Published in November 2007 is a new version of Psychedelic Renegades, Mick Rock's archive of Syd Barrett pictures in book format. Previously published as a lavish, exclusive (and signed) edition by specialist company Genesis Publications, this slightly revised version provides the same pictures in a much more affordable format.

Rock's friendship with Barrett began in Cambridge in the mid-1960s, and flourished when they both subsequently lived in London. This friendship provided Rock with a generally relaxed and willing subject for his camera, as can be seen in this absorbing book...

The book covers the period of 1969-71, and includes the photo session in and around Syd's flat in London's Earl's Court Square, which ended up as the cover for his first solo album, The Madcap Laughs. The flat was of course shared with fellow artist Duggie Fields.

Alongside these are plenty of pictures that reveal a relaxed, playful Barrett "off-duty", as a counterpoint to the more formal portraits taken for projects such as the album cover.

The book's introduction has by Rock talks of how he met Syd, as part of the Cambridge "in-crowd", in an illuminating and atmospheric piece discussing the local scene in detail. This is followed by more recollections, focusing on the London scene, interspersed by the memories of Syd's flatmate, the aforementioned Fields. This gradually moves to background information on the Madcap photo sessions, which makes up the majority of the pictures included between the covers.

The final third of the book consists of Rock's pictures of Syd in 1971, at Syd's mother's house in Cambridge, together with the complete, unedited Rolling Stone article he wrote in the same year, which was heavily edited for publication.

Well presented and printed throughout, with many otherwise unseen pictures, Psychedelic Renegades is an absorbing look at the post-Floyd Syd. The book can be ordered worldwide, at a healthy discount (at time of writing), from: Amazon UK, Amazon US/International, Amazon Canada, Amazon Germany, or Amazon France.