While Googling I came across this interview in Punk'77 with Lee Wood of Raw Records.

"The one regret I have. I visited Spaceward studios one day and they played me a tape of a band called Johnny Curious & The Strangers. The recordings were STUNNING. Especially "Back In Pissheadsville Again". I approached them but they had a manager called Sue Black who only wanted them signed to a big label. In the end they re-recorded the four songs and released them on Miles Copeland's label. The re-recordings are total shit compared to the originals."

I found the original tapes in the Spaceward archive in Gary's attic recently but, never having heard them, I had no reason to single them out for special attention. In light of Lee's comments above I'll now give them a very close listen.

Around 200 emails have arrived from Syd Barrett fans pledging support for the proposed release (see below).

Here's the poster for the Soundscapes for Stephen event...