As we told you back in February, coming soon from Essential Works, publishers of the acclaimed Barrett, is Spirit of Talk Talk, a richly illustrated, beautifully designed book celebrating the music and art of the influential British synth-pop band. Celebrated illustrator, and Talk Talk cover artist, James Marsh has remastered and chronicled all of the iconic artwork that he produced for the band throughout their 10 year reign in the 80's. The book will feature James’ original cover concept sketches, hand written lyrics from Mark Hollis, as well as various ephemera, posters, and related items of interest to fans. There will also be unseen photos of the band.

Of potential interest to Pink Floyd fans are the more than 100 written contributions from bands, label owners, DJs and creatives, all of whom have been inspired or influenced by the music and art of Talk Talk. Amongst these are Richard Wright and his daughter, Gala, who both share their thoughts on the band and their songs. Richard's contribution was made shortly before his very sad passing, and has him explaining how their music touched him. Gala's contribution, more recently, notes how her father's enjoyment of the band made a big impression on her life.

The book comes in a well-produced standard edition, and a deluxe edition. Orders are now being invited for both - preorder by Wednesday July 18th, 2012, and your name will appear in the book and on the project website. For more details of this book, and to place your order, visit SpiritofTalkTalk.com.

As many of you know by now, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the motion picture "Pink Floyd: The Wall", on-set stills photographer David Appleby is honouring the fans of the acclaimed visual rock masterpiece with an exhibition of stunning behind-the-scenes images taken during the production of the film to take place at Blackall Studios, Shoreditch, London between 13th - 20th July - more information over at TheWallRetrospective.com.

Our friends at Mind Head Publishing are proud to have been invited to publish a limited edition album-size souvenir catalogue reproducing 47 of those photographs capturing behind the scenes moments, along with iconic shots from the production, but from a unique perspective. Most have never been seen before, having been discovered lurking in a storeroom at Pinewood Film Studios since they were originally shot and developed.

It is important to note that the catalogue is published under limited license and will only be available for sale through the Mind Head Publishing website (orders will be dispatched after 12th July) or at the exhibition itself. It will not be available for sale through any other retail outlet, and will be permanently deleted after 12th July 2013. There will be no reprints.

To order your copy now visit the Mind Head Publishing website, at www.mindheadpublishing.co.uk.

The Prog Rock Magazine first annual Progressive Music Awards are now live, and inviting votes from people worldwide in a number of categories. The publication said that "after years of entertaining millions of fans the world over, Prog magazine feels that acknowledging the great progressive artists of the past and present is long overdue. So here we do just that, doffing our caps to a splendid array of artists from over the past 40 years that have seen some of the most imaginative and thought provoking rock music ever created. It continues to enthral us here at Prog magazine as much as it does you readers who buy the magazine. This is about us giving something back. So have your say, and vote in the first five reader driven categories – you could even win a bumper goody bag full of prog delights from all the nominees and a framed piece of prog artwork from The Flood Gallery."

Specifically of interest to Brain Damage readers are in three distinct categories...the first of which will see one of the reader-chosen candidates win:

• GRAND DESIGN - Celebrating the artistic achievement for the raft of Special and Deluxe Editions that populate the modern progressive genre. Pink Floyd are in this category for the Immersion reissues, and this is one of the reader vote categories...so make sure you place your vote!
• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT which includes PINK FLOYD...but will be chosen by the Prog editorial team.
• The PROG GOD category which has Roger Waters as one of the options, which will also be chosen by the Prog team.

The award ceremony takes place in London in September.

In today's NY Times, an interesting interview with Roger Waters is printed, which gives us all hope that there might be some new music from Roger before too long, along with details of his wish to keep The Wall Live rolling along, with a potential return to Europe next year - great news for those of us stuck this side of the Atlantic.

"I've become very enamored of the outdoor show. It was a super challenge to see if we could take the arena production and made it work outdoors, and it works beautifully, but it is unbelievably expensive. So we are trying to figure out ways to make the numbers add up to go to Europe late next summer, in 2013. This show is such fun to do that I think I've got some more in me. The thing that makes it really, really difficult is the weather. You can't guarantee good weather, so in consequence you have to travel with a roof, and because the show is so big we have to travel with a very big roof.

They asked him if he'd been writing any new music. "I have. I have written so much, and it's been 20 years since I made a record. I came up with a song a few weeks ago on the road and then I started playing it a bit with the band in rehearsals. I think it may be the central part and also the kicking-off point for another album." Do you hope to work on that album when the tour ends on July 21? "Yes. If I don't work on it later this year, it might disappear, and I might never do anything again. So I think I have to and I'm very enthusiastic about it. And it encompasses a lot of the other songs I've written over the years. There are tons of them. I just never found a big enough hook to hang them around."

For the full interview, where you'll also find his thoughts on The Wall show, and also how his views on David, Nick and Richard continuing as Pink Floyd after his departure, have changed, click here.