Side Of The Moon, on January 20th, 2024. With full 360 degree visuals, and the latest audio remastering being used, it promises to be a great evening. Tickets for the two performances that evening (7pm and 8:30pm) can be bought through this direct link (https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/whats-on/pink-floyds-the-dark-side-of-the-moon-january-2024/) which also gives more information about the event, along with pictures of how it might look. Finally, there’s an item interest which should help you tick away the moments that make up what may otherwise be dull days over the holiday period! It does rely on you having access to Netflix though. The through this link (https://www.netflix.com/browse?jbv=81721595).

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New book: Phil Manzanera memoir (with PF/David Gilmour coverage) being published

The incredible musician, songwriter and record producer Phil Manzanera has now announced his memoir, Revolucion to Roxy. The book features over 100 black white, and colour, photographs looking at his times and adventures with not only Roxy Music but Pink Floyd and David Gilmour, Heroes del Silencio, and much more. There’s apparently a lot to interest Floyd fans in the book, with a chapter devoted to ‘The Gilmour Years’. Manzanera met Gilmour when Phil was still at Dulwich College. Phil’s brother Eugen was at Cambridge University and met David at gigs. Much later, Manzanera co-produced Gilmour’s 2006 album On an Island, and played in Gilmour’s band for tours in Europe and North America. Manzanera also co-wrote One Slip from 1987’s A Momentary Lapse Of Reason, played on the Rattle That Lock album, and helped bring together the pieces of music which eventually became Pink Floyd’s final album, The Endless River, which he was also co-producer for. Phil: “I’ve written this memoir for my English and Colombian family, dear friends and music fans, who have followed my musical twists and turns for over half a century. We all have different memories of the same events, and these stories are my stories. It’s a memoir that spans my 50’s childhood in Cuba, Hawaii and Venezuela, when everything seemed in the brightest technicolor, to grey but very cool ’60’s London and the start of a music career that continues to enrich my life, some 50 years later. Roxy Music is an important part of the story and I will be forever thankful to the doors it opened for me to a global world of music and musical collaborations. But I hope you’ll find my family history every bit as fascinating as my music adventures, I’m proud to be related to a Colombian pirate, a spy and and an Italian opera musician.” The book is available in a variety of editions; there’s a signed special limited edition book in a clamshell case with a 10 track CD including five unreleased tracks, a Bug Eyes sleep mask, and a Gibson Guitars Firebird V11 guitar badge. This can be ordered from AwayWithMedia.com (https://www.awaywithmedia.com/buy-books/phil-manzanera) for delivery in January 2024. Alternatively, you can buy a more standard hardback, paperback, or Amazon Kindle eBook, through the following links – these are all published in March. All purchases made at Amazon after using one of our links make a small but vital contribution toward the site running costs, at no extra cost to yourself, and we really appreciate it! This is because we participate in the Amazon Affiliate program. PHIL MANZANERA MEMOIR – HARDBACK: Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1783242817/braindamage-20) Amazon UK (https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1783242817/braindamage-21) Canada (http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/1783242817/braindamageon-20) Germany (http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/1783242817/braindamage0f-21) France (http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/1783242817/braindamageon-21) Italy (http://www.amazon.it/gp/product/1783242817/bradamonl-21) Spain (http://www.amazon.es/gp/product/1783242817/braidama01-21) PHIL MANZANERA MEMOIR – PAPERBACK: Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1783242728/braindamage-20) Amazon UK (https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1783242728/braindamage-21) Canada (http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/1783242728/braindamageon-20) Germany (http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/1783242728/braindamage0f-21) France (http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/1783242728/braindamageon-21) Italy (http://www.amazon.it/gp/product/1783242728/bradamonl-21) Spain (http://www.amazon.es/gp/product/1783242728/braidama01-21) PHIL MANZANERA MEMOIR – KINDLE eBOOK: Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0CKGL3L1R/braindamage-20) Amazon UK (https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0CKGL3L1R/braindamage-21) Canada (http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0CKGL3L1R/braindamageon-20) Germany (http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0CKGL3L1R/braindamage0f-21) France (http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0CKGL3L1R/braindamageon-21) Italy (http://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B0CKGL3L1R/bradamonl-21) Spain (http://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B0CKGL3L1R/braidama01-21)

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Pink Floyd collectors shows off poster collection

Pink Floyd book author and friend of Brain Damage, Ian Priston, recently visited an Italian collector (one of the “Lunatics”, a group of collectors in that country) to check out his extensive collection of rare Pink Floyd posters. Danilo Steffanina was happy to share his passion in conserving these items, and so let’s start the weekend in a slightly different way to normal, and have a wander through his collection via Ian’s video and discussion of the artwork which drew people to Pink Floyd gigs:

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New issue of Prog magazine features Pink Floyd’s TDSOTM

new issue (issue 142) of the UK’s Prog Magazine (https://www.magazinesdirect.com/az-single-issues/47052423/prog-magazine-single-issue.thtml). 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. As you all know, Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this year. Following the album’s release the band performed two shows at London’s Earls Court venue, catapulting themselves into a world of huge arena shows and conceptual albums that would become their trademark. But at the same time it would also prove to be the start of the band’s undoing. By the time they performed The Wall in 1980 at the very same venue, the writing was, well… The new issue of Prog explores how “Dark Side changed Pink Floyd forever. Ten years after its release the band were in turmoil…” Elsewhere in the magazine, John Lees talks about the making of Barclay James Harvest’s classic Once Again album while Soft Machine bring everyone up to speed with their brand new album Other Doors, as do prog Eurovision stars Voyager, while Enslaved’s Ivar Bjørnson tells the magazine about his journey from extreme metal to prog, Nordic folk and beyond. Plus Arjen Lucassen, The Fierce And The Dead, Mystery, Ring Van Möbius, Godsticks, Fate’s Warning’s Ray Alder, I Am The Manic Whale and Avenged Sevenfold bring us up to speed about their new albums and they review live gigs from Peter Gabriel, Porcupine Tree, Roger Waters, Muse and more… Prog 142 also comes with four Pink Floyd postcards and there’s a great 23-track Spirit Of Unicorn Records sampler featuring music from Keith Emerson, Greg Lake, John Wetton, DBA, Focus and loads more. If your local store doesn’t stock this magazine, you can get a copy, shipped anywhere in the world, through this direct link (https://www.magazinesdirect.com/az-single-issues/47052423/prog-magazine-single-issue.thtml). Make sure you pick the correct issue!

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Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd film premieres

Last night, a packed Everyman Kings Cross cinema in London witnessed the first screening of Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd. An event mainly for family, friends and those involved with the film in some way, the guest list stretched so far that they had to devote both auditoriums to the screening! It felt like a bit of a “who’s who” of Syd’s world were there to witness an absolutely superb documentary about the life of Barrett, from his very early days through to the genesis of Pink Floyd, his solo career after, and then on to a quiet life in Cambridge back as Roger, with the Syd persona left behind in London. A straw poll after showed that the film gave an excellent insight into Barrett, his life and career, for those who were novices AND those who had followed Barrett’s life for many years. There was some incredible footage, and photographs, which had never been shown before, ranging from early Floyd gigs to pictures of Barrett at Abbey Road Studios during the recording of the Wish You Were Here album. The film is at turns funny, touching, revelatory, absorbing and also there’s sections which are sad. At times, there’s opportunities to dispel certain myths about the man, and to give more background to Barrett the man. It’s a film that has been in the works for many years, with Storm Thorgerson working alongside Roddy Bogawa on it in his final few years, and it does seem to form a tribute to Thorgerson as well, with his presence felt through the film, not least from pithy off-screen comments. Typical Storm! The film will be screened at Everyman Cinemas in the UK from May 15th, with the US Canada getting their opportunity from June. SydBarrettFilm.com (https://www.SydBarrettFilm.com) is the place to check out for the latest information on the film, its screenings, and hopefully a later home release either on streaming or physical media. It really is a film that deserves your efforts in getting to a participating screen. The intro by Bogawa that took place in the bar before the film, was filmed by Marcelo Paulo de Souza for our friends at Pink Floyd Collectors and here it is – it gives a flavour of the breadth of previously unseen material in the film, and some background to the making of it.

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Jeff Beck passes away; David Gilmour posts tribute

Very sad news broke last night – the acclaimed, legendary guitarist Jeff Beck died at the age of 78. His family posted the following on his Twitter page: “On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s passing. After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday. His family ask for privacy while they process this tremendous loss.” David Gilmour posted the following on his and Pink Floyd’s socials: “I am devastated to hear the news of the death of my friend and hero Jeff Beck, whose music has thrilled and inspired me and countless others for so many years. Polly‘s and my thoughts go out to his lovely wife Sandra. He will be forever in our hearts.” Jeff’s career started when he left Wimbledon Art College to join Screaming Lord Sutch and the Tridents, subsequently joining the Yardbirds in 1965 when Eric Clapton left. A couple of years later he formed his own Jeff Beck Group (with Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood in the band). In later years, he concentrated on his successful solo career. The quality and style of his guitar playing led to many guest appearances. His work on Roger Waters’ 1992 album Amused To Death was a musical highlight of that work, and during Jeff’s gigs at the Royal Festival Hall in London, September 2002, he was joined onstage by Roger for them to play What God Wants parts 1 and 3. Two years later, Jeff shared the bill with David Gilmour for the 2004 Teenage Cancer Trust concert at the Royal Albert Hall, and in July 2009, again at the Royal Albert Hall, David and Jeff performed an extended version of Jerusalem, William Blake’s poem that became a hymn (seen to the left), followed by Hi Ho Silver Lining (one of Jeff’s biggest hits) with David on vocals and lead guitar. In May 2018, Still On The Run: The Jeff Beck Story (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/archive/jeff-beck-documentary-including-david-gilmour-contribution-dvd-blu-ray-c.html) was released on DVD and Blu-ray, which includes contributions from David Gilmour as well as Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart and many more.