Syd Barrett dead @ 60 (Pink Floyd)

[mithrand1r]

http://www.showbuzz.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/11/people_late_great/main1790469.shtml

Pink Floyd Co-Founder Dead At 60
Syd Barrett Spent His Last Years In Reclusive Anonymity


Syd Barrett, the troubled genius who co-founded Pink Floyd but spent his last years in reclusive anonymity, has died, a spokeswoman for the band said Tuesday. He was 60.

The spokeswoman — who declined to give her name until the band made an official announcement — confirmed media reports that he had died. She said Barrett died several days ago. She did not disclose the cause of death.

Online sources reported that Barrett died July 7 from complications from diabetes.

Barrett co-founded Pink Floyd in 1965 with Roger Waters and wrote many of the band's early songs. The group's jazz-infused rock made them darlings of the London psychedelic scene, and the 1967 album "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" — largely written by Barrett — was a commercial and critical hit.

Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and The Who guitarist Pete Townshend are said to be fans of his early work.

Barrett's behavior grew increasingly erratic, and he left the group in 1968. He released two solo albums — "The Madcap Sessions" and "Barrett" in 1970.

He spent much of the rest of his life living quietly in his hometown of Cambridge, England.

The band spokeswoman said a small, private funeral would be held.




Although Syd has been in seclusion for many years, his influence on Pink Floyd was huge. I liked several of his lyrics to early Pink Floyd music. (See Emily Play, Bike and others.)

He will be missed by many in the music world. :(

[Butterbeer]

diamond geeza


rip.

[Elfhelm]

Birdy Hop, he do! So long, Syd.

I really didn't like the quote from "his biographer". Aside from the fact that he never authorized a biography, the guy said he only lived half a life. *hisss* Just because he didn't let people into his life after 1970 doesn't mean he wasn't living it. Brother!

I played all my Floyd Syd songs at work. When I get home I'll play the solo albums and then watch Tonight Let's All Make Love in London... after the baseball game (I have priorities, LOL!)

[Bombadillo]

I'm heartbroken. :( Before, I had at least a very vague and unlikely hope for a Floyd reunion, even though Roger Waters was against it and Syd didn't even want to talk about the band once he'd gone into seclusion.

He'll be missed deeply around here...

[The Gaffer]

It's funny how it can be so sad when someone is not not there any more.

Syd was a classic barking genius. It makes me want to buy all those old albums that I only ever had on tape. The only one of his I've got on vinyl is Relics, a good one, but some of the live albums are unmissable.

[BeardofPants]

I've been playing The Piper at the Gates of Dawn on repeat all day. RIP dude. :(

[Insidious Rex]

I havent heard Crazy Diamond played so many times in one day in my life. Reminds me of the Teen Spirit onslaught when Kobain died. At least this one was actually written as a tribute to the man who they were playing it for. I can identify with his desire for seclusion. Another genius from the 60s dials it in...

[durinsbane2244]

why do the great ones have to go first? TAKE GREEN DAY INSTEAD!!!

[mithrand1r]

why do the great ones have to go first? TAKE GREEN DAY INSTEAD!!!

;) Sounds good. I probably could think of some more groups I would be willing to see go away. ;)

(although is was highly improbable {and now impossible})
I always held hope that all of Pink Floyd would reunite for a few shows together or even put a new album out.

Live8 last year was great in that Pink Floyd (-Barrett) members were able to put their differences aside and play together for a cause they believed to be worthy.

Shine on You Crazy Diamond is (IMO) a great song to listen to while driving in the car.

[Elfhelm]

Things to do if you could do if you miss Syd Barrett:

Consult the I Ching. :)
Sing a James Joyce poem to a melody of your own making. :p
Re-read The Wind in the Willows. :cool:
Kidnap a garden gnome and hide him on the riverbank. (Seriously, be so kind as to return him when his adventure is done.) :eek:
Try to understand how you cat thinks. Ask your cat if he'd like to go to sea. :confused:
Decorate you bike with things that make it look good. Let your friend ride it. :eek:
Strum one chord in rythm while making up short rhyming nonsense phrases.
Make a coloured pencil sketch of your backyard. :p
Stop speaking for one complete day. :evil:
Go barefoot. :D

But do not, whatever else you do, make Syd's mistake over again. Don't take LSD for a year without ever coming down! Not good. :(

[Spock]

Entertainment news-*moved*

[Elfhelm]

(although is was highly improbable {and now impossible})
I always held hope that all of Pink Floyd would reunite for a few shows together or even put a new album out.
Since Syd has been out of the band since after the first album (the one song on the second album was a leftover), and their biggest albums were all made without Syd, a reunion is still possible, IMHO. But Waters would have to write the words, as he did for everything from Dark Side on. But Waters' words are all political now, and not very Floydian. So even a reunion wouldn't sound like Floyd. I think we are better off leaving them be. More harm than good would come from such a reunion. Staged for a few minutes for Live 8, that's as much as we'll ever get, or should.

[Bombadillo]

David Gilmour's been writing his own songs also, and they're Floyd-worthy. Hopefully, Barrett's death will shock Waters into perspective again, and maybe he'll finally acknowledge that Pink Floyd is a band, that should stick together and rock, and not a group of his minions.

Elfhelm, I loved that list! :) ;)

[Finrod Felagund]

Did he participate in the Live 8 concert reunion?

[Huorn]

It has been ions since I have heard a Pink Floyd song. That hearkens back to high school. Yeah take Green Day instead of Pink Floyd!

[The Gaffer]

In answer to Fin's question: no. He probably didn't even watch it on the telly.

Given the choice, I'd probably agree Entwife, though it might depend on my mental state. Whatever, Syd Barrett was probably more influential in one album than 99.9% of pop acts are in their entire career.

[Insidious Rex]

Geez whats with all the Green Day bashing? Is this how we honor Syds death? Come on theres tons other artists/groups that should be higher on the I HOPE THEY DIE list then Green Day if you must make one at all for this occasion.

[Butterbeer]

Traffic wardens anyone?

.. yes, an artists should die list does seem a bit odd to the memory of Syd... :rolleyes:

;)
best BB

[Elfhelm]

David Gilmour's been writing his own songs also, and they're Floyd-worthy. Hopefully, Barrett's death will shock Waters into perspective again, and maybe he'll finally acknowledge that Pink Floyd is a band, that should stick together and rock, and not a group of his minions.

Elfhelm, I loved that list! :) ;)

Ay, Bomb,

I have been keeping up with David Gilmour's solo work, as well as Roger's. I have it all. Syd, too.

We disagree about Gilmour. I don't think he should be putting the Floyd name on his work. There are many people who agree with you and many who agree with me. It's a split.

As for Waters, he wrote an opera recently. Not sure the other guys in the old band can keep pace with him, even if they do have cool classic race cars. And that's another split.

Syd has been painting. I bet when they opened his Mom's old place after his death they found a lot of paintings. It's time to bring them out into the light.

I don't think it's reasonable to expect Waters and Gilmour to work together. They just don't like each other. Nobody is to blame. They are better off apart. I don't understand why people want bands to stay together when it's just mentally unhealthy.

Just look at the Beatles. Before they broke up, one album a year, and it was a struggle for them to do that. After they broke up, it was like a dam burst. In the first 5 years, they put out more albums collectively than they ever did together. I wouldn't want to change that. Especially all the awesome stuff from George, and John stopped making crazy stuff, and Paul wrote for the movies, and Ringo began his All Starr thing. Breaking up can be good. Things can change. It's OK. :D

[Butterbeer]

...thats' what i said to my ex ...

[The Gaffer]

Geez whats with all the Green Day bashing? Is this how we honor Syds death? Come on theres tons other artists/groups that should be higher on the I HOPE THEY DIE list then Green Day if you must make one at all for this occasion.
:confused:

I believe I was agreeing with the esteemed Entwife's proposition, in that I'd rather listen to a Green Day album than Pink Floyd, most of the time.

But Green Day probably owe more to Syd than they realise...

EDIT: Hmmm, on reflection, maybe the Entwife meant that Green Day should have snuffed it instead of Syd, and I'd read it wrong. Hey ho.

Whatever, I agree they are better off staying split.

OK, Elfhelm, what's your opinion of On An Island? A friend (who doesn't like Floyd particularly) recommended it to me but I wondered what an afficionado thought.

[Pytt]

I have to admit that the Floyd I love the best is that without Barrett. Though, his contribution and influence was very important, and I don't think Floyd would be what it came to be if not for him. Sad he had to pass on.

May he rest in peace.