R.I.P. Syd Barrett

[dolivas]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060711/...ltBHNlYwM3MTY-

Syd Barrett, founder of Pink Floyd, dies

By JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press Writer 10 minutes ago

LONDON -
Syd Barrett, the troubled Pink Floyd co-founder who spent his last years in reclusive anonymity, has died, the band said Tuesday. He was 60.
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A spokeswoman for the band said Barrett died several days ago, but she did not disclose the cause of death. Barrett had suffered from diabetes for years.

The surviving members of Pink Floyd —
David Gilmour,
Nick Mason,
Roger Waters and
Richard Wright — said they were "very upset and sad to learn of Syd Barrett's death."

"Syd was the guiding light of the early band lineup and leaves a legacy which continues to inspire," they said in a statement.

Now it's for real he did die today at 60 years of age. His life is a story within itself and what a flickering comet-like light Syd had for a good couple years.

[schoolbat]

Very sad indeed. He was a real talent, and I love lots of bands/artists who would not sound the way they do if it weren't for Syd Barrett. (Robyn Hitchcock, XTC, Olivia Tremor Control, etc etc etc).

It's sad that he died a cliche -- the acid-damaged potted fern left over from the 60s. (Brian Wilson embodies the same type -- obviously very talented, obviously very fried.)

It's slightly annoying to read this kind of whitewashing:

Syd Barrett, the troubled Pink Floyd co-founder who spent his last years in reclusive anonymity

His last years? Try his last 40 years.

A more honest assessment would be something like this: Syd Barrett, the troubled Pink Floyd co-founder who spent the majority of his life muttering to himself and wandering around his mom's house in an LSD-induced, dissociative haze.

[smopo24]

plus, he did spend a lot of time eating pork chops......no mention of that.

[mikegee]

here's a really interesting rolling stone interview...

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/sto...d_pink_floyd/2