Syd Barrett Dead

[spiny norman 0]

http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/news/ce..._bottom_hedsh2o

 

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 had suffered from diabetes for many years.

 

Barrett co-founded Pink Floyd in 1965 with David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Rick Wright, 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, who also played guitar -- was a commercial and critical hit.

 

However, Barrett suffered from mental instability, exacerbated by his use of LSD. His behavior grew increasingly erratic, and he left the group in 1968 -- five years before the release of Pink Floyd's most popular album, "Dark Side of the Moon." He was replaced by David Gilmour.

 

Barrett released two solo albums -- "The Madcap Laughs" and "Barrett" -- but soon withdrew from the music business altogether.

 

He spent much of the rest of his life living quietly in his hometown of Cambridge, England, where he was a familiar figure, often seen cycling or walking to the corner store.

 

Despite his brief career, Barrett's fragile, wistful songs influenced many musicians, from David Bowie -- who covered the Barrett track "See Emily Play" -- to the other members of Pink Floyd, who recorded the album "Wish You Were Here" as a tribute to their troubled bandmate.

 

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

[1234-5678 0]

I figure it was a long time coming. He was too nuts to properly take care of himself, and I believe his Mom had been dead a few years.

 

I just hope it was some type of natural causes that did it.

 

Rest In Peace, Madcap.

[Red Baron 0]

RIP Syd.

[Gary Floyd 0]

"Piper At The Gates of Dawn" is one of the best albums I own. RIP man, you kicked serious ass.

[Guest Fook]

Shine on you crazy diamond.

[Ravenbomb 0]

:'(

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Well that's a drag.

[snuffbox 0]

RIP...he is one of the more important figures in music history.

[Guest NYankees]

Shine on you crazy diamond.

 

 

 

My thoughts exactly. Pink Floyd Is, Was and Always will be the greatest Rock and Roll band ever.

[C Dubya 04 0]

Guy was definitely great, but to be honest, I had no idea he was still alive.

[DMann2003 0]

"And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes

I'll see you on the Dark Side of the Moon"

 

RIP Syd...

[Giuseppe Zangara 0]

Guy was definitely great, but to be honest, I had no idea he was still alive.

He's basically been dead for over 30 years.

[Guest Felonies!]

I think he was diabetic, too, in addition to his poor mental health.

 

Not to be too morbid here, but I heard Captain Beefheart isn't really in the best shape these days either. Multiple sclerosis or muscular dystrophy, I think.

[Guest Vitamin X]

While I have a lot of respect for Syd (he was one of the first, if not the first avatar I used here, actually), he wasn't around for most of Pink Floyd's peak and thus it's kind of hard to associate them with him, since we all remember and know the 70's PF more than the 60's, or rather, The Piper At The Gates of Dawn. The Madcap Laughs is a great album, though.

[Guest BOOT]

RIP. And cheers.

[Giuseppe Zangara 0]

I think he was diabetic, too, in addition to his poor mental health.

 

Not to be too morbid here, but I heard Captain Beefheart isn't really in the best shape these days either. Multiple sclerosis or muscular dystrophy, I think.

There's been speculation about Beefheart's health for over a decade.

[Guest Felonies!]

I want to see some of his art.

[Giuseppe Zangara 0]

In person? I can't help you there, but there's always: http://www.beefheart.com/runpaint/

[Guest Felonies!]

Hmm. It's cool, but not really fantastic.

[Copper Feel 0]

I finally had a chance to listen to The Piper At the Gates of Dawn yesterday and to be honest, I have no idea what all the fuss is about: his songwriting was very childish and the music was extremely unfulfilling in comparison to later Floyd.

 

R.I.P anyway.

[Guest Felonies!]

It has its moments, like "That cat's something I can't explain!" or the main riff in Interstellar Overdrive, but it's not the best Floyd album by any stretch. Still, he was basically the inspiration for three of their biggest albums, so he counts for something. The legend of Syd Barrett is ten times bigger than the band member himself.

[Copper Feel 0]

I have Meddle ready to listen too.

 

What should I expect?

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Their best album.

[Guest Felonies!]

Meddle is pretty fuckin' good. I love "Fearless." You'll never walk alone!

[Gary Floyd 0]

I'd agree that Meddle is their best album. Hell, it's probably my favorite album of all time.

[Giuseppe Zangara 0]

Of the six or seven Pink Floyd albums I've given serious consideration, I'd rank Dark Side of the Moon over all of them.

 

A friend of mine brought up something interesting today. Out of all the major rock groups to come out of the sixties—the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, the Who, Led Zeppelin—Pink Floyd was the only one to still have all living members from their original line-up. Until now, anyway.

[Giuseppe Zangara 0]

I was listening to Meddle earlier. Using rational thought, how can anyone claim a Pink Floyd album that contains both "San Tropez" and "Seamus" to be the best Pink Floyd album? (I like "San Tropez," for what it's worth, but still.)

[Guest Felonies!]

"Fearless" and "Echoes" must just be that good. I made sure to refrain from calling it the best Pink Floyd album, bearing "Seamus" in mind.

[Giuseppe Zangara 0]

I'll grant you "Fearless," but my mind wanders during "Echoes." There's some really great sections in it, though.

[Guest Felonies!]

"Echoes" and "Atom Heart Mother" are both like that. They're trying to be really ambitious in creating these 20+ minute works, but they don't really have the chops to pull it off, so what you get is a really awesome section, then a few minutes of solos and general meandering until they hit the next Big Idea. I think we discussed this before.