Tag Archive for "syd" tag

Sticking with the Sixties and in honour of Are You Experienced?, the debut album by Jimi Hendrix, which was released in the UK on this day in 1967, let’s allow our wandering minds to go wafting back to the Summer of Love, of ‘Strange Days’ and ‘Nights in White Satin’.

Genesis and Jethro Tull formed. Pink Floyd’s debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, was released, as were the hit singles ‘Arnold Layne’ and ‘See Emily Play’, where Syd’s star shone most brightly. David Bowie put out a first album, as did The Doors, Traffic, Velvet Underground and Leonard Cohen (just about).

It had everything we’ve come to expect from a prominent year in music: a celebrated festival (Monterey), something nauseating hogging the charts for several months (The Sound of Music), lots of bands with ridiculous names, and more rock and pop variants than you could wave a white bicycle at. Yes, a lot of it sounds unforgivably fey now, but what a tremendous time to love music, to follow its progress through the charts and to catch it live and on air.

I have to pick ten songs. Anything less than ten would be silly.

- The Box Tops, ‘The Letter’
- Dave Davies, ‘Death of a Clown’
- Donovan, ‘Wear Your Love Like Heaven’
- Joni Mitchell, ‘Both Sides Now’
- The Move, ‘Flowers in the Rain’
- The Rolling Stones, ‘She’s a Rainbow’
- Small Faces, ‘Itchycoo Park’
- The Tremeloes, ‘Even the Bad Times are Good’
- Van Morrison, ‘ Brown-Eyed Girl’
- Jackie Wilson, ‘Higher and Higher’

Albums, also. How could you pick out a key song from, say, Sgt Pepper’s? (Oh, alright; of course it would be ‘A Day in the Life’ every time.)

Leaving out the most obvious and those already mentioned here, as well as Cream’s Disraeli Gears, Jefferson Airplane’s Surrealistic Pillow and A Hard Road by John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, because I’ve lavished praise on them in previous posts and it would be nice to pick out something less predictable, here are a few more from 1967 which I’m fond of:

- The Hobbits, Down to Middle Earth
- The Kinks, Something Else by…
- Magic Sam Blues Band, West Side Soul
- Moby Grape, Moby Grape
- Skip Bifferty, Skip Bifferty

Looking forward to seeing what you’ve chosen.

When you’re done, if you still can’t get enough of 1967, here’s a nice little quiz.

According to Friday’s Times, as part of an attempt to cut costs, the BBC plans to shut down two of its radio stations by the end of 2011. One of these is BBC Radio 6, better known as 6 Music.

Naturally, online campaigns protesting against the proposals have sprung up, and one name that has been mentioned repeatedly is that of much-loved and greatly-missed DJ, John Peel, who died suddenly following a heart attack in 2004.

As Phill Jupitus so simply yet perfectly put it, killing off 6 Music would be “an affront to the memory of John Peel.” David Bowie added that “6 Music keeps the spirit of broadcasters like John Peel alive, and for new artists to lose this station would be a great shame.”

Best known for his legendary Peel Sessions, which began in September 1967 and ran for 37 years, John Peel undoubtedly helped launch many a career, often by championing music that others would not play. In a 2002 BBC poll to discover the 100 Greatest Britons, he was even voted 43rd, some recognition for his services at BBC Radio 1 and with pirate radio station, Radio London, before that.

For anyone passionate about music, his Top Gear show on Radio 1 every Tuesday and Thursday night made for essential listening. Due to Musicians’ Union rules, he had to include a sizeable portion of non-recorded music in each programme, and, mercifully, live recordings were preferred to the usual chatter.

There exists a vast archive of Peel Sessions, containing 4,000 in all by more than 2,000 artists; including six by Pink Floyd and many from associated acts such as Roxy Music, Roy Harper and Robert Wyatt. Browse by artist or by year.

And so we return to 6 Music…

If you’d like to hear any Peel Session again, Marc Riley invites listeners to share which session they’d most like him to play – and why.

Everyone can listen to 6 Music online, so what better way to help a station in distress?

If you could, I’d like lots of Peel appreciation, as well as Sessions, today.

My favourite has to be Syd Barrett’s. Accompanied by David with Jerry Shirley on drums, recorded in February 1970 and aired the following month, this was later released on Peel’s Strange Fruit label and is an absolute must for any Syd fan.

Thoughts on 6 Music and the BBC in general are also quite welcome; I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking up other imaginative ways in which the corporation could cut back, rather than by scrapping their only radio station with a genuinely ‘alternative’ playlist and where, in true Peel tradition, new acts can be heard on a daily basis.

By the way, if you missed the John Peel tribute single – a version of the Buzzcocks number, ‘Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t've)?’, featuring David on rhythm guitar and benefiting Amnesty International – do look/listen out for it.

If you could only pick one right now...

Astronomy Domine Lucifer Sam Matilda Mother Flaming Pow R. Toc. H. Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk Interstellar Overdrive The Gnome Chapter 24 The Scarecrow Bike

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Although released in the first week of August, Pink Floyd’s debut album, ‘The Piper at the Gates of Dawn’, entered the UK album charts in this week of 1967. It would spend seven just outside the Top Five.

So, why not turn off whatever you’re listening to and give it a spin? Take some time to remember with a smile the beautiful talents of the late Syd Barrett and Richard Wright (as well as producer Norman ‘Hurricane’ Smith, who passed away last year) and share whatever you feel like sharing about this fine piece of work; be it your favourite track, most whimsical lyric, memories of acquiring the original LP, or thoughts on the 30th and 40th anniversary CDs (both of which were re-mastered by James Guthrie, the latter includes two rare takes of ‘Interstellar Overdrive’, rescued from EMI’s archives, plus a previously unavailable version of ‘Matilda Mother’ – click here if you need to learn more).

I’d also care to know how you like the first three Pink Floyd singles, all released in 1967 (‘Arnold Layne’, ‘See Emily Play’, ‘Apples and Oranges’) and their respective B-sides (‘Candy and a Currant Bun’, ‘The Scarecrow’, ‘Paintbox’).

Add to that a fourth single, 1968′s ‘It Would Be So Nice’, only officially available as part of the 1992 ‘Shine On’ box set and the less well-known budget releases, put out in selected parts of the world in 1970 and 1974 to capitalise on the band’s growing popularity, entitled ‘The Best of The Pink Floyd’ and ‘Masters of Rock’.

The B-side to ‘It Would Be So Nice’ was ‘Julia Dream’, David’s first recorded Pink Floyd vocal.

Interestingly, if not somewhat worryingly, the UK’s most popular albums of 1967 were (in order of sales, no surprise about the biggest-seller):

- The Beatles, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
- ‘Sound of Music’ soundtrack
- ‘The Best of The Beach Boys’
- ‘The Monkees’
- ‘Doctor Zhivago’ soundtrack
- ‘More of The Monkees’
- ‘Fiddler On the Roof’ (Original London Cast)
- Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, ‘Going Places’
- Seekers, ‘Come the Day’
- Tom Jones, ‘Green, Green Grass of Home’

How many of those will you still admit to having in your collection, then?

Are you a fan of the Beatles?

Yes No

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On this day in 1964, The Beatles made their American television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. More than 70 million viewers tuned in for what was the first of three legendary appearances throughout February.

Unless you’ve got a very good reason not to, perhaps you’d care to take ten minutes out of your day to enjoy this classic footage. It is, undeniably, an important piece of both music, and TV, history.

So, as well as your feelings towards those four lovable mop-tops, it’s Beatles songs that David could cover today, please.

You probably know that David and Syd spent some time busking together in 1965, performing songs from ‘Help!’, in France. You ought to know that David performed with Paul McCartney at Liverpool’s famed Cavern Club in 1999. That’s been captured for posterity on DVD, as has another gig, in aid of PETA, billed ‘The PETA Concert for Party Animals’. I’d like to know what you thought of those two.

Any other Beatles connections, do send them in. There are many.

Finally, following on from our Rock and Roll ruminations last week, how about The Beatles’ ‘Live at the BBC’ for some great classic covers? I’m thinking specifically of the raw vocals of Paul and John respectively on Little Richard’s ‘Lucille’ and Chuck Berry’s ‘Rock and Roll Music’, classic Ringo on the Carl Perkins number, ‘Matchbox’, and George’s fine guitar-playing on the unmistakeable ‘Johnny B. Goode’.

This is an early reminder to find time this week to listen to Radcliffe & Maconie.

Their show is on BBC Radio 2 tomorrow night (Tuesday 9 December), 20:00-22:00 (UK).

Re-scheduled from September, it includes ‘Echoes’ live from GdaÅ„sk in its glorious entirety.

I’m sure you’ve heard it a few times already, but it’s always good to hear David on the radio, isn’t it?

And – breaking news – it’s just been revealed that David will also perform Syd Barrett’s ‘Here I Go’ for the very first time.

You can listen to the show online no matter where you are, live or on demand (listen live, just in case).

If you’re in the UK, tune in to 88-91 FM on the night. Alternatively, listen through either your DAB digital radio or television set: channel 0102 on Sky, 902 on Virgin and 702 on Freeview.

You want the second hour.

If you want the chatroom, it’s now open – and will be until 15:00 (UK).

Here’s November’s. (Yes, just 29 days until Christmas, folks…)

It’s the very well-read Pawel, with his signed copy of ‘On an Island’.

Thanks for sending it in, Pawel.

If you haven’t seen it yet, do have a look at the new GdaÅ„sk microsite. Comments welcome.

Also, if you’re in the States, you can catch ‘Live in GdaÅ„sk’ – and lots more – as part of VH1′s all-day Pink Floyd Thanksgiving fest. That’s from 11:00 (EST).

Other programmes include the ‘Which One’s Pink?’ documentary, The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story, a Classic Albums special on the making of ‘Dark Side of the Moon’, footage from the ‘P.U.L.S.E’ DVD and ‘The Wall’ film. Nothing that you haven’t seen before, I expect, but still.

There are also plenty of the usual repeats coming up. Please see the calendar for those.

…du Rock’.

Better known as ‘The Seven Ages of Rock’, the second programme in this BBC series is about to be broadcast once more in Belgium and Switzerland – and wherever else channels TSR2 and La Une can be received by cable or satellite.

The programme – entitled ‘White Light, White Heat: Art Rock, 1966-1980′ – includes a considerable portion reserved for discussion of, and footage from, Pink Floyd. David was interviewed for the programme, so that might be ‘new’ footage for you, as well as snippets of one or two early rarities. Click here for more on that.

That’s tonight, Sunday 13 July – on TSR2 – at 21:25 (CET), then Monday 14 July – on La Une – at 22:00 (CET).

As we’ve been talking about Syd all week, I’d be interested to hear how well you felt the programme explained his gradual retirement from the music industry and, indeed, the public eye. As one viewer noted on the BBC site: “Awful overview of the Syd Barrett story. Subjective twaddle, giving people the hyped-up myth they want to hear.”

Do you agree with this statement?

Thank you all for the lovely comments about Syd.

And thank you, Ikkar, for sharing your artwork with us.

Which of Syd’s songs can you imagine David singing?

On the last tour, David covered ‘Astronomy Domine’, ‘Dark Globe’ and ‘Dominoes’, and on his previous solo outing in 2002, ‘Terrapin’.

Not to mention ‘Arnold Layne’, which was released as a single and is a highlight of the ‘Remember That Night’ DVD (sung by Richard Wright and David Bowie).

You’ll be able to hear ‘Dominoes’ (from Paris) on the forthcoming ‘Live in GdaÅ„sk’ album – unless you opt for either the two-disc or vinyl set, that is – as it’s one of 12 live tracks included on a bonus CD, and will also be available for download.

‘Astronomy Domine’ (from GdaÅ„sk, naturally) is also included on a bonus DVD, as well as featuring on the album itself.

Both ‘Dominoes’ and ‘Terrapin’ are included on David’s 2002 ‘In Concert’ DVD.

Do you have a favourite of those tracks already covered?

There’s no chat today, but the chatroom will be open tomorrow: between 11:00 and 13:00 (UK).

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been two years since the passing of Roger Keith “Syd” Barrett; Pink Floyd’s original leader, their Crazy Diamond and a continuing source of delight and inspiration to so many worldwide.

I’m sure you’ll think of Syd today, and maybe play a song or two to remember his wonderful, unique talent.

If you’d like to say anything at all about Syd, go ahead. I’d love to know your favourite songs and lyrics, as well as what made him so special to you (if it’s even possible to put the magic he created in such a comparatively short space of time into words).

The chatroom is now open, if you’d like to pop in. It will be open until 15:00 (UK).

Details of future chat sessions can be found on the calendar.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: ‘THE THING ABOUT SYD’

Don’t forget ‘The Thing About Syd’ on Saturday, BBC Radio 2 at 8PM (UK time). David is one of many interviewed for this new documentary about the Madcap genius.

You can listen online, with live streaming, or you can ‘Listen Again’ – a feature that allows you to repeat the programme as many times as you like for a period of seven days following the original broadcast.

To ‘Listen Again’, please see the purple/lilac box on the right of the Radio 2 homepage (where it says “Listen to your favourite shows anytime”) and click LISTEN. This will open the BBC Radio Player.

Fans in the United States can see David’s excellent ‘Live From Abbey Road’ performance on the Sundance Channel tonight.

If you miss tonight’s broadcast at 10PM E/P, there are plenty of repeats coming up. The Sundance Channel will be showing it again on Saturday (at 2AM), Sunday (at 9PM) and Tuesday (at 6PM).

I hope you enjoy it as much as Dick Parry (above) seemed to when he was at the recording.

The Sundance Channel is available via satellite and cable television.

If you spot the series in your local TV listings, do let us know when and where others can see it.

Here’s the latest from Phil. Our thanks to everybody who submitted a question for him.

Phil answered a good batch of questions, so please appreciate that he will not be answering any additional ones, no matter how good they are. I’m sorry if you missed out.

And please hold on to your questions for David. I’m not ready for them just yet, but look forward to seeing what you’ve come up with.

I’ll open the floodgates towards the end of next week, possibly the week after.

What were the stand-out moments from the ‘On an Island’ tour for you? (Victor)

So many. Playing the Royal Albert Hall with all those guests…

I noticed huge grins on your face both nights at Massey Hall as David did extended solo flights during a few numbers. If you recall at all, what was going through your mind at the time? (Buffalo Phil)

That he was giving it a bit of welly and enjoying himself.

I loved watching you perform because you have such a groovy “wiggle” when you play. Are you able to let go and enjoy the music or are you focused on the piece at hand – or are the two not mutually exclusive? (Nickster)

Steady on there, Nickster. The resident PR is reading the answers! It’s good to lose yourself in the music, provided that you don’t lose your place in the music.

Oh where are you now
Pussy willow that smiled on this leaf?
When I was alone you promised a stone from your heart
My head kissed the ground
I was half the way down, treading the sand
Please, please lift a hand
I’m only a person whose armbands beat
On his hands, hang tall
Won’t you miss me?
Wouldn’t you miss me at all?

The poppy birds way
Swing twigs coffee brands around
Brandish her wand with a feathery tong
My head kissed the ground
I was half the way down, treading the sand
Please, please, please lift a hand
I’m only a person with Eskimo chain
I tattooed my brain all the way
Won’t you miss me?
Wouldn’t you miss me at all?

‘Dark Globe’, Syd Barrett
Published by Lupus Music Co. Ltd

So, I’ve finally told you just about all there is to know.

Here’s a summary of ‘Remember That Night’:

- It’s released on Monday 17 September in Europe, Tuesday 18 September in North America.

- There will be two discs (DVD-9 dual layer discs, in fact, which allow a greater playing time).

- There will be high-resolution versions in both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD to follow the standard release. I’ll let you know the release date as soon as I can.

- Disc one is the concert, containing 23 songs from the Royal Albert Hall gigs of May 2006. If you played Blotto, you’ll know them by now. Click here if you don’t.

- Disc two is full of extras.

- For starters, there are five bonus songs from the Royal Albert Hall: ‘Wot’s… Uh The Deal, ‘Dominoes’, ‘Wearing The Inside Out’, ‘Arnold Layne’ and ‘Comfortably Numb’.

- There will be three documentaries. The main one, ‘Breaking Bread, Drinking Wine’, contains behind-the-scenes tour footage from the rehearsals in Bray right through to the final show in GdaÅ„sk.

- There’s also a short film from America’s West Coast. Richard Wright is to blame for shooting some of the backstage footage.

- The third is a documentary on the making of the ‘On an Island’ album. This is an edited version of the Electronic Press Kit (EPK), but with some extra songs from the recording sessions.

- The tracks ‘Castellorizon’, ‘On An Island’, ‘The Blue’, ‘Take A Breath’ and ‘High Hopes’, from London’s Mermaid Theatre (March 2006), will be included.

- ‘Astronomy Domine’, as recorded for the ‘Live From Abbey Road’ television series, is on there…

- As is ‘This Heaven’ from the AOL Sessions. (This has been re-edited, by the way, so is an improvement on the version that can be found on the ‘Live And In Session’ disc.)

- The ‘Dark Globe’ video that we’ve been showing on the website is included.

- The promo videos for ‘On an Island’ and ‘Smile’ are also on there.

- There’s a new version of ‘Island Jam’, featuring David, Richard, Stevie and Guy.

- There is also a fine photo gallery.

How does that sound?

Please hold on to your answer for the time being, because you’ll notice that there’s no comment form. That’s because the blog is closed for the weekend. I do, however, have a new poll for you. You can let us know how you rate this DVD by casting your vote.

Thank you all for your comments about the DVD. I think we’ve all enjoyed reading them.

Now, that’s your lot for this week. Back on Monday.

Have a good weekend… and please find time to play some of Syd Barrett’s songs on this, the first anniversary, of his death.

The ‘Live From Abbey Road’ series is currently being shown in the US on the Sundance Channel. David’s performance is due for broadcast two week’s from now: on Thursday 19 July.

Of the songs performed (officially and in their entirety) at the legendary London studios last August, one which is not being shown on television is ‘Astronomy Domine’.

So you might be pleased to know that this is one of the extra goodies on David’s forthcoming double-DVD, ‘Remember That Night’.

I especially hope that those fans who were present at the recording will like the extra memento of what was a unique day.

Its inclusion, obviously, is another nod in recognition of the late Syd Barrett.

Something else to look forward to: promo videos for ‘On an Island’ and ‘Smile’, plus ‘This Heaven’ from the AOL Sessions.

If you need reminding: ‘Remember That Night’ is released by EMI on Monday 17 September in Europe, and by Sony on Tuesday 18 September everywhere else.

The image above is taken from Disc One. Please click it if you wish to see a bigger version.

As we approach the first anniversary of Syd Barrett’s death, it’s a genuine pleasure to be able to say that the video to his poignant song, ‘Dark Globe’, will be included on David’s ‘Remember That Night’ DVD.

This video has been available at DavidGilmour.com for a while now. If you missed it, please see the On an Island section.

David covered this song twice during his summer tour of Europe, and talks about his decision to first perform it – at Austria’s Klam Castle – on ‘Breaking Bread, Drinking Wine’, Gavin Elder’s tour documentary.

‘Breaking Bread, Drinking Wine’ is one of many extras on Disc Two. We’ll tell you about another tomorrow.

Don’t forget that BBC Radio has put together a new documentary about Syd, which is coming up later this month.

‘The Thing About Syd’ is on BBC Radio 2 on Saturday 14 July.

David is one of many people interviewed for this programme, along with other members of Pink Floyd, band manager Peter Jenner and various editors from the music press.

I’ll remind you that it’s coming up a little closer to the time.

The chatroom will be open between the hours of 12PM and 2PM (UK time) today, so do pop in if you want to be social.

David is being interviewed by BBC Radio today for a new documentary entitled ‘The Thing About Syd’.

The programme “explores the life, music, influence and legacy of one of the lost souls of British rock music” and will feature interviews with other members of Pink Floyd, band manager Peter Jenner and various editors from the music press.

The hour-long programme is set to be broadcast on Saturday 14 July at 8PM (UK).

If you can’t tune in, then you can listen online. As well as live streaming, you also have the handy  Listen Again feature, which allows you to play the programme back as many times as you like for a period of seven days following the original broadcast.

If the programme is anything like the BBC’s recent ‘Seven Ages of Rock’ episode, which focused on what made Syd special, instead of what made him retire from public life, then it should be a good one.

I’ll remind you that it’s coming up a bit closer to the time.

The chatroom is open today, from 12PM (UK).

Apologies for any inconvenience, but the chat has been brought forward. Doors will now close at 2PM, instead of opening at 2PM, as was originally advertised.

Another first for you…

Available for a limited period over the Christmas holidays – and dedicated to the memory of Syd Barrett, who passed away in July – will be an ‘Arnold Layne’ single featuring two live versions of the song: one with David Bowie on vocals, the other with Richard Wright (both from the Royal Albert Hall).

Poignantly, it will also include a live acoustic cover of ‘Dark Globe’, from Syd’s debut album, ‘The Madcap Laughs’.

There will be a limited press of 7″ singles in Europe and 10″ singles in North America.

These will be available in all good record shops (and probably some rubbish ones as well) from 26 December.

The tracks will also be available for download from Christmas Day.

I’ll give you more details a bit closer to the time.

There was no chat today, but the chatroom will be open from 3PM (UK time) tomorrow.

We’ve reached the end of Guy’s Q&A, but thank you all for your questions and comments. I’ll leave you with Guy’s answers to some of your sillier ones and wish our competition winners, Tony K and Martin S, a fabulous time at Guy’s stand-up show tonight.

Last, but certainly not least, the winner of David’s very own ‘On an Island’ T-shirt is… Susan.

Many congratulations, Susan. I hope you’ll like it and trust that it’s going to a good home.

Did you ever play any of the original Tomb Raider games? (George Maciver)

No, but I know someone who found a way to make her repeatedly bang into the wall and moan in a way that was supposedly erotic.

Margaritas. Frozen or Iced? (Rudders)

Iced.

Have you ever been sideswiped by any pigs on the wing onstage? (Beau)

Now you’re being silly.

Holidays. Beach or Adventure? (Rudders)

Adventure with the missus, Beach with child. Although we did drag him around Cambodia, which was fairly adventurous.

Did you know for an extra 50p your trainers come in a deluxe edition with shoe laces? (Gary Hurley)

Actually Converse John Varvates are a deluxe edition, as they are elasticated and the holes are ornamental. Ner ner ne ner ner…

Blogs. Yours or DG’s? (Rudders)

DG’s every time.

What do you want to be when you grow up? (George Maciver)

A Lion Tamer!

David and Polly were among some 25,000 protestors in London’s Trafalgar Square calling for urgent action on the issue of climate change on Friday.

As you know, David has always supported environmental causes, and Friday’s public demonstration was the latest  opportunity to lend his support, albeit in typically unassuming fashion.

Stop Climate Chaos, a coalition of various unions and organisations, is calling for a Climate Bill to make it a legal requirement that UK greenhouse gas emissions fall by at least 3% each year.

The I Count campaign also calls on Tony Blair to ensure the irreversible decline of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2015 and to deliver assistance to developing countries, so that they may be given access to clean energy in order to meet their developmental needs.

Our thanks to Polly, of The Lazy Environmentalist, and Chris, of Conscience UK, for the photograph.

Please pay their respective sites a visit and find out more about this most threatening of global concerns. We all count and we can all make a difference.

I’d love to know your thoughts on this hot (no pun intended) topic. Let us know how we can all do our bit.

There’s a chat going on right now if you want to join us in the chatroom. It will be open until midday (UK time). Everyone’s welcome.

Here’s the latest from Guy…

What are listening to right now (or if not right now, what’s your current listening)? (Nickster)

Right now? Celia Cruz, ‘Queen of Latin Rhythm’. (That’s the album title, not an opinion.)

You’ve played with some of the most famous bands in the world since you were just a boy. Has the young Guy ever had the anxiety of performance, playing close to those geniuses of music and in so many different styles (from Pink Floyd to Roxy Music and so on)? How much have you studied for that, or did you do that just using your heart? (Lucia)

Young, maybe. Old, no. I didn’t really study for either of those artists as it was music I knew and loved anyway. That’s if I understood the question.

Are you familiar with My Morning Jacket, from Kentucky? (Will)

No. Should I be?

With which band would you like to perform in the future? (Kees Nijpels)

The Who, Peter Gabriel.

If you could play bass for any musician (not including any member of Pink Floyd or anyone you may have played with in the past) either alive or dead, who would it be? (Dom)

Pete Townshend, Peter Gabriel, Syd Barrett, Jimi Hendrix.

With David’s triumphant 32-date tour done and dusted, I wondered: what are your stand-out memories from the tour?

I’d like to compile your thoughts into a poll so that we can vote on a short-list and see which the fans consider to be its best, and worst, moments.

So far, the best moments for me are (in order of date):

- Realising that ‘Echoes’ was being performed
- The live version of ‘Take A Breath’
- David and the band appearing on Jay Leno
- The Royal Albert Hall fighting eBay
- David Bowie singing ‘Arnold Layne’
- The wine glass intro to ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’
- David’s surprise rendition of ‘Dark Globe’
- The great honour and significance of being invited to Gdańsk

Perhaps we could do one for the worst moments of the tour, too. The incident at JFK airport, the postponement of the Venice shows, endless ticketing confusion, people constantly flashing their bloody cameras, venues selling alcohol to people who clearly couldn’t cope with it…

Whatever sticks out in your mind, let us know. No long lists, please. We all want to know why, not just read through long, boring lists.

The most common suggestions will be included in the two polls, which will run over the next few weeks.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: COMPETITION WINNER ANNOUNCED (01/09/06)

The winner is Roberto from Genoa. Congratulations! Please let us know where we should send your prize.

Here’s a very blue Steve DiStanislao-eye view of the action during the emotional rendition of Syd Barrett’s ‘Dark Globe’ at Munich.

It’s been a while since our last one, so today I’ve got our usual competition for you.

As before, the rules are very simple, but I’ve made a slight change.

This time, we want just four words relevant to ‘The Blue’, presented exactly as follows:

Beautiful
Lazy
Unfeigned
Enveloping

It doesn’t matter if your four words seem silly or obvious. All that matters is that they are individual words (no sentences are allowed) and that you submit no more than four words in acrostic-style, as above.

As was the case last time, the prize will go to the one person whose name is selected at random from a list, raffle-style. So, if you guess any of my four words, you will be entered into the draw. If you guess all four of my words, then you will be entered four times and obviously have an increased chance of winning.

If you guess my ‘U’ word, then you must have the same dictionary as me.

Good luck to all.