Syd Barrett's family are to auction off his possessions at an auction house in Cambridge next week, and a percentage of the profit from the 29 Nov sale will be put towards developing better art education in the area. The late music star, who died back in July at the age of sixty, studied at the Camberwell School of Art, of course, and took up painting again following his breakdown, and departure from his band Pink Floyd.
Amongst the items for sale are a number of paintings by Barrett, all of which are rare, as he frequently destroyed canvases after finishing painting on them. A representative from the company running the sale, Cheffins, said: "Syd felt he was more artist than musician and this gift will ensure he is remembered as a dual talent." See http://www.cheffins.co.uk for more information.
Elsewhere in Barrett related news, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour is to release three songs paying tribute to his late bandmate next month. Gilmour says he will release two versions of 'Arnold Layne' a track written for Pink Floyd by Barrett. The release will be completed by an acoustic version of another Barrett track, 'Dark Globe'. The tracks are released via download from 25 Dec, with a physical release expected later that month.