//Drumhead painted by Barney Bubbles in 1972. Photo: (c)//

//From left: Nik Turner, Stacia Blake, Simon King and Lemmy during Hawkwind’s set at the Windsor Free Festival on August 25, 1973. Note the drumhead on the left. Photographer: Unknown//

A rare design by the late graphics master Barney Bubbles has come to light after four decades; the psychedelic sci-fi drumhead was painted for Hawkwind when the space rocking Sonic Assassins undertook tours around the world following their success with the Silver Machine single in 1972.

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Tags: Barrie Wentzell, Chilli Willi And The Red Hot Peppers, Dave Walkling, Doremi Fasol Latido, Glen Colson, Hawkwind, Kursaal Flyers, Lemmy, Michael Moorcock, Nik Turner, Robert Calvert, Silver Machine, Simon KIng, Stacia Blake, The Attractions, The Records, Will Birch, Windsor Free Festival

“What’s to say, save that his contempt was not reserved solely for the music business? Or the art business. Or the business of being human. There were times when he saw with his own dead eyes. But he had the sight to see through them.”

K-LS on the album’s opening track Afoju Ti Ole Riran (Dead Eyes)

Ki-Longfellow Stanshall’s sleevenotes for the 2012 reissue of the lost classic Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead are stunning, filled with anguish and joy, rather like the life and work of the LP’s creator, her much-missed partner Vivian Stanshall.

I treasure my vinyl copy, put out with much love by my old mucker Joe Foster, and heartily recommend the Afro-flavoured grooves Stanshall brewed up back in 1974 with such fellow legends as Reebop Kwaku Baah, Jim Capaldi, Neil Innes, Gaspar Lawal and Steve Winwood.

//The PoppyDisc reissue recreates the sleeve artwork of the Warner 1974 release: Cover drawing by Peter Till//

//Back cover of original release. Photo: Barrie Wentzell//

Buy a copy of PoppyDisc’s vinyl reissue of Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead here.

Tags: Barrie Wentzell, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Gaspar Lawal, Jim Capaldi, Joe Foster, Ki-Lonfellow Stanshall, Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead!, Neil Innes, Peter Till, PoppDisc, Reebop Kwaku Baah, Steve Winwood, Vivian Stanshall