Syd Barrett founder of Pink Floyd dead at 60

[Verite]

Syd Barrett, founder of Pink Floyd, dies

By JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press Writer

LONDON - 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, but she did not disclose the cause of death.

Barrett co-founded Pink Floyd with fellow Cambridge student Roger Waters in 1965 and wrote many of the band's early songs.

He got the name of the band from two old blues musicians, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Pink Floyd's jazz-infused rock made them darlings of the London psychedelic scene. It was the first British group to do light shows in concert and its music and style was weird even for that era.

The 1967 album "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" — largely written by Barrett — was a commercial and critical hit. The group, with additional band members Nick Mason and Richard Wright, came to be known as England's premier acid rockers.

But the band did a turn for the worse when Barrett became mentally unstable from the pressures of drugs and fame and had to leave the band in 1968 — five years before Pink Floyd's most popular album, "Dark Side of the Moon."

Barrett spent much of the rest of his life living quietly in his hometown of Cambridge.

Guitarist David Gilmour, another Cambridge student, took Barrett's place.

A small, private funeral would be held, the spokeswoman said.

 

[Snowdog27]

R.I.P Syd Barrett

 

[I.M. Boggled]

July 11, 2006
LONDON, England (CNN)

Musician a major influence on British psychedelia

Syd Barrett, who founded Pink Floyd but later lived as a recluse, has died at the age of 60, according to a spokeswoman for the band.

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

The singer and guitarist, born Roger Keith Barrett on January 6, 1946, founded the band in 1965 with Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Richard Wright. (Its name was derived from two American bluesmen, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council.)

He wrote many of the early hits for the avant-garde rock band, including the 1967 album "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" and the band's first hit singles, "Arnold Layne" and "See Emily Play."

His songs were odd and charming combinations of childlike lyrics and swirling melodies, often augmented with strange arrangements. The titles alluded to space, the occult and sometimes nonsense: "Astronomy Domine," "Lucifer Sam," "Chapter 24."

Consider some lyrics of "Bike," from "Piper": "I know a mouse, and he hasn't got a house / I don't know why, I call him Gerald / He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse."

Pink Floyd, taken under the wing of Beatles engineer Norman Smith, had early success, but Barrett, suffering from mental problems and heavy drug use, started demonstrating erratic behavior, including catatonia during concerts. He left the band in 1968. He was replaced by David Gilmour, who had joined the band as its fifth member earlier that year.

Barrett put out two noted solo albums, "The Madcap Laughs" and "Barrett," both in 1970.

In 1975, during the recording of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" album, Barrett showed up unannounced at the studio -- ironically, during the recording of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," a song about him. He had become overweight and shaved his eyebrows; the other members didn't recognize him at first.

Much of British psychedelic music was influenced by Barrett, and a number of musicians have credited him... as a major influence...

Barrett had since lived in anonymity in the eastern English city of Cambridge. According to The Associated Press, he suffered from diabetes.
The spokeswoman said a low-key, private funeral would be held.
She did not disclose the cause of death.
>>>>>>>>>>>
R.I.P. Syd
"Shine on you crazy diamond", I wish you were still here.

IMB

 

[naga_sadu]

Too bad, really. Shrooming expeditions will never be the same again...............RIP man...

I should perhaps down a 1/4th of magic mushies in his memory....

 

[Grat3fulh3ad]

RIP

 

[Verite]

I was a big Floyd nut in the early days, I dont have all their new stuff but have all their old albums and some studio out takes and a few bootlegs bouncing around.

 

[sirharrynuggz]

I have always loved his solo work, along with his work with the early Floyd. Particularly; 'Dark Globe', 'The Scarecrow', and 'Vegetable Man'.

 

[Gangabiss]

A real shame. He was a musical genius in my eyes. I've admired his work with the band and also his later solo work greatly. That dude knew how to make great music.
And let's face it, without him there would have never been a Pink Floyd.

R.I.P Syd Barrett

 

[sirharrynuggz]

Yeah, a majority of the stuff they released after Syd's departure was written with him serving as inspiration. Such as most of 'The Wall' and the entire album 'Wish You Were Here'. Not to mention a lot of DSOTM... "and when the band you're in starts singing different tunes, I'll see you on the dark side of the moon".