Syd Barret no more. The father of Pink Floyd, died earlier this week, succumbing to a prolonged illness out of diabetes. He was 60.
Yeah I know this has already starting sounding like a news report.
If that is what you are interested in there are much better places to look.
My reason for posting this is different.
Syd’s example and his name has been used not some much to highlight his creative genius, as much as his drug abuse led downfall. He died a recluse, living out of his mother’s house and shunning all social life for almost thirty years.
He suffered from mental instability, “exacerbated by his use of LSD”. His behavior grew increasingly erratic, and he left the group in 1968 - and was replaced by David Gilmour.
But one asks himself if Syd had continued with the band, would that have lead to a different Pink Floyd than we know of. He is said to have inspired among others David Bowie, Paul McCartney, and even Jimmy Page. Even modern day bands like REM and Smashing Pumpkins have acknowledged his influence in their works.
Twenty years from now, I'm sure that list will have been swelled by a new crop of Barrett-loving groups; and, indeed, that 18-year-olds will still be buying his records. That's how good he was and it's certain that the influence of his music will go on and on.
The king is dead. Long live the king.
Short Biography Guardian Obituary Six years after they shunned him out, regretful of their youthful callousness , the band wrote and recorded Shine On, You Crazy Diamond, perhaps the most touching elegy ever for a living musician.
Shine on You Crazy DiamondRemember when you were young, you
shone like the sun.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes
in the sky.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
You were caught on the crossfire
of childhood and stardom,
blown on the steel breeze.
Come on you target for faraway laughter,
come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!
You reached for the secret too soon,
you cried for the moon.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Well you wore out your welcome with random
precision,
rode on the steel breeze.
Come on you raver, you
seer of visions, come on you painter, you piper, you
prisoner,and shine!Nobody knows where you are,
how near or how far.
Shine on you crazy diamond.Pile on many more layers
and I'll be joining you there.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
And we'll bask in the shadow of yesterday's triumph, and sail on the steel
breeze.
Come on you boy child, you winner and loser, come
on you miner for truth and delusion,and shine!
