The Sad Story of Syd Barrett
Comb through the history of classic rock and you’re bound to find your fair share of tragic figures; musicians who for whatever reasons couldn’t keep themselves and their music together. Amongst all of rock’* oddballs and eccentrics, few have been as influential, as the man regarded by many, as rock’* first acid- casualty. Though a part of the rock scene for only a short period of time, the music and the band he helped create remains the stuff of legend. In this edition of the Legends of Classic Rock we look at The Sad Story of Pink Floyd’* Syd Barrett.
So what do you know need to know about Syd Barrett? First off, Syd’* not his real name. He was actually born Roger Keith Barrett on January 6th, 1946. Syd was a childhood nickname. Growing up in the renowned University town of Cambridge, England, Syd was by all accounts just a normal kid. He liked sports and painting too. He had friends and in his teens he played guitar, often with a guy named David Gilmour.

The pair would hang out smoking hash and figuring out Keith Richards licks. Even though Syd would experience an early tragedy, losing his father at the age of just 12, there wasn’t anything that unusual about him. Eventually, Barrett wound up in London, where he’d join up with a few aspiring architecture students in a band called the Abdabs. By late 1965 they’d change their name more than a few times before settling on one inspired by two little-known bluesmen in Syd’* record collection – Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Put them together and you’ve got the Syd Barrett christened band Pink Floyd.

Arnold Layne was the very first Pink Floyd single, written by founding member, Syd Barrett. It was a song inspired by both Syd and Roger Waters’ childhood memories of the frequent disappearances of women’* undergarment from clotheslines. Arnold Lane was a hit on the U.K. charts, climbing to number twenty in 1967.

That same year saw Barrett, Waters, along with drummer Nick Mason and keyboardist Richard Wright, decide to pursue music full-time. The group, then billed as “The Pink Floyd”, were already darlings of the London underground. But with Syd Barrett’* skills at crafting accessible British pop, The Floyd didn’t stay underground for long. On the heels of Arnold Lane came another Syd Barrett hit single. This one was written about a ‘psychedelic schoolgirl’ who hung out at the trendy London ‘UFO’ club. ‘Her’ name was Emily.

Pink Floyd would sign with the legendary EMI label in 1967. They’d record their debut album at the famed Abbey Road Studios. Taking its title from a chapter in The Wind and The Willows, one of Syd’* favourite books, The Piper At The Gates of Dawn is arguably as much a Psychedelic Masterpiece as The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’*. Nearly all of the albums tracks were written by Syd – the only time that would happen on a Pink Floyd album.


In 1967, Pink Floyd had a British Top Ten album, along with a couple of hit singles. Their notoriety was increasing week by week with most of it focused on the group’* charismatic guitarist and main songwriter, Syd Barrett. So what happened? Three letters - LSD. By mid-1967 Syd had been consuming acid at an alarming rate. It adversely affected his personality, his songwriting eventually his band, and ultimately, his life. Prime examples were the group’* two North American TV appearances.
The first was on the Pat Boone Show, in which Syd’* participation was limited to staring off into space when the host asked him questions. The second was American Bandstand. Pink Floyd was scheduled to lip-sync See Emily Play. They did, except for Syd, who refused to move his lips.

By the end of 1967 it was clear Syd Barrett wasn’t up to the challenge of being a member of Pink Floyd. That’* when former school mate David Gilmour was officially added as thee guitarist for Pink Floyd. As a result, there would only be one Syd track on Pink Floyd’* second album, A Saucerful Of Secrets, with lyrics, effectively summing up the end of the Syd-era Pink Floyd.

On April 6th 1968, Syd Barrett was officially out of the band.

Nobody thought the group could continue, not even their managers who were more interested in a Syd solo career rather than the Floyd’* next move. While Syd would record two solo albums in 1970, they were erratic at best. Barrett soon disappeared from sight. Meanwhile, Pink Floyd pressed on with the ghost of Syd always present.


On June 5th, 1975 the members of Pink Floyd were at Abbey Road studios, working on the final mix to a tribute they’d written to their former band mate Syd Barrett.
At one point, who came into view but a fat balding man carrying a plastic bag. He walked into the studio and began snooping around the band’* gear. It took Roger Waters nearly ten minutes to realize the man was Syd Barrett. After explaining to the group that he had “a very large fridge” and that he’d been eating a lot of pork chops, Syd joined the band for dinner after which he let his former band mates know he was ready to return to work. A little while later, Syd left as mysteriously as he’d arrived without so much as a goodbye.

Today Syd Barrett goes by his given name of Roger. He continues to very rarely show his face in public, and as recently as 1996 he was rumoured to be living in a mental institution in London, blind from diabetes. Apparently, this is not true. In the summer of 2003, a new DVD about Syd and Pink Floyd was released. While the director couldn’t get access, apparently Syd has seen the film and likes it a lot. And while he doesn’t make music anymore, his former band mates continue to acknowledge the profound effect he’* had on them, often the best way they know how, in song.

The classic album The Wall, was partially inspired by the sad story of Pink Floyd’* Syd Barrett.

Post show update.

On July 7, 2006 Syd Barrett passed away peacefully at home in Cambridgeshire, England at the age of 60. It is reported that he died of complications from diabetes.

RIP Syd Barrett - Shine on you Crazy Diamond.