Syd Barrett, co-founder and first lead singer with Pink Floyd died today.

RIP

he was the man and I liked him much better tham Roger.

http://arts.guardian.co.u...?gusrc=rss



Syd Barrett with the original Pink Floyd lineup. Photograph: Dezo Hoffmann/Rex

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."

How ironic. I just finished reading "A Saucerful of Secrets" a book about Pink Floyd two days ago. I've been on a Floyd kick recently (all versions) and I'm going to pick up Pulse DVD today. This is very sad but at least he's in a better place and at peace finally.
Shine on you crazy diamond...
RIP

I was sad to read this when I got the news this morning.

"Dark Globe"

This is the saddest news.
Syd was a fantastic performer and lyricist.
I do believe he was happy in his world away from the music scene,
and I hope he knew how much he was and will be missed.
Steven.

The real leader of Pink Floyd. Their history, and probably rock's history, would have been so different if Syd had been healthier.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Hugely influential on generations of pop/ rock music that came after him. David Bowie has cited Barrett as an influence (and I can see why). Also, Marc Bolan of T-Rex was greatly influenced by Barrett.

I'm no great Barrett/ Floyd fan, but respect where it's due. Though I like some of Floyd's later music, I always found it odd that most of their work was based on 'melancholy remembrance' of their original leader, who they apparently let go from the band (however understandably judging by his then condition).

Apparently Barrett was fairly well off later in life, in part due to the royalties from his Pink Floyd and solo albums.

I always thought it interesting that he never attempted any kind of comeback or did any interviews after the mid-70s, a decision taken partly due to his condition and partly cos he didn't want to return to music.

According to the 'Saucerful of Secrets' book, in the '80s Barrett fancied being 'something big in the City', a businessman with a briefcase etc. This dream, of course, never materialised and he seemed to spend his days living alone painting (I think) and avoiding journos and fans, with whom he had no desire/ interest in speaking to, about a period of his life that no longer had meaning for him.

And why not?

I read that he made an attempt to rejoin Floyd around the time of Wish You Were Here (ironically), showing up in the studio even, but it never panned out.

Last I'd heard (though it's all rumors) was he wouldn't even talk about music, let alone Floyd.

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