R.I.P. Syd Barrett [Archive]

F-Stop

07-11-2006, 10:31 AM

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1152611583251&call_pageid=968867495754&col=969483191630

Pink Floyd's Barrett dies
Jul. 11, 2006. 10:22 AM
JILL LAWLESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS

LONDON — Syd Barrett, the troubled genius who co-founded Pink Floyd but spent his last years in reclusive anonymity, has died, a spokeswoman for the band said Tuesday. He was 60.
The spokeswoman — who declined to give her name until the band made an official announcement — confirmed media reports that he had died. She said Barrett died several days ago. She did not disclose the cause of death.

Barrett co-founded Pink Floyd in 1965 with Roger Waters and wrote many of the band’s early songs. The group’s jazz-infused rock made them darlings of the London psychedelic scene, and the 1967 album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn — largely written by Barrett — was a commercial and critical hit.

Barrett’s behavior grew increasingly erratic, and he left the group in 1968. He spent much of the rest of his life living quietly in his hometown of Cambridge, England.

The band spokeswoman said a small, private funeral would be held.

R.I.P. Syd...

liltimmy

07-11-2006, 10:34 AM

That's a shame ... guy made some cool records.

metulj

07-11-2006, 10:39 AM

He was PF's best stuff.

fluffy

07-11-2006, 10:52 AM

funny, i thought he had already died.

jah

07-11-2006, 10:52 AM

He was PF's best stuff.
Other than Piper, were any of their other famous albums his?

fluffy

07-11-2006, 10:54 AM

Other than Piper, were any of their other famous albums his?

i thought he played on like 1/4 of Saucerful or somethin.

skirob

07-11-2006, 10:55 AM

funny, i thought he had already died.
Me too.

jah

07-11-2006, 10:56 AM

Me too.
naw; just his career....

F-Stop

07-11-2006, 10:58 AM

Other than Piper, were any of their other famous albums his?

I think A Saucerful of Secrets was also to his credit.

He went into seclusion in 1968 I think. Someone said he went and lived with his mom in Cambridge?

metulj

07-11-2006, 11:12 AM

Other than Piper, were any of their other famous albums his?

I stand by my statement. PF was OK after Syd settled in with mum for a lifetime of tea, warm sweaters and anti-psychotics. Well, up to Darkside of the Moon. After that, the output of that band approaches RUSH-like dreck.

jeffx

07-11-2006, 11:15 AM

I stand by my statement. PF was OK after Syd settled in with mum for a lifetime of tea, warm sweaters and anti-psychotics. Well, up to Darkside of the Moon. After that, the output of that band approaches RUSH-like dreck.

bleh. the early stuff is great, but you can't front on animals. or meddle. or more.

gypsy

07-11-2006, 11:16 AM

he was supposedly painting in his latter years. i wonder if the canvases will come out now. (and whether they'll be any good. probably not, i suppose.)

a pretty sad case. but on the other hand, as far as the severely mentally ill go, he probably had a better life than a lot of people. didn't end up huddling in doorways or anything. r.i.p.

metulj

07-11-2006, 11:19 AM

bleh. the early stuff is great, but you can't front on animals. or meddle. or more.

By "OK," I mean "great." I like "Animals" a lot. I have no use for "The Division Bell" for example. Snoooooorrrrrrreeeeee.

rivers

07-11-2006, 11:21 AM

Other than Piper, were any of their other famous albums his?

His solo stuff is great .

Check out Barrett and Opel.
If you like Robyn Hitchcock you will love those 2 albums.

I love Sid but I think I like Floyd better with Gilmour.

jeffx

07-11-2006, 11:26 AM

By "OK," I mean "great." I like "Animals" a lot. I have no use for "The Division Bell" for example. Snoooooorrrrrrreeeeee.

oh shit. you gone an' done it now, son. i smell a triple j attack on the winds.

p.s.- yeah, the post-waters stuff is dishwater dull.

jah

07-11-2006, 11:37 AM

His solo stuff is great .

Check out Barrett and Opel.
If you like Robyn Hitchcock you will love those 2 albums.

I love Sid but I think I like Floyd better with Gilmour.
Robyn Hitchcock makes me want to hurt kittens.

I pretty much like everything that Pink Floyd put out, from the early years through Division Bell, although the albums are of varying quality to be sure.

Ellipsis

07-11-2006, 11:47 AM

Wow. It's strange that he's gone only now, it seems like he died over 30 years ago. I wouldn't say that he was involved in creating any of Floyd's best work. But I've often heard it said that he provided the subject matter for a lot of their later work. Two of their three great albums, 'Wish You Were Here' and 'The Wall', can easily be seen as dealing with Barret's life, that of a brilliant young talent who couldn't hold it all together.

fluffy

07-11-2006, 12:21 PM

I stand by my statement. PF was OK after Syd settled in with mum for a lifetime of tea, warm sweaters and anti-psychotics. Well, up to Darkside of the Moon. After that, the output of that band approaches RUSH-like dreck.

actually to me Dark Side on is pretty bad. i always though DSOTM was overrated, but after that it seemed to really get worse. thats what happens when you let Roger take over i suppose.

fluffy

07-11-2006, 12:22 PM

After that, the output of that band approaches RUSH-like dreck.

a really, really, really, really depressed Rush.

fluffy

07-11-2006, 12:24 PM

he was supposedly painting in his latter years. i wonder if the canvases will come out now. (and whether they'll be any good. probably not, i suppose.).

wont really matter if they are good or not-im sure they will be worth a fortune now that hes dead. like at jerry Garcia's crap-junk, but worth a lot.

fluffy

07-11-2006, 12:26 PM

p.s.- yeah, the post-waters stuff is dishwater dull.

the live shows were an event though.

earlnemo

07-11-2006, 12:48 PM

I've always been a Roger Waters fan. The operatic lyrics, story-telling.
Always felt maybe he was carrying on the seed of Syd's maddness/brillance, as best he could.

From Amused To Death "Perfect Sense, Part I"

The monkey sat on a pile of stone
And he stared at the broken bone in his hand
Strains of a Viennese quartet
Rang out across the land

And the monkey looked up at the stars
And he thought to himself
Memory is a stranger
History is for fools
And he cleaned his hands
In a pool of holy writing
Turned his back on the garden
And set out for the nearest town

Hold on, hold on soldier
When you add it all up
The tears and the marrowbone
There's an ounce of gold
And an ounce of pride in each ledger
And the Germans killed the Jews
And the Jews killed the Arabs
And the Arabs killed the hostages
And that is the news
And is it any wonder
That the monkey's confused
He said Mama, Mama
The President's a fool
Why do I have to keep reading
These technical manuals
And the joint chiefs of staff
And the brokers on Wall Street said
Don't make us laugh
You're a smart kid
Time is linear
Memory is a stranger
History's for fools
Man is a tool in the hands
Of the great God Almighty
And they gave him command
Of a nuclear submarine
And sent him back in search of
The Garden of Eden

Gray

07-11-2006, 12:49 PM

This is, indeed, sad news. There's a famous story, albeit possibly apocryphal, that Syd turned up at the studio (Abbey Road, perhaps?) while Pink Floyd was recording "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" (a song ABOUT Syd), bald and having gained about 100 pounds, wandered around a bit, and then vanished. Waters/Gilmour/Wright/Mason were allegedly moved to tears by this incident.

As Rivers said, there are, indeed, traces of genius in Syd's solo albums, fractured though they may be. "Dark Globe" is an absolutely stunning song.

jah

07-11-2006, 01:12 PM

rikki

07-11-2006, 01:43 PM

First Timothy Leary, now Syd. This proves LSD will kill you.

DeLuxeDrums

07-11-2006, 01:57 PM

Shine on You Crazy Diamond.

I have also heard that when he appeared during the "Wish You Were Here" sessions at Abbey Road, he was brushing his teeth in the control room while wandering around. Strange but interesting.

Lee G

07-11-2006, 01:59 PM

This is, indeed, sad news. There's a famous story, albeit possibly apocryphal, that Syd turned up at the studio (Abbey Road, perhaps?) while Pink Floyd was recording "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" (a song ABOUT Syd), bald and having gained about 100 pounds, wandered around a bit, and then vanished. Waters/Gilmour/Wright/Mason were allegedly moved to tears by this incident.

I think that's been confirmed from Gilmour, et al, as having actually happened; I seem to recall reading an account of it in a recent Mojo or something.

Floyd were much better adapted to survive and conquer in the '70s and beyond without Syd, but those early PF albums and Syd solo discs are quite charming. It's sad, regardless.

jeffx

07-11-2006, 02:04 PM

the "true" story is that he showed up in the studio while they were recording "shine on you crazy diamond," but none of the band even recognized him for several hours because he had gained a tremendous amount of weight and had shaved off all his hair (including his eyebrows, hence pink in the wall). after they realized who he was, he began to attempt brushing his teeth by holding the toothbrush in place and jumping up and down in the middle of the room. wright and waters were both said to have been reduced to tears by the display.

this is the story as it was handed down to me. so let it be told. forever and ever amen.

Hi Top

07-11-2006, 02:07 PM

bleh. the early stuff is great, but you can't front on animals. or meddle. or more.
Meddle kicks ass and is prob. my fav. but "Pipe" and "Saucerful" are both cool too. I may have to take some acid and listen to Floyd tonight. ;)

jah

07-11-2006, 02:13 PM

I have the PF boxed set. I'd have to say that they have enough different distinctive sounds that they could almost be different bands.

And like I said, I actually like pretty much all of it.

Or did when I was in HS, anyway....

gypsy

07-11-2006, 02:21 PM

First Timothy Leary, now Syd. This proves LSD will kill you.

don't forget cary grant.

JohnnyB

07-11-2006, 02:23 PM

Hey! What's wrong with being bald?

Hair's overrated.

jb

gypsy

07-11-2006, 02:28 PM

syd then...

http://www.pink-floyd.org/barrett/syd_img/syd9.jpg

and about a year ago (doesn't look bad, just like a dude out for a walk):

http://www.pink-floyd.org/barrett/syd_img/roger2005.jpg

Lee G

07-11-2006, 02:48 PM

Handsome lad.

Speaking of Mojo, I imagine they'll run an epic eulogy/tribute. Now that he's gone, maybe some of the mystery of what he's been up to the last, oh, 40 years will be revealed.

fluffy

07-11-2006, 02:48 PM

wow, just looks like the other members of PF do now. wonder if he ever gets stopped on the street.

fluffy

07-11-2006, 02:49 PM

Handsome lad.

Speaking of Mojo, I imagine they'll run an epic eulogy/tribute. Now that he's gone, maybe some of the mystery of what he's been up to the last, oh, 40 years will be revealed.

indeed, heres hoping he kept some memoirs somewhere.

DnB

07-11-2006, 03:00 PM

Handsome lad.

Speaking of Mojo, I imagine they'll run an epic eulogy/tribute. Now that he's gone, maybe some of the mystery of what he's been up to the last, oh, 40 years will be revealed.

I so hope they run some specials. We saw one a couple years ago and it was pretty good. Quite a bit of background on Syd.

Lee G

07-11-2006, 03:26 PM

I so hope they run some specials. We saw one a couple years ago and it was pretty good. Quite a bit of background on Syd.

There's a British music-doc series called Under Review, and they did a Syd episode not long ago. They did one on Captain Beefheart, too. (I just added both to my Netflix queue.)

Sidebar: Isn't it funny how Netflix seems to have single-handedly introduced the term "queue" into everyday use?

DnB

07-11-2006, 03:33 PM

We don't have a queue yet. Maybe some day.

Lee G

07-11-2006, 03:36 PM

Sidebar: Isn't it funny how Netflix seems to have single-handedly introduced the term "queue" into everyday use?

In the U.S., I mean.

fluffy

07-11-2006, 04:01 PM

Sidebar: Isn't it funny how Netflix seems to have single-handedly introduced the term "queue" into everyday use?

not me, ive been using it for years. of course, im a theme park nerd.

DeLuxeDrums

07-11-2006, 04:16 PM

Meddle is my favorite. But all early material is great.

F-Stop

07-11-2006, 04:45 PM

not me, ive been using it for years. of course, im a theme park nerd.

Speaking of which, I recently went to Six Flags over Georgia, and let me tell you, the Gold level flash pass or whatever it's called? Totally worth it.

I would jump on rides ahead of people, and after I got off the rides, pass the very same people still waiting as I left!

I've got a PF album that I haven't listened to in some time, that I think i'll listen to tonight, it's called Outer Zabriskie, recorded November and December 1969. I think it's from a film, but I don't know this for sure...

(I think Barrett had left the band mostly, by then)

fluffy

07-11-2006, 05:04 PM

Speaking of which, I recently went to Six Flags over Georgia, and let me tell you, the Gold level flash pass or whatever it's called? Totally worth it.

I would jump on rides ahead of people, and after I got off the rides, pass the very same people still waiting as I left!

yeah great park. the jumping line pass thing is a beautiful tool indeed.