++ The front panel of the Space Ritual tour programme/poster ++

Just as he did for Ian Dury & The Blockheads and Elvis Costello and the Attractions half-a-decade later, Barney Bubbles produced a fold-out programme/poster for Hawkwind’s 1972 Space Ritual tour.

++ Opened out to reveal this portrait of saxophonist Nik Turner and the start of Robert Calvert’s essay ++

As well as Bubbles’ striking illustrations and graphics, the exercise included photography of the group’s main members and an entertaining if rambling sci-fi/semi-fictional account of the group’s activities by poet, lyricist and performer Robert Calvert.

++ Unfolded the poster measures 56 x 39 cm ++

Calvert, Bubbles and other contributors such as writer Michael Moorcock received tips of the hat in the credits.

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++ Front panel of Barney Bubbles sleeve for Hawkwind’s 1973 live album Space Ritual.  Artwork © Barney Bubbles Estate ++

Barney Bubbles’ representation of dancer/performance artist Stacia Blake adorned the front panel of his hugely ambitious trifold sleeve for Hawkwind’s live album Space Ritual, released 50 years ago last month.

++ Space Ritual’s exterior six-panel trifold. Design concept and artworks © Barney Bubbles Estate. Photography: Gabi Nasemann and Laurie Lewis ++

Those familiar with the sleeve will know that once unfolded the front six panels show that the Stacia figure was emitting shockwaves across the artwork, which incorporated photography of the group in performance by Laurie Lewis and Gabi Nasemann.

++ L’Emeraude, Alphonse Mucha, 1902. Colour lithograph from the Precious Stones series. 67 x 30cm ++

The arresting front panel channels the Art Nouveau work of Czech painter, illustrator and graphic artist Alphonse Mucha, who was very much in vogue in post-hippie circles in the early 1970s. British artist John Coulthart has identified elements in the Space Ritual design directly derived from Mucha’s 1900 lithograph L’Emeraude (The Emerald).

++ The Precious Stones series, 1902 ++

The slavering beast’s head appeared in many of Mucha’s drawings and was based on armrests on one of his chairs, whileL’Emeraude was in Mucha’s series Les pierres précieuses (Precious Stones) along with representations of topaz, ruby and amethyst.

Tags: Alphonse Mucha, Art Nouveau, Gabi Nasemann, John Coulthart, L'Emeraude, Laurie Lewis, Stacia Blake

++ From notes and instructions prepared by Bubbles for Hawkwind’s Space Ritual dates in 1972 ++

Here is Barney Bubbles’ first draft of the logo which appeared on the front of Hawkwind’s 1972 album Doremi Fasol Latido.

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++ Armed Forces front cover from the 2020 box set reissue ++

Sad to note the death last month at the age of 69 of the intriguing artist Tim (sometimes Tom) Pogson, whose work notably included the incredible pastiche of the popular wildlife painter David Shepherd for the front cover of Elvis Costello & The Attractions’ 1979 album Armed Forces.

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Tags: David Shepherd

Artists’ agent and passionate music lover Norman Maslov has posted a 10 minute journey through The Wild World of Barney Bubbles on his Youtube channel, augmented by examples of original and reissue record sleeve and poster designs from his collection.

Watch above and here.

Tags: Norman Maslov, Youtube

The Wild World of Barney Bubbles is featured in the current issue of British music magazine Shindig! with a colourful double page spread and an interview with author Paul Gorman on the companion website.

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Tags: Aries Moross, Experimental JetSet, M/M Paris, Patrick Thomas, Raissa Pardini, Shindig!, The Fandangoe Kid

We’re excited to announce the new range of bookmarks and postcards as well as a sticker for the Barney Bubbles Shop.

++ The seven postcards each measure 10.5 x 15cm ++

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Tags: Camden Art Centre, The Fandangoe Kid

++ This 1977 felt tip on paper sketch for the debut album by The Damned together with the stickered limited edition LP fetched £6,120 ++

The first-time sale of original artworks by Barney Bubbles in yesterday’s Bonhams auction achieved close to £20,000 in total, with one item – the original design for The Damned’s 1977 debut album – scoring a winning bid in excess of £6,000.

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Tags: Pay Attention!

Auction house Bonhams’ sale of ultra-rare and collectible original artworks by Barney Bubbles ends tomorrow at 12noon BST (British Summer Time).

++ Artwork for a poster for a 1979 Christmas concert at Birmingham International Arena. Barney Bubbles playfully inserted the name of his friend Cynthia Lole as the promoter ++

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++ Back of the Accidents Will Happen sleeve ++

Barney Bubbles’ sleeve for Elvis Costello & The Attractions’ 1979 Radar Records single Accidents Will Happen/Talking In The Dark/Wednesday Week famously took its cue from the title of the lead track by presenting a blank outer with the design on the inside, as if the result of a printer’s error.

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Tags: Accidents Will Happen, Annabel Jankel, Chaz Jankel, Cucumber Studios, Max Headroom, Rocky Morton, Talking In The Dark, Wednesday Week