Shine on you crazy diamond!
Founding member of Pink Floyd and one of the architects of psychedelic music Roger Keith ‘Syd’ Barrett reportedly died from complications related to diabetes on Friday July 7, 2006. Some are saying it may have been cancer. His brother Alan only said that he died peacefully at home in Cambridge, England. He was 60.
Syd Barrett was more to me than just some tragic drug casualty of the 1960s culture. His LSD use was notorious and it did indeed lead to his final mental breakdown in 1969. Even so, he was one of the most influential forces in my musical life.It was thru listening to songs like ‘See Emily Play’, ‘Bike’, ‘Apples & Oranges’ and many others that I discovered ways to blur the fine barrier between what should be done and what can be done.
Thankfully I was able to get there without the burden of hallucinogens. In a weird way I can credit Syd for that as well. Knowing his story kept me away from mind-altering, synthetic drugs. I chose instead to explore the mire of the mind free from the unpredictable effects of some urban chemical kitchen product.
Yes it is true that many, including his friends and family, have said that even without the LSD his breakdown was inevitable. Syd’s was a fragile self simply not equipped to handle life, let alone the searing heat of the limelight. Still the seemingly debilitating effects this all had on him did not squash his creative genius. Bending and blending avant-gard, pop and clever lyrics into a purely original and influential musical stew.
One of the most chillingly sad songs from Syd is ‘Jug Band Blues’, his only contribution to the 1968 Pink Floyd album ‘A Saucerful of Secrets’. It was basically his farewell to the band in which he sarcastically thanks them for letting him feel unwelcome.
It’s awfully considerate of you to think of me here
And I’m most obliged to you four men making it clear
That I’m not here
The tragic themes of insanity, fame, depression and such inspired by Syd Barrett’s downfall would resurface often in the latter-day Pink Floyd. None however were more obvious than on the 1975 album ‘Wish You Were Here’.
Barrett actually showed up unannounced on the day the tribute song ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’ was being recorded. He had gained weight and shaved off all of his hair, including his eyebrows. He did things like attempting to brush his teeth by holding a toothbrush still and jumping up and down.
The band did not recognize him at first. After Roger Waters realized who this person was, he broke down in tears. Later, in ‘The Wall’ they would once again pay tribute of sorts when the main character Pink shaves his body after succumbing to the pressures of fame.
In 1970 Syd released two albums; ‘The Madcap Laughs’ in January and ‘Barrett’ in November. These two recordings were classic Syd on which he received help from his former Pink Floyd mates Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Rick Wright. One of the producers named Peter Jennings got Syd back in to the studio in 1974,
but little came of it. Attempts after that by all sorts of artists and bands including The Damned to get him to record again proved futile.
In 1988, ‘Opel’ was released which contained alternate versions of songs from the two Abbey Road sessions in 1970. It is believed that there is even more still available somewhere although little has been found. Some gems have surfaced over the years but not much was discovered in the vaults of the studios. Maybe someday they will be found to shine more light on his enigmatic brilliance.
‘The Best of Syd Barrett: Wouldn’t You Miss Me?’ was released in September 2001 and contained one of the lost tracks from the 1970 sessions with David Gilmour called ‘Bob Dylan Blues’. Also available is an acclaimed bootleg 19-disc audio/visual compilation called ‘Have You Got It Yet?’. It consists of—among
other things—live performances and several of the lost tracks from Abbey Road.
Despite selling the rights to his solo work back to the record label, it’s good to know that at least Syd was not a complete victim of the sort of greed that runs rampant in the music industry. Up until his death, Barrett still received royalties from his work with Pink Floyd including some of the later live albums and compilations that featured his songs. David Gilmour has commented in the past that he made sure the money got to Syd alright.
Rest in peace Syd. Thanks for the inspiration.
See Also:
Have You Got It Yet? [19-Disk Compilation]
Madcaps Laughing Yahoo! Group
Syd Barrett’s Documented Acid Trip
Pink Floyd – Apples And Oranges
Pink Floyd – Jugband Blues
Pink Floyd – Arnold Layne
Buy Syd’s Music at Amazon:
