syd barrett... sadly passed away

Cohen Kid · Post by **Cohen Kid** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:05 pm

Did anybody else of you know of Syd Barrett, of PinkFloyd????
He died today...

very sad

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:05 pm

I was saddened to hear of his death too, a complete and unwelcome surprise.

I hope my neighbours forgive me for indulging my sudden desire to play 'Arnold Layne' and 'See Emily Play' very loudly.

It's been nice to see David Gilmour and Pink Floyd continue playing his songs over the years, and fitting that when Gilmour played on 'Later with Jools Holland' recently, he closed the show with 'Arnold Layne', with Rick Wright on keyboard.

Tim

Cohen Kid · Post by **Cohen Kid** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 1:04 am

Yeah, I saw some internet videos of that. Rick Wright even sang Arnold Layne. I played the first couple of singles and the complete Piper LP very loudly this evening. Tomorrow I'll hear some of Madcap laughs (although I heard it only recently)

SWITZ · Post by **SWITZ** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 2:24 am

I never knew much about him but for over an hour I've been reading about his music and influences on others. As I get emotional about something or someone a song comes to the surface and this time. "Take a pebble" by Emerson Lake & Palmer.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 5:36 am

I didn't know much about the individual members of Pink Floyd, pretty much just the group as a whole. However, losing any of their members [past or present] is saddening. It sounds as though he died sooner than his age would suggest he should have. My friend, Phil, I know will be impacted by his death. My condolences remain.

~ Lizzy

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:36 am

I just saw the news... They said he actually died on Friday (age 61, diabetes). Deeply shocked. RIP. I always thought he was above Pink Floyd. His individual "best of" CD issued few years back told everything. He was crazy, but the genius in many ways.

Davido · Post by **Davido** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:04 pm

"Remember when you were young,you shone like the sun. Shine on you crazy diamond."......wherever you are. RIP

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:02 pm

The account I just read says 60, but it's so close, regardless.

Anyway, this is what was heartening to see:

His former bandmates made sure Barrett continued to receive royalties from his work with Pink Floyd.

~ Lizzy

Bobbie · Post by **Bobbie** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:18 am

I heard a little tribute to Syd on the radio today - said that sometime in the late 60's, after taking a lot of LSD, he suddenly gave up music. He walked from London to Cambridge, to his mother's house, moved in, and had been there ever since, going on 40 years or so. They said he never played the guitar again, and as far as anyone knows, never wrote another song. He spent his days gardening, going out for the mail, the market, eating fast food (a lot of it, apparently) talking to the neighbours, and that he was able to carve out a modest living with royalty checks. The commentator played bits and pieces of Pink Floyd music, talked a little about some of the people he influenced - David Bowie, for instance, who said he was "very" influenced by him, and was greatly saddened to hear the news. Syd also influenced the Washington Post Radio commentator (I forget his name) who gave quite a sad, yet joyful and heartfelt tribute, interspersed with bits of Pink Floyd music, and a couple things from Syd's solo album as well, and who closed with saying... "See you on the dark side of the moon, Syd."

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:40 am

He was a handsome, young lad... from the photo I saw of the four of them together, in the beginning. That's a poignant sign-off by the commentator. It seems the LSD had a permanent impact on his mental/emotional health, from what I've been able to gather. One of the true casualties of the Sixties' drug scene.

~ Lizzy

Diane · Post by **Diane** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 12:54 pm

Sometimes there is a fine line between genuis and 'madness', and the unusual mind probably came before the drug-taking. He had that sad, haunted look in his eyes when he was young. In peace now.

I was about 12 years old when I first heard Wish You Were Here, the song from the album of the same name which was dedicated to him. The words, "Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail, a smile from a veil, do you think you can tell..." were the first ever words from a song to grip me.

A tribute video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_jxkchl ... %20barrett

Diane

Andrew McGeever · Post by **Andrew McGeever** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:32 am

Lat night I saw an excellent B.B.C. Omnibus programme about Syd Barrett (originally a B.B.C. 4 programme, shown on B.B.C. 2 ).
One of the many fascinating aspects of the programme was the story (told by the band members) of the recording of "Shine on you crazy Diamond". The band were about lay the track (dedicated to, and entirely about Syd), when this fat, bald character entered the studio and stood at the back, silently jumping up and down. Nobody knew who he was, least of all the band. It was only when they looked into his eyes that they realised it was Syd. This was 1973.
I find that story so disturbing, so sad, so awful.

Andrew.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:33 am

Very sad indeed...
shame I missed it on tv, but I think I have seen it earlier

(Cohen Kid) · Post by **(Cohen Kid)** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:34 am

sorry, didn't know I wasn't logged in, I'm not GUEST hahaha... I'm Cohen Kid

John · Post by **John** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 6:34 pm

Hi CK,
I was lucky enough to see Syd live at Olympia in 1970. He nervously poked his head out from behind the curtain a few times before he came onstage, and then came out and sang a handful of songs. It's ironic that Arthur Lee should die so close to Syd, because Arthur was one of Syd's influences. Both were eccentric geniuses. All the best, John E

syd barrett... sadly passed away

syd barrett... sadly passed away

Syd, bless him...