Syd Barrett, co-founder of Pink Floyd Rock Iconz®
Syd Barrett perhaps had more impact on rock music, over a
shorter span, than any song writer and frontman in history. Syd’s life began
with a simple and pleasant childhood in Cambridge, England. He then gained
prominence as a local art and musical bohemian figure, who would become the
original creative genius behind of one of the world’s greatest bands, Pink
Floyd. In 1965, Syd joined former school mate, Roger Waters, in the band that
Syd named Pink Floyd, along with Richard Wright & Nick Mason. Syd
immediately emerged as the main creative and songwriting drive that would lay
the groundwork for the UK psychedelic music scene. This would grow beyond an
underground movement and become the massive musical genre we know today. Syd’s
early compositions “See Emily Play” and “Arnold Layne” were the original Floyd tent
poles, and their first UK chart singles. The epic “Interstellar Overdrive”
fused a long musical jam session and an elaborate live visual performance,
these elements forming the road map Pink Floyd would follow over the next
decade. After appearing on only the first two Pink Floyd albums, Syd began to
show serious signs of mental illness that would challenge his creative and
personal life going forward. Syd split from Pink Floyd in 1968 and released the
well-received solo album “The Madcap Laughs” followed by “Barrett”. After this period, Syd’s interest and ability to focus on his music waned and he withdrew to Cambridge.
He was occupied by his painting and other creative endeavours, far away from the
spotlight, never to re-emerge. He had become and would remain the “Crazy Diamond” until his
death in July of 2006. Shine On…