MarcO Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Syd Barrett dies aged 60 Audrey Gillan Tuesday July 11, 2006 Syd Barrett, the former lead singer of Pink Floyd and one of the key figures of the 60s, has died at the Cambridgeshire home to which he retreated as a recluse more than 30 years ago. The Guardian has learned that the singer, 60, who suffered from a psychedelic-drug induced breakdown while at the peak of his career, died last Friday from complications related to diabetes. His brother Alan confirmed his death, saying only: "He died peacefully at home. There will be a private family funeral in the next few days." Born Roger Keith Barrett in Cambridge in 1946, he acquired the nickname Syd aged 15. He left Pink Floyd in 1968, just as the band was about to achieve worldwide recognition, and lived in the basement of his mother Winfred's semi-detached house, where he boarded up the windows to keep out the eyes of both the press and fans. He recorded two solo albums. Pink Floyd's Shine on You Crazy Diamond, from the 1975 album Wish You Were Here, was said by many to be a salute to him. Barrett's use of drugs, particularly LSD, in the 60s, was well-documented and he was often described as the original acid casualty. Dave Gilmour, the Pink Floyd guitarist drafted in to the band during a period in which Barrett was behaving erratically, said in an interview earlier this year that he thought that Barrett's breakdown would have happened anyway. He said: "It was a deep-rooted thing. But I'll say the psychedelic experience might well have acted as a catalyst. Still, I just don't think he could deal with the vision of success and all the things that went with it." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edger Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Hopefully now he can find some peace.Tip of the hat to poor old Syd... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
\/\/illy Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Goodbye Syd. May you rest in peace. Thank you for sharing what you had while you could. You touched many of us and we will forever be grateful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hux Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 On a related note (sorta) the Pulse DVD comes out today.RIP Syd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chameleon Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Shame! Madcaplaughs and Opel are amazing records... RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esau. Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Sad news. Guess its time to dust this old gem off in honor of Syd. SYNOPSIS Before the soft acid ballads like "Dark Side of The Moon," British rock band Pink Floyd was an entirely different animal. This was largely due to the presence of musician Syd Barrett, a slightly insane, drug-addicted guitarist with a particular genius for writing psychedelic, oddly beautiful gems of songs. His mental state spiralling, Barrett left Pink Floyd in 1968, and many would argue that the band was all the worse for it. SYD BARRETT'S FIRST TRIP is an odd little short -- rare Super 8 footage (taken by his film student friend Nigel Gordon) which documents the madly brilliant man's first trip on magic mushrooms. Filmed in 1966, this footage marks Barrett's first step into the disintegrating fog of hallucinatory drugs. In addition, a video capturing Pink Floyd's 1967 signing to EMI Records -- a historic exchange which took place outside Abbey Road Studios -- is also included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcO Posted July 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Remember when you were young You shone like the sun. Shine on you crazy diamond! Now there's a look in your eyes Like black holes in the sky. Shine on you crazy diamond You were caught on the cross fire of childhood and stardom, Blown on the steel breeze. Come on you target for faraway laughter Come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine! You reached for the secret too soon. You cried for the moon. Shine on you crazy diamond! Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light. Shine on you crazy diamond. Well you wore out your welcome with random precision, rode on the steel breeze. Come on you raver, you seer of visions, come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine! Syd Barrett at Abbey Road Studios, 1975 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradm Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 I have a memory of seeing nero do "Shine On..." at a CTMF back in 2001 or 2002; I think it was Saturday night, and the headliner was a Pink Floyd cover/tribute band (who weren't that good, from what I remember).Aloha,Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Very sad news. Thanks for all you gave us Syd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimmyB Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 May you rest in peace Syd,As we all know you did not have too much peace while you were here.Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briguy Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 RIPThere's a tribute on Q107 right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afro poppa Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 RIPPink Floyd was the first bands I really got into in my early teens. I hope Syd is at peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Im going home Donny Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 ((((((a)(Syd))))))) RIP up the gates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazykorey Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 An insperation and influence on all who listened to his music and those that knew him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcO Posted July 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 (edited) Here's the last known photo of Syd: Edited July 11, 2006 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenenbaum Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 i'll never forget trippin at the Floyd show in 94 and random folk walking by me asking, "have you seen my friend Syd"!?!?he was quite the poet! The last couple lines to Jugband Blues (Syd's last song for Floyd; which boggles my mind it was even included on Saucerfull) always brings a chill:"And what exactly is a dream? And what exactly is a joke?"-Jugband Blues, 1967the video makes it even creepierhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=uauvKDZ33Rs&search=jugband%20blues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenenbaum Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 on another note, I'd like to thank Jon Fishman for introducing me to solo Syd material. I found it peculiar that Fishman would sing Syd solo songs like Terrapin and Love You (he also performed Baby Lemonade once). Although Floyd was my favorite group in the world in my youth, it took me a while to dip into solo Syd due to the vast amount of Floyd material. But it was all gravy once I purchased The Madcap Laughs!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcO Posted July 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 this is still one of the freakiest rock band photos ever, in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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