Category Archives: News

Mark Blake Announces New Book : Us and Them: The Authorised Story of Hipgnosis

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Between the late ’60s and early ’80s, design house Hipgnosis created some of the most iconic and ubiquitous album artwork of all time. Their original lifespan coincided with the golden age of the 12-inch LP, beginning just as the Beatles’ Sgt Pepper made the record sleeve the ultimate blank canvas and ending just as new technology looked set to usurp vinyl.

Having originally been approached to design an album cover for their friends Pink Floyd, students Aubrey ‘Po’ Powell and Storm Thorgerson would go on to define the visual identity of rock and roll for the next fifteen years, swiftly gaining international prominence for their famed The Dark Side of the Moon artwork. This paved the way for other major musicians to set foot in the surreal photo-design world of Storm and Po, resulting in seminal Hipgnosis creations for the likes of Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, Genesis, Black Sabbath, ELO and Yes.

In this authorised account, with access to previously unpublished material and exclusive contributions from David Gilmour, Jimmy Page, Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters, Robert Plant and even Aubrey Powell himself, Mark Blake goes behind the scenes of the Hipgnosis partnership to reveal the pioneering ambition and grand vision that led to their success, as well as the clashing egos and artistic differences that undermined it. The Hipgnosis story also offers hitherto-untold insight into some of music’s most legendary bands, as viewed through the prism of the people who shaped their imagery and cultural legacy.

With the work of Hipgnosis continuing to be referenced, reproduced and revered worldwide, Us and Them serves as a celebration, a cautionary tale and a compelling human drama, exploring the vital intersection between art and music.

Scheduled for release on the 2nd‎ February by Nine Eight Books, Pre-orders can be made over at Resident Music with limited signed copies by Clicking Here

Happy New Year From All At A Fleeting Glimpse

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In an unexpected turn of events, we were greeted by a large number of new visitors thanks to Roger Waters collaborator Andy Fairweather Low, who appeared on the UK show Jools Holland Hootenany to celebrate the New Year festivities.

2023 is already shaping up to be a great year for Pink Floyd fans, with the 50th anniversary of The Dark Side Of The Moon and its planned release, as well as Roger Waters’ This Is Not A Drill 2023 Tour.

From all of the team here at A Fleeting Glimpse, we wish a happy new year to you all.

Happy 80th Birthday Dick Parry

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From all of us here at AFG we extend our best wishes to Dick Parry on his 80th birthday !!

Dick Played saxophone on The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and The Division Bell, as well as in every Pink Floyd live performance between 1973 and 1977, and the 1994 world tour,

He was last seen on stage with David Gilmour during the 2006 On An Island Tour.

Phil Taylor : The Black Strat (Fourth Edition) Restocked On Amazon UK

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Phil Taylor, guitar technician to David Gilmour for some 45 years, has announced on social media that the Fourth Edition of his book ‘The Black Strat: A History Of David Gilmour’s Black Fender Stratocaster’ has been restocked on Amazon UK

“After 49 years of ownership, The Black Strat, David Gilmour’s iconic black Fender Stratocaster, was auctioned for charity at Christie’s New York in June 2019, along with 124 more of his instruments. The auction raised an incredible sum for David’s chosen charity, ClientEarth, an environmental law charity, with The Black Strat guitar itself becoming the world’s most expensive guitar. The fourth edition of Phil Taylor’s heavily illustrated book encapsulates the entire history of the instrument, from it’s origins through to just before the recent auction and is available now, exclusively from Amazon.“

The book is a fantastic deep dive in to the history of the famous instrument. It’s full to the brim with technical details, stories from the studio and on the road, as well as plenty of photographs.

Having been out of print for some time now, it’s great to see the book available once again.

Head over to the official website for more information or straight to Amazon to order your own copy!

John Martyn – The Apprentice Tour Ft David Gilmour Expanded And Re-Released

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An expanded four disc edition of the 1990 album ‘The Apprentice’ by late John Martyn.

With a career that had begun in the late 1960s and had produced a succession of excellent albums throughout the 70s and 80s, Martyn recorded ‘The Apprentice’ at the end of 1989 at a studio in Glasgow working with musicians including Foster Patterson (keyboards), Dave Taif-Ball (bass) and Aran Ahmun (drums) and guest saxophonist Andy Shepherd.

The resulting album was a well-crafted work which was well received by critics and fans alike. To promote the album, Martyn embarked on a UK tour which included a series of concerts at The Shaw Theatre in London. The concert on 31st March 1990 was filmed and recorded, and featured special guest David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.

This Esoteric Recordings edition has been newly remastered and expanded to include two rare tracks issued as a single in 1990 along with two additional CDs of the concert at The Shaw Theatre and a DVD of the concert originally issued as ‘The Apprentice in Concert’.

Pre-Orders Are Available By Clicking Here

Happy Birthday Alan Parsons

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From all of at AFG we wish to send best wishes to Alan Parsons on his 74th Birthday.
Alan is most notably known for being the producer behind The Dark Side of the Moon and Atom Heart Mother

Abbey Road Documentary Ft David Gilmour & Roger Waters Streaming Now On Disney+

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If These Walls Could Sing | Official Trailer | Disney+

Disney Original Documentary  If These Walls Could Sing, serving as a love letter to to London’s Abbey Road Studios is now streaming on Disney+

The first feature helmed by Paul McCartney’s daughter, Mary McCartney, If These Walls Could Sing is billed as a personal work of memory and discovery, juxtaposing the filmmaker’s experiences of the iconic recording studios with their impressive history.

Abbey Road Studios is the heart of the music industry. Fans journey every year to have their photo taken at the world-famous zebra crossing to feel close to the music they love. Artists strive to follow in the footsteps of their heroes and to harness some of the studio’s magic for themselves — to leave their mark on music history, too.

The studios have been a part of Mary’s life for as long as she can remember, a home from home and the place her parents made their seminal records. Her documentary sees Abbey Road Studios open up their doors for the first time, as Mary guides the viewer through nine decades to tell the stories of some of its most iconic recordings and the people who made them happen.

If These Walls Could Sing features some of the biggest names in music and film, including Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Liam Gallagher, Noel Gallagher, John Williams, Cliff Richard, Jimmy Page, Dame Shirley Bassey, George Lucas, Nile Rodgers, Kate Bush, Ye, Celeste, Roger Waters and David Gilmour. The film exploring Abbey Road’s breadth, diversity and ingenuity, from classical to pop, and film scores to hip-hop, tells its story by pairing its A-lister interviews with vivid archive footage and session tapes.

If These Walls Could Sing was produced by John Battsek (The Rescue, Searching for Sugar Man).

Happy Birthday To Floyd Co-Composer Ron Geesin

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A very happy 79th birthday to Ron Geesin, co-composer with Pink Floyd of the Atom Heart Mother suite (performed again in 2008 with David Gilmour on stage in London), and who worked with Roger Waters on Music From The Body.

The Cancer Platform Releases Charity Single “This Christmas Time” Ft Nick Mason

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Available to download and stream on Friday, December 16 is the latest release from Evamore, entitled “This Christmas Time”, which will benefit The Cancer Awareness Trust’s new Cancer Platform.

“This Christmas Time” features a number of rock legends, singers, actors, the trust’s founder Prof. Sir Chris Evans and their very own Ambassador, Nina Lopes.

Ozzy Osbourne narrates a moving introduction to open the new track and Slade’s Noddy Holder ends the song wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

The song was recorded at Abbey Road Studios and features guitarist Andy Taylor of Duran Duran, who recently revealed his own battle with cancer, drummer Nick Mason of Pink Floyd, lead vocalist Casi Wyn, Nick Lloyd Webber on piano, Polly Wiltshire on viola and singer Reebz on vocal harmonies.

Actress and singer Samantha Womack, who has also recently shared her cancer journey, provides backing vocals, as does first time singer Nina Lopes, an Ambassador for The Cancer Awareness Trust. The song was produced and mixed by Matt Bond who also played bass guitar and Prof. Sir Chris Evans who also played guitar

“This Christmas Time”, written by Prof. Sir Chris, is inspired by the heroism and letters home from World War 1 British soldiers at Christmas.

“It’s an honour and a delight to be asked to play on this record… I mean, what’s not to like? My favourite recording studio, the opportunity to work with great artists on a wonderful track – and for the most worthy cause… Oh, and complimentary lunch in the Abbey Road canteen!” – Nick Mason

“I was delighted to join the many artists adding their voice to the album from Evamore. I recorded a full narrative, telling the story of some incredibly brave World War 1 soldiers, to feature on the album in 2023 and a short christmas message for This Christmas Time.” – Noddy Holder

The song is available to play now on The Cancer Platform website.

Listen and get more information by clicking here.