London’s commuters can celebrate both The Charlatans and the designer of the original tube map Harry Beck this Saturday (4 June) with an Underground Treasure Hunt organised by Tim Burgess.
To mark what would have been the birthday of Beck and to complete a trilogy of graphic adaptations that have previously seen the band’s songs turned into books covers and a periodic table, the group have joined the noble tradition of immortalising their tunes on their own version of the Tube Map – which the singer will be giving away for free!
Burgess will have 500 maps – designed by Marcus Hislop and Nick Fraser – in 500 Charlatans Oyster Card holders which he will leave around the Tube as he visits some of his favourite places in London throughout Saturday.
The treasure hunt will culminate with a DJ set by the singer at The Amersham Arms in New Cross where the first 100 people through the door will also get a map and card holder.
In addition to the maps, Brgess will also be “drop lifting” the first copies of his brand new book – Tim Book 2 which recounts his vinyl adventures from Istanbul to San Francisco – in charity shops around the capital too.
“We always had the idea for three pieces of artwork, The Periodic Table, All The Books and The Tune Map is the final piece of the jigsaw,” Burgess tells Q.
“They were all about classic designs and we thought we’d do something on Harry Beck’s birthday – he designed the original tube map but has been a little bit forgotten over the years”
For more and to track Tim’s Tube journey follow him on twitter.
