Syd Barrett (of Pink Floyd) has died

#1

I know Jesper was pretty fond of him...

Pink Floyd founding member Syd Barrett has died, aged 60.

The guitarist, singer and lyricist formed the band in 1965 and was one of its biggest songwriting talents in its early days.

But his behaviour became erratic, and he split with the band in 1968.

He has since lived reclusively in Cambridge.

A spokeswoman for Pink Floyd said: "He died very peacefully a couple of days ago. There will be a private family funeral."

In recent years Barrett reverted to his birth name, Roger Keith Barrett.

He created Pink Floyd with old friend Roger Waters, and became a huge star at the age of 21.

But he could hardly perform during his final days with the band, because he was taking so much of the drug LSD.

When his drug-fuelled behaviour became too much, the band drafted in Dave Gilmour as guitarist, and decided not to pick Barrett up for gigs.

A statement on behalf of the band said: "The band are naturally very upset and sad to learn of Syd Barrett's death.

"Syd was the guiding light of the early band line-up and leaves a legacy which continues to inspire."

At Live 8, when Pink Floyd reunited without Barrett last year, Waters sang Wish You Were Here, which was originally a tribute to Barrett.

Barrett is thought to have named the band after two little-known bluesmen Pink Anderson and Floyd Council, as his record collection was found to include their recordings.

David Bowie paid tribute to Barrett.

"I can't tell you how sad I feel. Syd was a major inspiration for me," he said.

"His impact on my thinking was enormous. A major regret is that I never got to know him. A diamond indeed."

strad · #2

caneparo · #3

RIP crazy diamond

PTfan54 · #4

Ah, bullshit....

Old rockers either die young or live forever...but this was not the case.

#5

PTfan54 wrote:Old rockers either die young or live forever...but this was not the case.

Just look at Jim Morrison or Keith Richards.

Im not a big fan of Pink Floyds work, but this was indeed sad news.

The_Stig · #6

He wasn't the one that owned the enzo was he?

A bit of a fan of Pink Floyd, very sad news.

caneparo · #7

That's Nick Mason who ownes the Gilles Villenuve 312t3 that won the canadian GP.
Barrett developed mental problems at the age of 21.

ASH · #8

RIP

Jesper Hvid · #9

Truth is, the creative genius that was the true essence of Syd died, or rather left this dimension, around 1968. I always wanted to meet Syd at his place in Cambridge, but I just couldn't see any point in doing so, all that was left was just this sorry fat old balding geezer who probably couldn't remember anything anyway from his glorious period of early psychedelic rock. Too many LSD trips destroyed his life, his body and mind. Listen to the albums "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" or "Relics" by Pink Floyd, and you'll hear his particular genius at its apex. His later solo material shows his steady decline into madness. A psychologist, sometime back then, after an interview, called him "incurably insane". A very tragic figure in rock, but still, for his one short burst of sublime creativity, one of the greatest. Shine on you crazy diamond!

Tamusz · #10

As a tribute to him and the band Im only listening to Pink Floyd this week. This is my way of thanking him and bidding farewell.

#11

I tried a little Pink Floyd in the past and didn't like it that much, but maybe I wasn't listening to the right songs. What do you recommend?

caneparo · #12

the piper at the gates of dawn.

Jesper Hvid · #13

Can't seem to shake the sadness. It occurred to me earlier today, that I probably learnt English from listening to the Piper album back in late 70s.

Jesper Hvid · #14

Roger Waters seems to be enjoying considerable success at this inexplicably sudden comebacky stage of his career. Apparently, he has left his WW2 trauma behind, and has sought inspiration in certain miseries of an earlier incarnation. Namely the French revolution, as in: http://www.roger-waters.com/

Alright, well, fine. Bring on the guillotine, and take the sorry wanker's head off. Floyd died the minute Syd left. Even the snotty kids doing the chorus for The Wall, ended up sueing Waters.

I recall, from Astronomy Domine: "icy waters underground".

That ought to have been: "I see Waters underground.".

Shoot the following people, please: Sting, Bono, Yoko Ono, Bob Geldof, Roger Waters, Eddie Irvine.

Thank you.

CevertAngel · #15

RIP Syd .........Shine on you crazy Diamond. As Roger Waters would say.

I had tears in my eyes all day i heard that you died........Its tken my this long to write this.

Ive been a Pink Floyd Fan for a long time and have seen the band in concert about 5 times...........Your music lives on in their music Syd you did the most brilliant job you could.

Now resting.......... Or living it up in Rock n Roll Heaven with Keith Moon,
John Bonham, Jimi Hendrix and all the other gods of rock. Youve earned your place among them.

RIP Syd Barrett.......Only the good die young.