This page contains all the articles that were uploaded in August 2009, chronologically sorted, from old to new.
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Brethren Dan5482 visited the several Church locations (see underneath)
that can be found on the World Wide Web and confessed the following to
the Reverend:
Despite all that collective amnesia I think that Iggy can still be
found. There are journalists, detectives... who have found more
difficult "targets".
However, an intense and widespread interest for her is a necessary
condition. Your Church is a source of hope in this sense. It lets many
people know that once such a mysterious woman existed.
It occurs to me that many people simply don’t want to know who or where
Iggy is. Imagine finding a 70-year old woman and to find out that her
words about that period are as simple and disappointing as "I don't like
to remember that period. I was out of my mind..." That could be the end
of a romantic dream.
Besides the fact that Iggy herself is an extremely intriguing figure,
there is also the possibility of obtaining a new narrative and facts
surrounding Syd Barrett's life in that fabled year of 1969.
Wise words from a wise man.
If JenS’
assumption that Ig was born at the end of World War II is true she is 64
or 65 years old at the moment (provided she is still amongst us). True
believers know the following story for sure… in April, or early May of
1970, Ig closed the door behind her at Wetherby Mansions and was never
seen back… Update: obviously this was written before Ig,
or Emily, was traced back by Mojo magazine.
Mick Rock has apparently stated that he heard from Duggie Fields, the
painter who was Syd Barrett’s roommate, that Iggy ‘went off with some
rich guy in Chelsea and lived a very straight life’ afterwards.
However Mark Blake squeezed a slightly different story out of him:
I have no idea who Iggy was or even what her real name was. She was
never Syd’s girlfriend. They just got together from time to time. (…) I
saw her not long after Syd left the flat and she was looking more like a
Sloane Ranger. I heard she’d become involved with one of the voguish
religious cults at the time.
Mark had some extra comments to give at the Late Night discussion
forum:
Nobody knew her real first name, never mind her surname, or if they did,
they weren't telling. Duggie Fields recalls seeing her some time after
the Madcap Laughs photo session and she was looking a lot more
"sloaney". Most of the people I spoke to who knew her believe Iggy
married a rich businessman and doesn't now want to be 'found'.
The Cinderella story may be a case of confabulation.
One witness supposes that Ig married rich and over the years this story
infiltrates the memories of other people who, decades later, believe
this is really how it all happened. This is not done on purpose; our
memory likes to fill in the gaps and if we need to borrow memories of
other people we will subconsciously do that. Pink Floyd history contains
several anecdotes like that and in the several biographies and articles
Floydian insiders have told about situations that were originally
witnessed by others.
Update 2016: After Syd, Iggy met a rich banker who was a witness
of Jehovah, so the rumours were at least based upon some facts. The
relationship didn't last though and Iggy didn't marry 'rich'.
In February of this year Mark Blake reported to the Church:
I spoke to Emo a couple of weeks back and asked about Iggy and he
immediately said he remembered hearing she had gone back to the Far
East/Asia. But, as I have learned since doing the book, everyone has
conflicting memories about these things. (mail to the Reverend on
23/02/2009)
At The City Wakes festival in October and November of 1988 Anthony
Stern’s Eskimo Girl movie was shown to the public and during the Q&A
afterwards a member of the audience told the director that Iggy was
living in Chelsea. Nobody knows who this person is but if (s)he attended
the festival (s)he must have been a fan of Barrett or one of the members
of the Cambridge or London Underground gang who took this opportunity to
meet again after three decades. The Church would like to invite this
person to come forward and to contact the Reverend.
On the 7th of October 2006 the SydBarrett.net forum got the following
message from a certain YoungForEternity.
Does anyone know roughly how old Iggy would be? There's a woman who
works at a supermarket in my local town who claims to be "the" Iggy and
I don't know whether to believe her or not...I'd appreciate any pointers
or recognisable features? Her name is definitely Iggy, and I've been
studying images but it's difficult to tell... (Taken from whatever
happened to iggy the eskimo?)
The forum in question is no longer active and the messenger only posted
this single item. In 2006 Ig was (probably) 61 or 62 years old so
theoretically she should no longer have been working, as the State
Pension age for women born before 1950 is 60 (in the UK). But of course
there are always exceptions. To qualify for a full basic State
Pension she needed to have built up 39 years of National Insurance
payments and perhaps that may not have been the case. The Church would
also like the author of this post to come forward and to contact the
Reverend.
Update 2016: YoungForEternity was probably closer to the truth
than we all expected. Iggy has indeed been working at a local
supermarket.
Next week, sistren and brethren, the Holy Church of Iggy
the Inuit will celebrate its first birthday and a small and delicate
special treat will be offered. Till then. And remember; don’t do
anything that Ig wouldn’t have done…
Sources (other than internet links mentioned above):
Rejoice, dear followers of the Esqimau, as The Holy Church of
Iggy the Inuit celebrates its first birthday. On the eight day of the
eighth month of the eight year of the third Millennium the Church was
born. That day two messages were posted, the first,
a very modest one, was a mere introduction that was basically written by
someone else, the second
post however told the story of the first public appearance of Iggy,
already nicknamed the Eskimo, in November 1966.
Ig, as the Church prefers to call her now, was spotted by NME on a party
in the presence of Patrick Kerr, the main choreographer of the Ready
Steady Go!-show, one hit wonders Twinkle and Adrienne Posta, Frank Allen
from the Searchers and Mick Jagger wannabee Chris Farlowe. Already then
she was about a mover and could bend it better than Wickham. (Read the
article here: Bend
It!)
It is possible that Ig was a dancer / guest / visitor at a couple of
Ready Steady Go!-shows, but the Church’s investigations have only found
circumstantial evidence of that. The Church is still trying to get hold
of some courageous witnesses who want to testify this before the Holy Igquisition.
Also present at the NME party was pop-PR-publicist Simon Hayes who may
have made the aspiring model believe that he was her agent. Up till now
The Church couldn’t trace the man although several attempts to contact
him have been made.
But this is no time for grief, let us rejoice, rejoice, as today, so
declares the Church, is Ig’s day. And celebrate we will…
In the summer of 2006 Denis Combet, professor at Brandon
University, wrote a collection of poems as a tribute to the musician
and painter Roger Keith Barrett who passed away in Cambridge on the 7th
of July 2006. The poems highlight the life of the young artist as a
nonconformist who preferred – or was forced – to withdraw from the music
world for a more humble existence.
About a year later, part of the collection was published under the title Guitars
and Dust Dancing, in the student webzine Ecclectica (site no longer
active), together with art work from Lou Visentin and music from Pascal
Mascheroni.
The poems describe fragments of Barrett’s life, his youth, his hometown,
his friends and relatives and the collection contain poems dedicated to
and inspired by David Gilmour, Gala Pinion, Lindsay Corner, Nick Mason,
Rick Wright, Roger Waters, Rosemary Breen and Winifred Barrett. And one
of them From Quetesh
to Bastet
is all about Ig.
From Quetesh to Bastet
Quetesh, Majestic.
Iggy
the Eskimo, Girl of space.
Often very alone, But
always a friend.
Star fallen from the black sky: Solar,
solitary, solstice, soloist.
Pale blue crystal dawn, pearl
wine dusk. A mauve Venus, disrobed on the silk orange milky way.
Magical
music, medieval Median, magnetic: Even in worlds where love is
impossible.
Transcended, transparent, translucent,
transitory: Life together unconditionally and forever.
And
that black cat caressing him with a glance, the night. The malefic
vision of Lucifer Sam.
Denis Combet had originally written the poetic cycle in French and when
the Reverend contacted him to get permission to publish the above the
Church also asked for the original to be published as well. It is with
great proudness that we hereafter present the original version of the
Iggy poem that, as far as we know, has never been published before… Just
another world exclusive of the Holy Church of Iggy the Inuit.
De Quétesh à Bastet
Quétesh, Impériale.
Iggy
l’Esquimo, Fille de l’espace.
Souvent très
seule, Mais toujours amie.
Étoile tombée du ciel noir: Solaire,
solitaire, solstice, soliste
Aube de cristal bleu pâle,
crépuscule de vin de perles. Une Vénus mauve, dénudée sur voie
lactée de soie orangée.
Musique magique, médique
médiévale, magnétique: Même dans des univers où
l’amour est impossible.
Transcendée, transparente,
translucide, transitoire: La vie ensemble sans détours et pour
toujours.
Et ce chat noir qui le caresse du regard, la nuit. La
vision maléfique de Lucifer Sam.
Originally it was planned to launch a separate website
(poemstosydbarrett.com) in 2008 containing the complete works (poems,
music and art) and to publish the cycle in book form. But due to the
high costs involved to print an art book the author is still looking for
a publisher who would be interested. For the time being the Reverend
wants to invite you all to read the poems, have a look at the artwork
and listen to the music at Ecclectica: Guitars and Dust Dancing (website
no longer active).
The Reverend wants to thank Dr. Denis Combet for his permission to
publish the Ig poems on this space. And with this final message comes an
end to the official proceedings of the first anniversary of The Holy
Church of Iggy the Inuit. Let's have some booze and party! Rejoice,
rejoice, we have no choice but… to carry on… A la
prochaine, my friends, et ne fait pas ce que Iggy ne ferait pas…
Update 31 12 2013: The original Ecclectica and Poems To
Syd Barrett links no longer work. In 2011 Denis Combet allowed the
Church to upload his poems and artwork as a Flash 'pageFlip' book: Crystal
Blue Postcards.
Update 19 12 2018: As Flash will soon be a thing from the past Crystal
Blue Postcards is now available as a PDF flipbook:
Crystal Blue Postcards, exclusively for the Holy Church of Iggy the Inuit.
Notes: Born in Marseille, France in 1955, Professor Denis
Combet holds a doctorate from the Universit de Nancy II. Since 1975 he
works in Canada at the University of Manitoba, the College Universitaire
de Saint-Boniface, and the University of Victoria. He is currently an
associate professor in Arts > Languages at Brandon University (Brandon,
Manitoba, Canada).
Dr. Denis Combet is (co-)author of several historical works and articles: º
Gabriel Dumont, Mémoires/Memoirs was nominated by the
Manitoba Writing and Publishing Awards for the Alexander Kennedy
Isbister Award, Winnipeg 2007. º In Search for the Western
Sea/A la recherche de la mer de l’Ouest, mémoires choisis de La
Vérendrye, Selected journals of La Vérendrye was selected
by The Globe and Mail (November 24, 2001, p. D 40) among the «Best of
the year» 2001, in the category Gift-History. It was nominated by the
Manitoba Writing and Publishing Awards, for five awards, and won two,
Best Design, and the Mac Williams Awards, for best Popular History book.
The above poems are the property of Denis Combet and are
protected by international copyright laws. You may not reproduce,
modify, distribute or republish materials contained on this site (either
directly or by linking) without prior written permission from the
author.
Authorised subsidiaries: The Holy Church of Iggy the Inuit Youtube
channel The Holy Church of Iggy the Inuit Facebook Fanpage
Some exciting news arrived last weekend through a Pink Floyd portal.
Alex Paterson, head spinner of the band The Orb, said in an interview
that he and David Gilmour had entered a studio ‘to work on an album’.
The news was vague and titillating enough to make all kind of
assumptions. Did this mean that LX & DG were attempting a Fireman
trick à la Youth and Paul McCartney? Perhaps Alex had finally lured Dave
in his spider web with a little help from Guy
Pratt who can be found as bass player and co-composer on several
Orb, Pink Floyd and David Gilmour records from the past? (Pratt and
Paterson also teamed up in a band called the Transit
Kings.)
The Orb's record output is prolific and even then a lot of tunes and
mixes stay hidden in the closet until LX decides to put them on a
compilation album somewhere. They just celebrated a third release in the Orbsessions
series from record company Malicious
Damage and according to some online reviews I read it is either
brilliant or utterly irritating, which makes it typically Orb, I guess.
I haven't bought Baghdad Batteries yet, my days that I ran to the
shop to get me their latest release are over as The Orb has left my
attention span somewhat thanks to the record Okie Dokie that
wasn't okie dokie at all but a mediocre Thomas
Fehlmann album with the brand name glued over it to sell a few extra
copies more.
The Orb The Dream.
It took me over a year to listen to The Dream that followed Okie
Dokie and although it has Youth (Martin Glover) written all over it the
result is pretty average. Not pretty average as in pretty
average but pretty average as in pretty but
nevertheless a bit average. Probably I’ll get to Baghdad
Batteries one of these days but I wouldn’t hold my breath, if I were you…
Although one fan found that the announcement came about two decades and
a half too late the GilmOrb collaboration is making both Floyd
and Orb communities very excited but excitement is something David
Gilmour does not favour anymore in his line of work. This week the
following comment could be found on his official website…
David & Orb Rumours True – Up To A Point
Recent comments by ambient exponents The Orb's Alex Paterson that they
have been collaborating with David Gilmour are true – up to a point.
David has done some recording with The Orb and producer Youth, inspired
initially by the plight of Gary
McKinnon. However, nothing is finalised, and nothing has been
confirmed with regards to any structure for the recordings or firm
details re: any release plans.
In other words: forget it…
Update 2010: as the Metallic
Spheres collaboration album came out in 2010, the above article was
a tad too pessimistic. For a (partial) review, check here: The
Relic Samples
Last summer the Church wrote about Iggy’s noticed visit at the
Cromwellian club in November 1966, where the dance-crew of Ready Steady
Go! were launching the latest dance-craze The
Bend.
The club existed since 1964 or 1965 and in the autumn of that year
jazz-singer, writer, critic and generally bad tempered journalist Georges
Melly wrote a piece about the place, that was later re-printed in
his excellent account of the pop art days in Britain Revolt
Into Style. In contradiction with most flower power studies his
book did not appear two decades or more after the facts happened. Melly
wrote his essays when Swingin’ London was still swinging although it was
slightly running out of breath. The Reverend finds it funny how many of
the anecdotes that Melly has noted on the spot can now be found in other
books.
The Church’s archive had a copy of this work for ages, but dark forces
made it disappear into the same vortex that also swallows the Reverend’s
second sock when he is in search for a clean nice pair. But this summer
the book miraculously re-appeared from the vaults of Atagong mansion. As
the book has been long out of print we hereby re-print Mr. George
Melly’s reflections. The Church is confident he won’t mind…
The Cromwellian
I don't know the details of Roy Harrod's quarrel
with the Cromwellian, but there is no doubt that it is ‘out'.
I went there six months ago (early 1965, FA) and it was full of
well-known faces. On my recent two visits I recognized nobody.
Bart Kimber, the general manager, says he is delighted. 'It's back to
sanity and smartness' is the way he puts it. He hated the place full of
paint-stained jeans and last century T-shirts. 'We get three distinct
crowds,' he told me, 'downstairs the younger set. We offer them
name-groups, and records introduced by disc jockeys from the pirate
radio stations. In the ground floor bar, there's a higher age group,
drinkers you see. While upstairs there's gambling. Would you care to
look around?'
The club is in a large house in the Cromwell Road. It too is decorated
in the baronial style except here there are suits of armour and old
master reproductions in heavy gold frames. The basement has murals of
nymphs seducing puritans, and is very noisy. The atmosphere of the whole
complex is relaxed and pleasant. 'Nobody rushes' is how Mr Kimber puts
it. The prices seem very reasonable. 'Here,' he says, ‘the artists are
not being fleeced, but they're just too high for the kids.' Quite a lot
of pop performers still come; Georgie Fame, the Zombies, the New Faces,
Jonathan King were all there on one night he told me, and Dusty
likes it. What about the top groups, I asked. 'We have them here
occasionally,' he said, 'and we're pleased to see them, but were not
desperate.' The club was full and spending so I am inclined to believe
him. I asked him who his clientele was. 'A lot of continental people,
film extras, hairdressers, P.R.OS, advertising people, no boxers. They
cause bother, but quite a few wrestlers.' In fact the club is owned by
five wrestlers so of course it's natural that they have never had any
trouble.
'Look,' said Mr Kimber, 'of course we're successful. Parking's easy out
here, and you can get stoned out of your eyeballs for 2£. We don't want
to be in.'
Rod Harrod
George Melly’s description starts with the observation that a certain Roy
Harrod has had some troubles with the Cromwellian. Rod (not Roy)
Harrod had been attached to The Cromwellian but offered his services to The
Scotch of St James club after a quarrel with the owners. Rod Harrod,
who made some fame in the city as a music journalist, knew several bands
personally and had enough influence to invite them to the club that he
favoured. When he left The Crom that club was out and, in a
matter of weeks, The Scotch of St. James was in. Harrod’s guests
weren’t second grade. The Beatles, The Stones and The Animals eagerly
accepted his invitations (consumptions were always on the house for
these bands). Although the club obviously benefited from these famous
visitors Roy Harrod tried to respect their privacy, George Melly tells
the story how a visitor, who had the audacity to ask George Harrison for
an autograph, was immediately removed from the club. His account ends
with the fact that Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon would arrive in
five minutes, reason enough for George Melly to go home.
Rod Harrod had a nose for bands and singers and on the 24th of September
1966 he invited a young American guitarist to have a blues jam on stage.
The contract, hastily written on a napkin, was signed by an unknown
artist called Jimi Hendrix. (back to George Melly's
Cromwellian essay)
Update 2010: Rod Harrod has shared some of his memories with the
Reverend: Rod
Harrod remembers The CromJust another world exclusive of
the Holy Church of Iggy the Inuit.
Ready Steady Go!
Regular visitors of the Church will know that the Reverend strongly
beliefs in a connection between Ig and Ready Steady Go! The evidence is
rather flimsy to say the least, but George Melly’s account adds another
piece of the puzzle that may prove this theory.
When George Melly interviewed Bart Kimber that last one claimed that
Dusty (Springfield) liked the Cromwellian (autumn of 1965). The next
year Ig was spotted by NME on a Cromwellian RSG!-party
and the person who (probably) introduced Ig to Syd Barrett maintains
that Ig invited her ‘once to a party with Dusty Springfield and
crew’ (see When
Syd met Iggy).
So far for this weeks sermon from the Reverend, go in peace, sistren
and brethren, and don’t do anything that Iggy wouldn’t have done.
Sources (other than the above internet links):
Melly, George: Revolt Into Style – The Pop Arts In Britain,
Penguin Books, Harmondsworth, 1972, p. 98-101.
