In these times when many of us are stuck at home, either due to lockdown, or self-isolating, we were delighted when Mark Naisbitt, a BD regular, got in touch with an article he'd written about the link between Pink Floyd, and Douglas Adams – specifically his Hitchhiker's Guide project which spanned book, radio, TV, film and commemorative towels (amongst other things). If anyone else out there fancies adding their thoughts about, well, anything Floyd related really, do please get in touch. We'd love to include your contributions to the site!To celebrate the 42nd anniversary of Douglas Adams epic Sci-fi comedy a rare, specially reworked version returns to vinyl which may be of interest to Pink Floyd fans. Author Douglas Adams and the band have a long time association. The original BBC radio series made its debut in 1978 and quickly became a cult hit evolving into books, TV and a couple of vinyl albums which Floyd fans would appreciate. Adams re-wrote the script for the first six episodes and they were recorded for the two albums, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (part one) by Original Records in 1979 and part two, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, following in 1980.So what's of interest to Floyd fans?Well, the original radio show ended with our heroes stealing a spaceship belonging to the admiral of a battle fleet. Adams, friends with Floyd at the time, altered the ending so that they steal a black, completely frictionless ship intended to crash through a star as part of the exotic light-show by the intergalactic rock band Disaster Area who are really Adams referencing Floyd going through the Wall-era protracted bust up at the time. Floyd, of course, previously released Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun, which doubtless gave Adams the idea. The album version was the basis for the subsequent BBC TV series in 1981.The album features the famous cover, 'Don't Panic' ,in large friendly letters, by Hipgnosis, who worked on covers for Floyd ELO among many others. It also contains a line not in the radio version. Upon landing on the barren planet Magrathea, Arthur Dent mentions to Ford Prefect, Ford, do you realise that robot can hum like Pink Floyd? Douglas Adams maintained his association with Floyd and suggested the title The Division Bell to them. He also played guitar with the band on stage during one of the Earls Court Pulse gigs in 1994. It was on his 42nd birthday, a number of significance to Hitchhiker fans! This is documented in Nick Mason's book Inside Out and videos are around on YouTube.Sadly, Adams died suddenly of heart failure in 2001 aged only 49. David Gilmour played at his memorial service in 2001, and also at what would have been Adams's 60th birthday party in 2012. Adams official biography is called Wish You Were Here.As part of this year's Record Store Day (now delayed to June, subject to change depending on how the current situation develops) the original radio series are being re-released on vinyl by the Demon Music Group. Hitchhiker's Guide (the first book) is being coupled with the second book's series, The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe, on three 180g coloured vinyl LPs. After years of being expensive second-hand rarities, Floyd fans who enjoy the Guide can now get their hands on a copy. However, they're being limited to 750 copies…Oh well, grab one while you can! For this ageing Hitchhiker, it's almost worth getting a new vinyl deck to time-travel back to '78 with Arthur, Ford Zaphod for some fun, adventure and pretty wild things for less than 30 Altairian dollars a day…
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Nick Mason featured in German Drums & Percussion Magazine
Our friend Michael Nickel has been in touch with some information about a newly published issue of a German language magazine, which should be of interest to visitors to Brain Damage. The July/August 2023 issue of Drums & Percussion (What Moves Drummers) Magazine (issue 4 of 2023) (https://www.sticks.de/heftinhalt-artikeldetail?tx_news_pi1%5BactbackPid%5D=343&tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=13517&cHash=e12a9539a6bedafa8a852ee1c39116e9) has an eye catching cover featuring a very happy looking Nick Mason, in the midst of one of his Saucerful Of Secrets concerts. The cover story – “Time travel to the beginnings of Pink Floyd” – with Nick interviewed, is accompanied by a potted history of the band. On their website, they give an extract from the magazine feature: “With his new band Saucerful Of Secrets, the drummer who made music history with Pink Floyd is going way back in time. Here, Nick Mason tells us how this special time travel feels. However, the new band is not the only thing on the mind of the now 79-year-old… “This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the über-album The Dark Side of the Moon, and then there’s also a traveling exhibition about Pink Floyd called Their Mortal Remains – not to mention that Pink Floyd, by the way, has even released a new song after decades of abstinence in protest against the war in Ukraine. More than one topic for a conversation with a legend of our guild. “Nick, at the Roundhouse in London you played in 1966 and 2019 with at least partly the same songs. Where were the similarities and differences between then and now? Nick: “That was quite interesting. Of course there were similarities, but also differences: The main ones were on the technical side, because in 1966, for example, there was no stage, but an old trailer and a very small PA or very little electronics. So the whole thing was pretty quiet [laughs]. I mean, at the end of the evening the PA would have been completely destroyed. But musically it was pretty similar in parts, which I found very pleasant.” Our thanks to Michael for the information. The magazine can be purchased online through Sticks.de (https://www.sticks.de/heftinhalt-artikeldetail?tx_news_pi1%5BactbackPid%5D=343&tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=13517&cHash=e12a9539a6bedafa8a852ee1c39116e9).
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Limited edition DSOTM replica tape box print from Abbey Road Studios
Just announced, and available to order immediately (with a release date of Friday, March 5th), is Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon EMI Tape Box Folio â Side One (https://shop.abbeyroad.com/*/*/Pink-Floyd-i-The-Dark-Side-of-the-Moon-i-EMI-Tape-Box-Folio-Side-One/6VJM0000000), a limited edition of 250 replica prints that reveals the rarely seen The Dark Side of the Moon Quadrophonic discrete master â Side One EMI tape box, held deep within the EMI archive. Recording of the album began in May 1972 in Studio Two at EMI Studios (as Abbey Road was known), using the iconic EMI TG12345 MK IV console. Abbey Road was to become Pink Floyd’s home for 38 days over a seven-month period, as they embarked on the creation of what, for many, would be their defining work. The print shows Side One of the album, which was recorded in Studios Two and Three at Abbey Road, with Alan Parsons and Peter James noted as the project’s engineers. The Dark Side of the Moon was released in the US on March 1st, 1973, and the UK on March 16th, and whilst it never received a UK number 1 position, it went on to break various records and become an iconic release, known the world over. The tape contained within this box was exclusively manufactured by EMI. The boxes at the time the album was recorded were aqua blue with an ‘atomic’ image made up of three superimposed images of tape reels, which is the cover you see in this folio. Many of these tape boxes, including The Dark Side of the Moon, are now stored at the EMI Archives, in Hayes, London. This is an exclusive collaboration between Pink Floyd and Abbey Road Studios. Each handmade folio is numbered and includes a 500gsm box card black folder (37cm x 37cm with a 5cm lip) which encases the two replica litho prints (30cm x 30cm), recreated in exact life size dimensions and cradled with transparent corner holders. Alongside this, it includes a leaflet looking back at the recording of The Dark Side of the Moon and a certificate of authenticity. Here’s a video looking at the folio, which can be ordered now while stocks last at shop.AbbeyRoad.com (https://shop.abbeyroad.com/*/*/Pink-Floyd-i-The-Dark-Side-of-the-Moon-i-EMI-Tape-Box-Folio-Side-One/6VJM0000000).
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The Dark Side Of The Moon – Official 50th Anniversary Book
Back in October, we told you about the official hardback book that was published on March 24th 2023 as part of the 50th anniversary of the release of The Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd. With the Floydian bookshelves now beginning to groan with the number of books easily into triple figures – and that’s not including lyric or musical tablature publications – a lot of familiar ground has been covered in a number of them. It therefore takes something different, something new, for books to stand out in a crowded field. So, we come to the Official 50th Anniversary Book, which is quite rightly already proving extremely popular amongst Pink Floyd fans who have been fortunate enough to already see it. The book is being sold separately as well as being included in the 50th anniversary The Dark Side Of The Moon Deluxe Box Set (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/pink-floyds-the-dark-side-of-the-moon-50th-anniversary-box-set-anno.html). There is no difference between the box set and separate edition, other than the latter includes a dust jacket which features the iconic prism as per the record cover. With the box set carefully holding the book inside, a dust cover is not needed. There is a third option if you are interested – the Brain Damage exclusive signed book and print offer through RockArchive (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/exclusive-pink-floyds-the-dark-side-of-the-moon-official-book-and-signed-print.html) which is limited to just 100 copies and selling well. The book and print are signed by photographer Jill Furmanovsky. Curated by Furmanovsky, with art direction by Aubrey ‘Po’ Powell, this LP-sized, 160-page book – with 143 illustrations – showcases some incredible, rare and previously unseen photographs, and was created with the involvement of the band members. In case you need reminding, or haven’t already seen the contents, the book includes:
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