Category: News and Views
Syd Barrett, troubled co-founder of Pink Floyd, died of undisclosed causes
at 60.
table end
LONDON (AP) — 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.
REMEMBERING BARRETT:
Hear solo album clips
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.
It contained the song Shine On You Crazy Diamond— "Remember when you were
young, you shone like the sun." The band also dwelt on themes of mental
illness
on the albums Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall.
The band spokeswoman said a small, private funeral would be held.
It's a real shame. He was a very talented artist.
yes he was. many tallented artists are emotionally unstable. I suppose it adds something to their creativity. Anyway, he'll be missed.
Yes, that is true through history, from Mozart and Stravinski, to dennis wilson and Jim Morrison. the list just goes on...