What became of Syd Barrett?

Subject: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 28 Apr 02 - 08:25 PM

I know that Pink Floyd isn't Folk or Blues, but I heard some old Floyd today and was wondering what became of founding member Syd Barrett. I know that he was committed to an asylum in '68. Is he still alive, was he ever released etc.?

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Charcloth
Date: 28 Apr 02 - 09:17 PM

I thought you were asking about the song " Barret's Privateers"

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Apr 02 - 10:01 PM

'E got 'is legs shot off when the Antelope was sunk. "Smashed like a bowl of eggs!" 'Orrible, it was! 'E's in Davy Jones Locker now, along with many other brave lads what went to sea lookin' for Yankee gold.

- LH

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: SeanM
Date: 28 Apr 02 - 10:22 PM

If I remember correctly, he was released and lived with his mother a while. I know he was present at the "Wish you were here" sessions - just saw a documentary where they mention how much he'd changed, and how little grasp on sanity he still had.

I *think* that he's still living somewhere in England. I *know* that every Pink Floyd retrospective that I've ever seen has tried to contact him, but not had any results.

M

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 28 Apr 02 - 10:38 PM

Hi, Steve

You might check out these two sites for current info on the lad.

http://www.pink-floyd.org/barrett/ and

http://www.sydbarrett.net/

If you need more, follow links from the second site to the labyrinthine world of "The Syd Barrett Webring".

Have fun!

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: michaelr
Date: 29 Apr 02 - 01:28 AM

He's living in a prominent university town in England, and very much wishes to be left alone.

Michael

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: SeanM
Date: 29 Apr 02 - 01:45 AM

Sums it up nicely.

Man's had a difficult life, and he's not exactly young any more. I can definitely respect a desire to be left alone.

M

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 29 Apr 02 - 03:14 AM

Thanks to all for the info.

Drugs had more casualties than just the people who died from them.

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Paddy Plastique
Date: 29 Apr 02 - 11:09 AM

Wouldn't consider Syd out of place here either - the solo stuff sounds pretty folky to me.
(sez he, bracing himself for the onslaught of 'purists')
I prefer it by far to post-Syd Floyd flatulence. His setting of Joyce's 'Golden Hair' in
particular (well folky). However, maybe the slightly 'unhinged' guitar style is the early stages of his
acid burn-out. Hope he's found himself some peace of mind at last. A fairly similar story to
Peter Green of the original Fleetwood Mac.

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: RolyH
Date: 29 Apr 02 - 01:29 PM

A few months ago I was browsing at a book stall in the market of a famous university city in the UK,when a bloke shuffled up and looked through some books.After he'd gone the stallholder said,"Do you know who that was?"

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: michaelr
Date: 29 Apr 02 - 05:38 PM

Peter Green is actually touring right now, with the Splinter Group. He has a new CD out and seems to be doing well.

Michael

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 29 Apr 02 - 05:40 PM

Just so long as Syd Barrett isn't making music anymore...

Not that I'd call much of what he's done so far 'music'...

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: IanC
Date: 30 Apr 02 - 04:49 AM

Clinton

Shame on you! Or should I say... "Arnold Lane, don't do it again!"

;-)
Ian

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 30 Apr 02 - 07:28 AM

I don't get it IanC...

Suffice to say, I'd prefer that Syd stay in hiding...

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: JohnL
Date: 30 Apr 02 - 04:27 PM

So you know quite a lot about Syd and his music then Clinton?

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 01 May 02 - 05:12 AM

"Piper at the Gates of Dawn" is still one of my favourite albums - it's just a pity they never included "Emily" on it.

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Cllr
Date: 01 May 02 - 06:19 AM

Obviously Arnold is not the only one with a strange Hobby. Clinton on yer bike. Cllr

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Ian Darby
Date: 04 May 02 - 12:23 AM

Dave,

Have you ever tried working out the chords to 'The Gnome, See Emily Play & Arnold Layne', I have and it hurts.

(Not to mention 'Effervescing Elephant'.)

Altogether now.....

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 May 02 - 03:30 AM

Cllr! I thought you'd emigrated, been campaigning then? More to the point, are you now looking for real work!! *BG*.....Giok

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Cllr
Date: 04 May 02 - 07:06 AM

Campaigning for my Mother, She is got in with a majority of over a thousand, In London Borough of Hillingdon. I'm knackered.Cllr "Careful with that axe Eugene"

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 04 May 02 - 01:28 PM

I've heard some of his music, including a really idiotic album that he recorded supposedly while 'inside'...

What I've heard of it left me cold enough that I have NO desire to hear anything else that he might want to do...

That's not music... that's self-indulgent wankery...

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: GUEST,Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 04 May 02 - 03:29 PM

Clinton, Oh Clinton; with opinions of steel
Listen, and open; to an onion's appeal
The madcap laughs skyward, creating more often
One hand-clap passwords, than traditional coffins

Experimentations delight or dismay us
And rationalizations, just fight and display us
Entitled you are, to what ever you feel
'Shine on' from afar Syd, 'crazy diamond's are real!

ttr

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Amergin
Date: 04 May 02 - 03:33 PM

lol TTR! nice to see you again!

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 04 May 02 - 03:52 PM

By the way, which one's Pink?

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: michaelr
Date: 05 May 02 - 01:46 AM

The madcap laughs skyward --- nice one, Thomas!

Some get it, some don't.

Michael

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 05 May 02 - 07:51 AM

And most don't want to...

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Gray D
Date: 05 May 02 - 05:05 PM

Lonesome EJ

All of 'em.

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: IanC
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 10:27 AM

From the BBC News site:

Pink Floyd's Barrett dies aged 60

Barrett became a recluse in the 1970s after leaving Pink Floyd
Syd Barrett, one of the original members of legendary rock group Pink Floyd, has died at the age of 60 from complications arising from diabetes.
He was born Roger Barrett in Cambridge and met future bandmates Roger Waters and David Gilmour at school there.

The guitarist was invited to join Pink Floyd by Waters in 1965 but left three years later after only one album with his mental state affected by drugs.

"He died very peacefully a couple of days ago," said the band's spokeswoman.

"There will be a private family funeral."

Barrett was the band's first creative force and an influential songwriter - but his drug intake soon began to affect his place in the band.

Often he would be seen standing on stage with his guitar dangling from his neck, staring into the crowd.

'Mental breakdown'

At one stage he was unhappy about appearing on Top of the Pops and walked out of a session recording in July 1967 after "freaking out".

"That really was the first sign of his complete mental breakdown," producer Richard Buskin wrote later.

"He never did come back into the studio any more after that, meaning that I had a hell of a hard time with the recordings".

He did turn up again, ironically on the day the other band members were recording a tribute to him, Shine On You Crazy Diamond.

Just as Pink Floyd were about to achieve worldwide success, he retreated from public life to return to Cambridge.

Members of the band felt his breakdown might have happened even if he had not used drugs but felt that along with the pressures of fame, the substances he took probably acted as a catalyst.

After he finally drifted out of the music scene, his whereabouts were unknown for two decades, until he turned out to be living with his mother.

Subject: RE: What became of Syd Barrett?
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 11:02 AM

Sorry to hear this.

Shine On Syd.