Fingal's Cave - A Podcast for all dedicated Pink Floyd Fans

In this episode, we are very pleased to be joined by composer and author Ron Geesin. Known to Pink Floyd fans for his collaboration on Atom Heart Mother and Music from the Body, Ron has an extensive discography, a massive collection of adjustable spanners, and nearly eight decades' worth of stories, aphorisms, insights, and witticisms. In a wide-ranging conversation with Phil Salathé and Nils Zehnpfennig, Ron discusses the past and future of Atom Heart Mother, his work for film and television, and the role of the subconscious and humor in art. Along the way Ron speaks of his love for Coleman Hawkins and Edgard Varèse, and recounts how "unintentional brinksmanship" had him facing the wrath of two thousand Scots.
Please find the unedited video here: https://youtu.be/AqGtp7rcT_g

Today we talk to Ian Priston and Phil Salathé about their work on the bestselling book "Pink Floyd BBC Radio 1967-1971". Phil explains how this collaboration came about and Ian talks about surprising finds in the BBC archives and the immense help from the fan community.Book: https://www.floydstuff.com/product/7245714/pink-floyd-bbc-radio-1967-1971-hardcover-edition

In this special holiday episode, Nils and Ian sit down with Bob and Oakley—two young superfans who weren’t even born when Pink Floyd’s last tour ended. Together, they unwrap stories of rare recordings, audio engineering wizardry, and the friendships that make the fan community feel like family.
Bob and Oakley dive into their passion for finding rare recordings, chasing down rumours, and earning respect from experienced fans in the broader Pink Floyd community.
Their love for live recordings has led them to develop impressive audio engineering and mastering skills. Bob and Oakley share their experience working on projects like matrix mixes and quadrophonic remasters, where they combine multiple audience recordings—each captured from different spots in a venue. They break down the techniques, challenges, and how these projects often deliver audio quality far beyond expectations.
Our first 2023 episode declared: “Once you’re hooked, there’s no way back.” Bob and Oakley embody this sentiment, proving how Pink Floyd’s music continues to inspire a new generation of researchers, audio specialists, and devoted fans.
From all of us at Fingal’s Cave, merry Christmas and happy holidays!

If you were to make a list of the musicians who made some of the most beloved recordings in rock music, the name Jerry Shirley will come up over and over again. In addition to his role as drummer in Humble Pie, he has worked closely with luminaries like B.B. King, John Entwistle, and of course, Syd Barrett. In this episode, he sits down with Phil Salathé to discuss his long and storied career, and to share stories from his work with Syd in the studio and live. We also investigate a few mysteries in the process, including an enigmatic Syd outtake that's stymied researchers for decades. You won't want to miss it!

Syd Barrett: “An amazingly attractive, energetic, sparkly boy goes the wrong way in life and is lost”
Rosemary Breen knew her brother Syd Barrett better than anyone. They were inseparable as children, and in later years, Rosemary cared for Syd between the early 1980s and his untimely death in 2006. A "bright cookie" and kind, Syd had an unusual brain, and Rosemary became the single individual he could cope with.
Rosemary spoke to Ian Priston on 16 September 2023 to get things on record and encourage youngsters who look up to Syd to carefully think about why and how things happened to him.
Rosemary eloquently sums up how Syd wanted to play with the other members of Pink Floyd and with sound. He neither sought celebrity nor understood it. When being in the band ceased to be fun, Syd left.
Syd Barrett expressed his true self through his art. After he returned to Cambridge, Syd produced some memorable artworks when he was in a good frame of mind. He had many ideas and would paint enormous canvases, and there was often one in progress when Rosemary visited.
The two used to go on days out. On one occasion, Rosemary and Syd were in central Cambridge, and Syd stopped and feared crossing a road because he felt compelled to get a painting out of his head and onto a canvas. For Syd, art was about much more than simply being creative; according to Rosemary, the process fulfilled a need and was vital.
The interview covers some serious topics, but there is also humour. For example, Rosemary explains how Syd was “Mr. DIY”. Talking about Syd Barrett’s lyrics, Rosemary says, "They make me giggle. He was a clown and was joking. Life was a joke. If anybody took him seriously, he just would giggle away."