IN MEMORY OF SYD BARRET

For my buddy Shane. From Wikipedia:

Roger Keith "Syd" Barrett (January 6, 1946 – July 7, 2006) was an English singer, songwriter, guitarist and artist.

Best remembered as one of the founding members of the group Pink Floyd, Barrett was active as a rock musician for only a few years before he went into seclusion. His creative legacy and quintessentially English vocal delivery have since proven remarkably influential.

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Probably sadder than Barrett's death was his life. He essentially went mad before Pink Floyd really broke out and became mega rock stars. He was only able to produce a couple of solo albums after he left the group in the late 60s before his inner demons eventually reduced his musical output to zero--at least Daniel Johnston is still working. There's a particularly sad episode from the mid 70s when Barrett showed up unannounced in the Abbey Road studios where Pink Floyd was recording "Shine on You Crazy Diamond," which is about him--check out the Wikipedia bio for the depressing details. Roger Waters took Barrett's madness particularly hard and became obsessed with themes of mental illness in his songwriting for years after his disturbed bandmate's exodus from the group, hence The Wall.

Check out this video of my favorite Barrett era Pink Floyd tune, "Astronomy Domine," shot in 1967.



Farewell, Syd.

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