RIP Syd - Roger Keith - Barrett

[Buzzy Fretts]

Pink Floyd founder passes...

He wasn't directly involved in the making of the landmark music we know from this band. But he was apparently always the muse for his childhood friends.

[ac15]

He wasn't directly involved in the making of the landmark music we know from this band.

That's definitely true for a lot of people, but I found the Syd-era Floyd stuff early on and always loved it. It is landmark music. Although quite different from their later stuff, I rank it up there with anything they did after him, and I think they did great work without him. There are a lot of people who either never heard it or absolutely hated it when they did. Some people think The Wall" is early Pink Floyd.

[sirDaniel]

This brings up an interesting off topic concern. What is the "average" lifespan of a pure child-of-the-60s. Is 60 pretty much it? Ones that remain active that is.

[tomteriffic]

This brings up an interesting off topic concern.  What is the "average" lifespan of a pure child-of-the-60s.  Is 60 pretty much it?  Ones that remain active that is.

OT for sure.

I graduated high school in 1969 (or so they tell me), so I guess that qualifies me. I'm 54 now. My older sister graduated in 1966 and spent her flower-power years in college and is still the village potter in a small town near Woodstock NY. She's 58. Stay tuned, we're both still kicking.

[Willie G. Moseley]

"See Emily Play" was one of those late '60s where I remember where I was and what I was doing the first time I heard it. The modulating and primeval synth intro, the two "Doom-Boom" chords, the speeded-up portion that sounded like someone had switched a turntable speed from 45 rpm to 78 rpm. Incredibly innovative and memorable for 1967.

I ultimately wrote off Syd Barrett, though. THE PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN was okay, but meandered into boredom at times, IMO. Seems like "Interstellar Overdrive" may not have been on the original release, but that's exemplary (it's on the CD).

The more riff-oriented Pink Floyd got, the more I got into 'em, and that's probably true for a lot of players, regardless of ability.

IMO, the Pink Floyd bio SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS by Nicholas Schaffner is a definitive and excellent work that deals with Syd's problems in straightforward manner, and the picture of him walking down a street as a skinhead forty-something is worth the price of the book. There's also a web site of recent Syd pictures.

Barrett was such a cult figure that it'll be interesting to see how this plays out in the so-called rock media.

[Punkavenger]

I saw PF in LA during "The Wall" tour

(just LA and NY I think)

We were told that Syd would ride around in the pig ballon and spy on the crowd

I don't know if thats true or not but it's pretty funny anyways

(wheres the clikable RIP?)

RIP Syd

[Bob P]

RIP Syd,

The Madcap Laughs and Barrett were pretty damn good IMO.

In my college days at NIU my roomate and I had the same philosophy class that was taught by an angry old crazy man (I can't recall his name as those brain cells are long gone). I had the morning class and my buddy had the afternoon class. It was well known on campus that the exams given to the morning and afternoon classes were always the same (question for question). I would take the morning test, go back to my apartment and fill my roomate in on the test questions so he could ace the exam. The funny thing is even though he answered the questions perfectly his grades never reflected it. Sometimes I would give vague answers and get a B, Greg would answer stuff perfectly and get a C. We figured the professor didn't actually read the exams and just randomly assigned a grade. We decided to test this theory........I went in the morning and took my test and noted the questions. I went back home and gave the questions to my roommate and promptly started smoking bongs. I went with Greg to take the afternoon test (stoned out of my mind). I filled the test book with early Pink Floyd lyrics and signed the test cover as Syd Barrett. The next week there was this old man standing in front of the class trying to return the graded test book to Mr Barrett. He kept yelling "Barrett, Syd Barrett" over and over. Syd's lyrics got a B, my buddy got a B-.

I think Syd deserved an A.

[MTM105]

I pulled out my Danelectro in honour of Syd Barett. Never really paid attention to the early Floyd stuff, though.

I don't know what it is about that guitar. It has a different sound for a cheap guitar, but bonafide.

Wikpedia says Floyd looked after him and he was diabetic. Kinda rare in Rock music.

[mathman]

I loved the early Floyd and the later floyd.

sid barrett video

[Buzzy Fretts]

its cool to hear that syd breezed the test.

there was a few syd tunes played during gilmour's recent tour. David seemed to go out of his way to bring attention to his old friend. it was a very cool show and a nice reminder of some half-forgotten moments. for some reason my memories that deal with early floyd are woven into a part of the brain that often returns queries unanswered.

[wgarces]

RIP Syd.

[Brooks]

There are a lot of people who absolutely hated it.

yes i did.

r.i.p. anyway.