Shine On You Crazy Diamond

July 11, 2006 6:39 AM

Syd Barrett passes on. Pink Floyd founder (paid tribute to by his former bandmates in "Shine On You Crazy Diamond) who had succumbed to mental illness passes away due to complications of diabetes. RIP.
posted by jonmc (208 comments total)

.
posted by LondonYank at 6:40 AM on July 11, 2006

Oh gosh

.
posted by goo at 6:41 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by fire&wings at 6:41 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by grahamwell at 6:42 AM on July 11, 2006

Dammit.

.
posted by thanotopsis at 6:42 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by lester at 6:43 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by anthill at 6:44 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by TedW at 6:44 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by TwoWordReview at 6:45 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by thatwhichfalls at 6:46 AM on July 11, 2006

Shine on Syd
posted by caddis at 6:46 AM on July 11, 2006

And I stood very still by the window sill
and I wondered for those I love still
I cried in my mind where I stand behind
the beauty of love's in her eyes...

.
posted by phirleh at 6:46 AM on July 11, 2006

...oh yeah. he ate the elephant.
posted by mds35 at 6:47 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by eriko at 6:48 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by BeerGrin at 6:49 AM on July 11, 2006

It's what you see
It must be me
It's what I am
Vegetable man

.
posted by AJaffe at 6:50 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by matteo at 6:50 AM on July 11, 2006

He was very famous, Once Upon a Time
And no-one cares even if he's alive (we do!)
posted by Smart Dalek at 6:52 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by edgeways at 6:53 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by johnny novak at 6:53 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by fleetmouse at 6:53 AM on July 11, 2006

.

:(
posted by sugarfish at 6:53 AM on July 11, 2006

*
(this is a dot shining on)
posted by poppo at 6:53 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:54 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by zerokey at 6:54 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by klaruz at 6:55 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by jdfalk at 6:55 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by sydnius at 6:57 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by ob at 6:57 AM on July 11, 2006

The gnome song was pure genius
posted by matimer at 6:57 AM on July 11, 2006

(_ _)
posted by strawberryviagra at 6:58 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by Plutor at 7:00 AM on July 11, 2006

tears, the life that was ours
grows sharper and stronger away and beyond
short wheeling - fresh spring
gripped with blanched bones - moaned
magnesium, proverbs and sobs...

I always loved his solo work. Quirky, mad as hell, and instantly gripping.
posted by 1f2frfbf at 7:01 AM on July 11, 2006

god i hates the dots. hates em.
posted by chrissyboy at 7:01 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by dig_duggler at 7:05 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by eustacescrubb at 7:06 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:06 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by the painkiller at 7:07 AM on July 11, 2006

This reminds me of this nice "docu-interview" of Syd, byt Arte-Radio. Mostly sounds, Syd talking about whatever, singing French songs, sister answering the phone...

Some people where not made for acid. Too bad.
posted by XiBe at 7:07 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 7:09 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by rocket88 at 7:09 AM on July 11, 2006

his music was a big part of my teenage years. i hope he has found the peace he sought.
posted by terrapin at 7:10 AM on July 11, 2006

Damn. I always hoped that he would just, you know, snap out of it.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 7:10 AM on July 11, 2006

I tattooed my brain all the way...
Won't you miss me?
Wouldn't you miss me at all?
posted by dmd at 7:10 AM on July 11, 2006

Come on you raver, you seer of visions, come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!

.
posted by teferi at 7:11 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by foot at 7:11 AM on July 11, 2006

I don't know why I call him Gerald.
posted by grateful at 7:12 AM on July 11, 2006

•
posted by JWright at 7:13 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by Outlawyr at 7:13 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by snofoam at 7:14 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by prostyle at 7:15 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by Afroblanco at 7:15 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by disclaimer at 7:15 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by Roommate at 7:17 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by psmealey at 7:22 AM on July 11, 2006

god i hates the dots. hates em.
+
Some people where not made for acid.
=
heh
posted by pracowity at 7:23 AM on July 11, 2006

..:;()*#OOO*:....

(psychedelic dot)
posted by fungible at 7:24 AM on July 11, 2006

He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse
.
posted by cavalier at 7:24 AM on July 11, 2006

How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl,
year after year, running over the same old ground.
What have we found? The same old fears.
Wish you were here.
posted by Pendragon at 7:27 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by dan g. at 7:28 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by Skygazer at 7:28 AM on July 11, 2006

Watch out for the brown dots
posted by Joeforking at 7:29 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by brighton at 7:29 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by Ricky_gr10 at 7:30 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by fisherKing at 7:30 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by -t at 7:31 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by justkevin at 7:33 AM on July 11, 2006

.

Damn. I'm crying! It's crazy, but I always hoped he'd one day get over it and we'd get a little more music out of him.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 7:33 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by Godbert at 7:34 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by Meaney at 7:35 AM on July 11, 2006

Dotto
posted by liam at 7:37 AM on July 11, 2006

Syd was the subject of my first front page post, with a title that's a bit ironic today.

I am sorry to see him go and always held the hope he's somehow get better.
posted by pandaharma at 7:40 AM on July 11, 2006

. shine on.. shine on..
posted by zenzizi at 7:43 AM on July 11, 2006

I'm obviously upset.
posted by punkfloyd at 7:46 AM on July 11, 2006

Have you got it yet?
posted by anthill at 7:52 AM on July 11, 2006

I was just saying the other day how amazing it was to consider Syd Barrett was still getting up every day, eating breakfast, walking around in his garden, that sort of thing. It made me happy to think he was still going, albeit no longer in the public eye.

RIP.
posted by stinkycheese at 7:58 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by muckster at 7:59 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by slixtream at 8:03 AM on July 11, 2006

Congratulations, you have just discovered the secret message. Please send your answer to old Pink, care of the funny farm.
posted by punkfloyd at 8:04 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by parmanparman at 8:05 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 8:06 AM on July 11, 2006

Godspeed to the Great Gig in the Sky.
posted by Dub at 8:10 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by pwb503 at 8:10 AM on July 11, 2006

Oh, and I'd like to add that Pink Floyd was also paying tribute to Syd with their two most famous albums The Dark Side of the Moon ("The lunatic is in my head") and, to a lesser extent, The Wall.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 8:12 AM on July 11, 2006

And death shall have no dominion.
Dead mean naked they shall be one
With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.

.
posted by Floydd at 8:14 AM on July 11, 2006

The WFMU blog has a few links to music, an essay, and a really beautiful mp3 ("I'm Not Here").
posted by box elder at 8:15 AM on July 11, 2006

Just wondering where the diabetes info came from, considering:

The Guardian has learned that the singer, 60, who suffered from a psychedelic-drug induced breakdown while at the peak of his career, died last Friday from cancer.

I named my sugar glider Gerald, and I know why. Gerald died this year, too. RIP, Syd.
posted by blendor at 8:16 AM on July 11, 2006

I read a touching story of Syd by a relative when they were young. If I may totally butcher it, it went something like this: A younger relative was with Syd at a family gathering of some sort, the description of him in the setting was what you would expect. Somewhat withdrawn, quiet and pensive yet sociable enough to be around family and not creeping anyone out. As the story goes the younger cousin was playing one of those 10-key toy pianos when Syd came up and composed a beautiful little diddy and spent a bit of time showing the younger cousin how the piano works. That was basically the gist of the story, but I always hoped he had all these Nick Drake-like home recording sessions of him composing various melodies. I do hope in a couple months Syd Barrett "The Lost Years" comes out.
posted by geoff. at 8:17 AM on July 11, 2006

Ah fuck ...

.

.

.
posted by Relay at 8:18 AM on July 11, 2006

Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Now theres 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!
posted by Who_Am_I at 8:19 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by jonp72 at 8:23 AM on July 11, 2006

"Stand back. He is gone now, but even his memory stirs up winds that will blow heavy cars off the road. He was a monster... ...a high-powered mutant of some kind who was never even considered for mass production. He was too weird to live and too rare to die..."

shine on
posted by premortem at 8:25 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by MrToad at 8:27 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by TheDonF at 8:28 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by djrock3k at 8:29 AM on July 11, 2006

I still say The Piper at the Gates of Dawn was the best album Pink Floyd ever did. It was all downhill from there.

So long, Syd.
posted by gigawhat? at 8:32 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by beerbajay at 8:34 AM on July 11, 2006

And the worms ate into his brain.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 8:37 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by fletchmuy at 8:38 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by ducksauce at 8:45 AM on July 11, 2006

I guess he's free now... The story of Syd Barrett is finally over.
posted by ducksauce at 8:46 AM on July 11, 2006

.

When I woke up today
and you weren't there to play
then I wanted to be with you
posted by Dr-Baa at 8:47 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by einarorn at 8:56 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by willpie at 8:59 AM on July 11, 2006

♪
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:10 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by talos at 9:10 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by hominid211 at 9:12 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by damnthesehumanhands at 9:14 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by xmutex at 9:21 AM on July 11, 2006

I've just seen a fabulous picture of him riding a bike around Oxford last year. Obviously checked-out too

These .s are beginning to suck. You sort of expect more from a 100+ comment thread
posted by bonaldi at 9:22 AM on July 11, 2006

This is not good.
Like others , i had hoped that things would get better for him , maybe they did.
I dont know what else to say , theres not a lot else really , he was such a hero of mine , his solo albums are so beautiful.
posted by sgt.serenity at 9:25 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by DenOfSizer at 9:29 AM on July 11, 2006

damn

.
posted by puddles at 9:29 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by greycap at 9:34 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by trip and a half at 9:39 AM on July 11, 2006

.
How I wish, How I wish you were here ...
posted by seanyboy at 9:49 AM on July 11, 2006

The first album I ever bought with my own money (aged 9) was "Relics". I must've played it a million times.

:(
posted by NeonSurge at 9:56 AM on July 11, 2006

=(
posted by clyde at 9:56 AM on July 11, 2006

another dead hero.
posted by andifsohow at 9:56 AM on July 11, 2006

Goodbye, Syd. Be at peace.

Pink Floyd Day won't be the same, knowing you're gone.
posted by Meep! Eek! at 9:59 AM on July 11, 2006

:(
posted by mike3k at 10:00 AM on July 11, 2006

*
posted by shoepal at 10:01 AM on July 11, 2006

Thank you for everything, Sid. I hope you find peace.
posted by BeerFilter at 10:08 AM on July 11, 2006

.

I wish I could think of something more to say. Piper cheered me up on many occasions, and for a while back in college, the way I guaranteed a good day was waking up to "See Emily Play", which I still consider the greatest pop song ever written.
posted by hobgadling at 10:11 AM on July 11, 2006

Odd ... I've worn out several Pink Floyd albums and I couldn't tell you squat about the band itself nor pick any of them out of a line-up. Ah, well. Here's my contribution to the dot fund:

.
posted by RavinDave at 10:20 AM on July 11, 2006

I've got a bike, you can ride it if you like.
posted by asok at 10:27 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by blastrid at 10:30 AM on July 11, 2006

.

He's gonna have to be Roger now for the rest of his life.
posted by scruss at 10:34 AM on July 11, 2006

So is everything all right?'

'Yeah.'

'You're still painting?'

'No, I'm not doing anything,' he says (which is true - he's talking to me). 'I'm just looking after this place for the moment.'

'For the moment? Are you thinking of moving on?'

'Well, I'm not going to stay here for ever.' He pauses a split second, delivers an unexpected 'Bye-bye', and slams the door.*
posted by grabbingsand at 10:37 AM on July 11, 2006

Oh where are you now
Pussy willow that smiled on this leaf?
When I was alone you promised the stone from your heart
My head kissed the ground
I was half the way down, treading the sand
Please, please, lift a hand
Im only a person whose armbands beat
On his hands, hang tall
Wont you miss me?
Wouldnt you miss me at all?

The poppy birds way
Swing twigs coffee brands around
Brandish her wand with a feathery tongue
My head kissed the ground
I was half the way down, treading the sand
Please, please, please lift the hand
Im only a person with eskimo chain
I tattooed my brain all the way...
Wont you miss me?
Wouldnt you miss me at all?

.
posted by illovich at 10:39 AM on July 11, 2006

Mushroom drug produces mystical experience
posted by Flashman at 11:04 AM on July 11, 2006

Back when I was a wee lad of 18, I watched a roomful of my college peers record Effervescing Elephant on a 4-track. No instruments - just them making all the animal sounds and singing the song. Wonderfully dorky. I wonder if someone still has the tape?

.
posted by DonnieSticks at 11:16 AM on July 11, 2006

damn ... one of the tragic stories of rock and roll comes to an end ... r i p, syd
posted by pyramid termite at 11:21 AM on July 11, 2006

.....
.....
.....
.....

(twenty microdots).

I am glad that he got to live out the rest of his life pretty well left alone, which is what I think he wanted. I'm not too sad about him dying, since I've had plenty of time to mourn him not doing more music, but like someone upthread said, it was always nice to think of him puttering around.
I don't see why that has to stop now that he's dead.
posted by klangklangston at 11:22 AM on July 11, 2006

. . .

it's sad that he's dead. there are many links to him on youtube. the third '.' above is the heavily bootlegged art film his buddy made of his first acid trip, which as in the cases of Brian Wilson and Roky Erikson, may not have been the wisest choices for him. He will be missed.
posted by elr at 11:28 AM on July 11, 2006

wouldn't you miss me?
wouldn't you miss me at all?

I miss you already Syd
shine on

o.o.o
posted by Shrike at 11:30 AM on July 11, 2006

Of course you all could have found these on your own, but I just did. Here's Syd with Dick Clark.
posted by elr at 11:32 AM on July 11, 2006

Spooky, just two days ago I went and bought Pulse on DVD. I finally got around to watching it last night and one of the bonus features is when they were inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.

When the three lads were given the gongs David said that they'd take a couple more back with them to give to Roger and Syd "whose band have been playing different tunes."

Even Billy Corgan who was presenting the awards (and played WYWH with David and Rick) said that he really loved the first album and the direction Syd was taking it.

I would have had a bigger tear in my eye if I had known this had happened. But I used up all my big tears when watching Live 8

"This is for everyone who can't be here, but especially most of all for Syd".
posted by bruzie at 11:34 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by djeo at 11:35 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by echolalia67 at 11:37 AM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by parki at 12:06 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by fondle at 12:10 PM on July 11, 2006

.
Oddly enought iTunes spat out Money when I started reading this thread.
.
posted by Numenorian at 12:14 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by apeiam at 12:17 PM on July 11, 2006

goodbye, dear sir.
posted by sleepy pete at 12:21 PM on July 11, 2006

While wholly uneven (like the man himself), Syd's solo stuff had some real gems. Of course, Piper ranks among the best Floyd albums even if it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to compare it to the others.

It is hard to define this as a loss, as he was lost to the world quite some time ago. Hopefully he's found peace.
posted by rob paxon at 12:25 PM on July 11, 2006

man, that's too bad.

i still listen to Terrapin regularly. Syd had a very unique musical vocabulary.
posted by unwordy at 12:28 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by priested at 12:28 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by MythMaker at 12:40 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by immer geradeaus at 12:48 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by Soulfather at 12:49 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by drleary at 12:52 PM on July 11, 2006

He wore a scarlet tunic,
a blue-green hood, it looked quite good.
He had a big adventure
amidst the grass, fresh air at last.
Wining, dining, biding his time...
And then one day...
Hooray!
Another way for gnomes to say
Oooooomray

So long, Syd. You did more for me than you can ever know.
posted by ewagoner at 12:53 PM on July 11, 2006

The saga of Syd Barrett makes me think of an early Philip K. Dick short story (the title of which I no longer remember). In it a man discovers a hidden flap of skin on his torso and realizes that he's not "human", but a cyborg (This might be his first exploration of that theme). Behind the flap is a curious three part mechanism comprised of a light source, a music box-like scroll and a light reader. The light passes through the scroll and is choreographed into a distinct pattern and decoded or translated by the light reader into sensory experiences and knowledge of the world or "reality". The guy astonished and shaken by his discovery begins to experiment with the patterns of light that passing through the scroll and has incredible episodes that alter his reality and give him profound insights. As he pushes the envelope to a greater and greater degree, he realizes that he must experience the full truth of the light without it's being modulated by the scroll's patterns and know God and truth and infinity and forever. Barrett reminds me of that character, needing to know the full truth of the light and losing himself in it forever. Shine on indeed.

.
posted by Skygazer at 12:54 PM on July 11, 2006

Man, that first website went down fast.

., definitely.
posted by nevercalm at 12:57 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by stackmonster at 12:57 PM on July 11, 2006

I like to think he found a shaky sort of peace in his last years. I hope he's found an even deeper peace now.
posted by LeeJay at 12:58 PM on July 11, 2006

And if the dam breaks open many years too soon,
And if there is no room upon the hill,
And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too,
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.


I'm really upset and everyone in my stupid office keeps saying, "Syd who?"






.
posted by CunningLinguist at 1:07 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 1:07 PM on July 11, 2006

.

I wish I could say more.
posted by Acey at 1:14 PM on July 11, 2006

See Emily Play (youtube)

That's the bomb. The piano-playing is especially brilliant.
posted by bardic at 1:20 PM on July 11, 2006

Float on a river, forever and ever...
posted by idontlikewords at 1:25 PM on July 11, 2006

Oh...my.

I will never forget the dungeon, Syd.

And the grass.

And the sun and the money and the moon.

Shine!

*
posted by darkstar at 1:34 PM on July 11, 2006

Shine, indeed. (tears, speechless)

.
posted by moonbird at 2:07 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by CynicalKnight at 2:21 PM on July 11, 2006

Brilliant musician. May he rest in peace.
posted by blucevalo at 2:37 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by vaportrail at 2:47 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by Jimbob at 2:53 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by eunoia at 2:59 PM on July 11, 2006

Opel

On a distant shore, miles from land
stands the ebony totem in ebony sand
a dream in a mist of grey
on a far distant shore...

The pebble that stood alone
and driftwood lies half buried
warm shallow waters sweep shells
so the cockles shine...

A bare winding carcase, stark
shimmers as flies scoop up meat, an empty way
dry tears...
crisp flax squeaks tall reeds
make a circle of grey in a summer way, around man
stood on ground

RIP, Brother Barrett.
posted by dbiedny at 3:07 PM on July 11, 2006

Ah fare you well, you delightful madcap. You will be missed.
posted by elendil71 at 3:08 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by sien at 3:09 PM on July 11, 2006

Dammit, somebody already did a microdot.

So I'll just do a regular one.

I loved early PF-- I sometimes forget how much in my years long avoidance of DSOTM.
posted by jokeefe at 3:34 PM on July 11, 2006

Oh, and


.
posted by jokeefe at 3:34 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by klausness at 3:35 PM on July 11, 2006

More great early Pink Floyd greatness:

"Flaming"

"Paint Box"
posted by bardic at 3:36 PM on July 11, 2006 [1 favorite]

.
posted by thebrokedown at 3:44 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by Sparx at 3:46 PM on July 11, 2006

I hate the dot too, but my words are clunky: I feel bad, I only just found out who he was. He was robbed and so were we.

.
posted by zarah at 3:55 PM on July 11, 2006

Aww, that's sad news. The loss of a visionary whose music had such a deep impact on my life. So poignant that LSD was originally thought to be a treatment for schizophrenia but may have precipitated an underlying condition in Syd.

Apparently Syd invented the name Pink Floyd.

Some reports say he died of diabetes, others say cancer.

YouTube videos of Syd.

Just a couple of months ago Afroblanco's post about Syd and Roger being interviewed and we discussed what was going on with him then.

His, Roger Keith Barrett, actually, lyrics.

when the earth streams in, in the morning...

Life that comes of no harm
you and I, you and I and dominoes, the day goes by...

my legs move the last empty inches to you
the softness, the warmth from the weather in suspense...

Heading on down with the light, the dust in your way...

so merrily trip forgo my side
Please leave us here
close our eyes to the octopus ride!

May you rest in peace Syd.
posted by nickyskye at 4:15 PM on July 11, 2006

G'bye, Syd.
posted by mkhall at 4:42 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by fixedgear at 5:08 PM on July 11, 2006

When that fat old sun in the sky is fallin', summer evening birds are calling; children's laughter in my ears, the last sunlight disappears.

And if you see, don't make a sound. Pick your feet up off the ground. And if you hear, as the warm night falls, a silver sound from a tongue so strange,

Sing to me... Sing to me...

Bye, Syd.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:43 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by soundofsuburbia at 5:54 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by jason's_planet at 6:30 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by ZachsMind at 6:31 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by meinvt at 6:35 PM on July 11, 2006

.

Dammit :(
posted by UseyurBrain at 6:47 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by May Kasahara at 7:15 PM on July 11, 2006

thanks for those two, bardic.
posted by moonbird at 7:26 PM on July 11, 2006

"It's awfully considerate of you to think of me here
And I'm most obliged to you for making it clear
That I'm not here."

Saucerful of Secrets was my favorite PF album. God rest ye, Syd.
posted by Lynsey at 7:37 PM on July 11, 2006

another crappy day,
another crappy dot.

pass someone's life with words,
not dots.

make the effort,
or make no effort,
but don't make a half-assed
effort, that is really none,
but masquerades as one.

pink floyd founder,
I enjoyed the band,
but didn't know you.

RIP.
posted by yarf at 7:37 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by intermod at 7:40 PM on July 11, 2006

My next trip will be in your memoriam, Syd, thanks for the all the awesome psychedellic funny sounds and text and noises.
posted by Meatbomb at 7:51 PM on July 11, 2006

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
posted by swift at 8:49 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by Duncan at 9:37 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by dhammond at 9:39 PM on July 11, 2006

.
posted by mediareport at 10:01 PM on July 11, 2006

Thank you Madcap for the good times you have provoked in our lives. We are blessed by all that you shared with us. May you R.I.P.
posted by spacelux at 10:07 PM on July 11, 2006

you tube link to pink floyd's performances in "tonite let's all make love in london" 1967 ... (some nudity, 30 minutes long) ... it has an 18 minute version of "interstellar overdrive" and an 11 minute "nick's boogie" which is equally spaced ... syd and the rest of the band are way out there on this one
posted by pyramid termite at 10:44 PM on July 11, 2006 [1 favorite]

Lots of excellent links in this post. Thanks everyone. I spent a good portion of my younger years enthralled with Piper at the Gates of Dawn and this comes as a complete shock. Best wishes to the Barrett family and friends.
posted by purephase at 8:11 AM on July 12, 2006

.
posted by jeblis at 8:41 AM on July 12, 2006

.
posted by Raoul.Duke at 1:20 PM on July 12, 2006

.
posted by dg at 4:25 PM on July 12, 2006

It's been on Google News for two days in a row. Every web site that I regularly check has an article about it. There was a 200+ comment MeFi thread on the subject that did not devolve into "your favorite band sucks."

Really, I had no idea that his music was so popular. I always thought that it was kind of a cult thing.

But yeah, very sad. I remember being 17 and having a head full of acid, listening to my scratched vinyl copy of "Barrett" over at Mandy's house and musing about what it was all about.

I remember introducing Syd's music to like-minded individuals, and relishing the expression on their face when they have that important Syd Barrett eureka moment - the realization that here was a guy who has undoubtedly been there, and by that I mean *been there*, to the place where we all go when we're experiencing the otherworldly. Not only has he been there, but he liked it so much that he stayed there. Syd Barrett was the knowledge that we were never meant to have, all tasty and delicious and filled with gnomes and bikes and stars, but also with sadness, longing, and alienation. Syd was the north star of my teenage years, the light by which I oriented my consciousness.

I think that I have unintentionally put a Syd Barrett song on nearly every mix cd that I've ever made. Funny, that.

Fortunately, we still have Robyn Hitchcock as well as the entire freak folk scene that Syd is credited with founding.

Goodbye, Syd. You will be missed.

"Would you like to be one in a million?
Would you like to be one in five?
Would you like to know all the hidden meaning?
Before they tell you you've run out of time"

--Syd Barrett, One in a Million
posted by Afroblanco at 8:19 PM on July 12, 2006 [2 favorites]

.
posted by Edible Energy at 12:25 AM on July 14, 2006

My lovably ordinary brother Syd is Rosemary, on her late brother Roger.
posted by scruss at 8:02 AM on July 16, 2006

Thanks for the update Scruss. What an interesting insight into how he lived all of these years.

And for his sister to do her first interview after 30 years, "Wow".

Many blessings to all of his family.
posted by spacelux at 11:31 PM on July 17, 2006