Blog | Barrett. The definitive visual companion to the life of Syd Barrett.

5 star review of Barrett in Mojo magazine

Posted: 27 April 2011
by: Essential Works

Mojo magazine review of Barrett

We are delighted that Mojo magazine have taken so well to Barrett. In the June issue, just out, reviewer Mark Blake gives the book five stars as he remarks that “the authors have unearthed a remarkable haul of personal correspondence, previously unpublished photographs and images of all Syd’s known artwork. It’s an extraordinary achievement.”

He concludes that book is “beautifully packaged, eruditely written and full of insight… Barrett feels like the ultimate work of Art”. We’d have to agree, of course. Pretty good Black Keys CD as a cover mount too!

Click on the image here to take a look at the full review.

Syd Barrett stolen self-portrait returned

Posted: 12 April 2011
by: John Conway

Syd Self-Portrait barrettbook.com

We are very happy to confirm that Syd’s self-portrait that was stolen from the Idea Generation on Saturday was returned to the Gallery this morning!

The condition of the painting is fine and we are all very relieved and happy, particularly for Libby.

We want to thank everyone for their concern and for helping get the word out about the theft via Facebook, Twitter and email – we are sure it contributed to the return of the painting.

Syd Barrett painting stolen

Posted: 11 April 2011
by: Essential Works

Syd Barrett Self Portrait

We are very sad to have to announce that the great event that was the Art and Letters exhibition at has been marred by the theft of one of Syd Barrett’s paintings from the Idea Generation Gallery. It was Syd’s self-portrait which he gave to Libby Gausden-Chisman in 1962. It is 31 × 23cm in size.

Libby is understandably devastated and has said “I am very upset at the theft of the painting, it has huge personal value to me and I am appealing for its safe return.”

The painting was stolen on Saturday afternoon between 2.15 – 3pm. We are appealing for anyone who knows anything that may be useful to come forward to try and help recover the painting.

A reward of £2,000 has been offered for information leading to the painting’s safe return – so if you do have any information about this please help and contact the Idea Generation Gallery on Tel: 020 7749 6850.

Barrett published

Posted: 21 March 2011
by: John Conway

Barrett was published on March 18 and we had the most marvellous launch in tandem with the opening of the Syd Barrett, Arts and Letters exhibition.

We are extraordinarily grateful to Elosie Rowley, Rachel Wood and Megan Thomas at Idea Generation who worked like demons to stage the exhibition, and to Hector Proud.

Many wonderful people were able to come along and celebrate Syd’s life and work with us and to view the artworks, letters and photographs. We hope everyone enjoyed the event as much as we did.

Here are just a few snaps from the night, there are many more over on our Facebook page. Some of the friends and colleagues who were good enough to attend were: Will Shutes, Russell Beecher, Rosemary Breen, Jenny Spires, Viv Brans, Libby Gausden-Chisman, Adam Ritchie, Anthony Stern, Steve Wilkins, Irene Winsby, Nigel Lesmoir-Gordon, Warren Dosanjh, Glenn Povey, Storm Thorgerson, Hoppy, Barry Miles, Duggie Fields, Jeff Dexter, Iggy, Noel Fielding, Graham Coxon and Captain Sensible – and many more! Can you spot any of them in the images?

Thanks to all who made it such a special evening.

Video: Blur’s Graham Coxon explores Barrett exhibition

Posted: 17 March 2011
by: Essential Works

The official launch of the Barrett book and exhibition is almost upon us, but for those who can’t wait here’s a peek behind the scenes from yesterday’s BBC Radio 4 Front Row feature.

Presenter John Wilson toured the exhibition with Blur guitarist and Syd fan Graham Coxon, and as well as recording it for radio the BBC also made this video. And for even more detail on the book and exhibition, check out this piece from the Reuters news agency. Enjoy!

Barrett book on BBC Woman’s Hour

Posted: 17 March 2011
by: Essential Works

At 10 am today, UK time, on BBC Radio 4′s Woman’s hour Jenny Spires talks to presenter Jenni Murray about the letters Syd wrote to her, many of which are featured in the book and the exhibition.

Tune in or select the listen live button on the BBC website http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zf388, if you miss this, catch it on iPlayer (this may not be available in all territories).

Barrett book on the BBC

Posted: 16 March 2011
by: Essential Works

The book and exhibition have been receiving some great coverage and have featured extensively across the national press in the past few days UK including in The Independent, The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph and on the front cover of this month’s Record Collector.

Now you can have a special preview of what you have to look forward to by tuning into BBC Radio 4 tonight from 7.15 or listen later on iPlayer as Front Row discuss the book and tour around the exhibition in the company of Syd’s sister Rosemary Breen and long-time Syd fan, Blur guitarist Graham Coxon.

Tomorrow, 17 March, Jenny Spires appears on BBC Radio 4′s Woman’s Hour talking about Syd and his letters he wrote to her, which are also featured in the book and exhibtion, some of them describing Pink Floyd’s first recording session.

Barrett book previewed in the Daily Telegraph

Posted: 14 March 2011
by: Essential Works

Pick up a copy of today’s Daily Telegraph to read columnist Charles Spencer’s preview of the Barrett book and accompanying exhibition, which are both due to be revealed to the public this Thursday.

Writes Spencer: “The story of Syd Barrett, the brilliant leader of Pink Floyd who created several of the greatest masterworks of British psychedelia before suffering grave mental health problems and living in quite obscurity in Cambridge for the rest of his life, is one of the most poignant in popular music”.

But it is the “delightful and vivacious” side of Syd’s character that is celebrated by the book and Idea Generation Gallery exhibition, Spencer notes. The book, he adds, was compiled with the help of Syd’s family and contains many previously unseen images of both Syd and his art.

“During his years as a semi-recluse,” Spencer continues, “Syd continued to paint, but for reasons best known to himself usually painted over the pictures with black paint when he had completed them. What I didn’t know until now was that he often took photographs of his work before he destroyed it, and these should give us a fascinating insight into what he was up to in his post-pop years.”

Spencer concludes: “For too long Syd has been remembered for his madcap weirdness. The new book and exhibition should put the focus back on his work and the exuberant invention of his early years”.

Signature Edition of Barrett book unboxed

Posted: 8 March 2011
by: Essential Works

We’ve just received our first copies of the Signature Edition of Barrett. The two leather-bound volumes in their superb orange clamshell case really do look superb. Here’s the moment we unwrapped it.

New Barrett book in the headlines

Posted: 7 March 2011
by: Essential Works

As the publication of the definitive visual companion to the life of Syd Barrett draws nearer, Barrett has been attracting a lot of media interest. Following early coverage by Record Collector, Shortlist, Pitchfork, Clash Music and Design Week, recent weeks have seen extensive features on the new book and forthcoming exhibition in two of Britain’s big national newspapers: the Sunday Times and the Independent on Sunday.

The Independent on Sunday devoted its entire page 3 to the previously unseen letters Syd sent to his ex-girlfriend Libby Chisman, while the Sunday Times Magazine carried an extensive piece covering both the letters and artworks featured in Barrett. The paper spoke to co-author Will Shutes about Syd’s paintings, and included a video interview with Russell Beecher on its website.

Watch out for more cuttings in the run up to publication on 18th March 2011!