Happy birthday Syd Barrett

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58 today, apparently.

So what are people's feelings about Syd? Genius? Or a case of romanticising mental illness? A bit of both, I suspect. I like some of the other Pink Floyd albums, but "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" is the only one I really adore. There are some great songs on Syd's two solo albums although "Madcap" is clearly stronger. I think the whole Van Gogh-style madness aspect of his biography does give added pathos to the albums, though, and one is more willing to give the mad surrealism of the lyrics the benefit of the doubt.

Any thoughts?

― Jonathan Z., Tuesday, 6 January 2004 15:34 (twenty-two years ago)

HB SB!

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Like a lot of Barrett lots, me, but - hasn't Syd been discussed to (tit)bits on numerous ILM threads already?

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 15:39 (twenty-two years ago)

The last pic in the most recent biog, i.e. Roger on his bike at 56 or so, shows he's in good health but obviously an old bloke.

My take on his story is someone who did not want to do it anymore and left. He has that in common with Geoff Mott.

i.e. "Yeah, but I couldn't have done that music they did and did not want to."

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 15:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I think there's plenty of pathos in his songs without knowledge of his mental state! The Madcap Laughs is solid. "Here I Go" kind of reminds me of Daniel Johnston, except better.

(haha I've missed all the Syd Barrett threads apparently--*searches archives*)

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, 6 January 2004 15:46 (twenty-two years ago)

What is the bio called?

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

eer something about madcap thingybob.

Its in HMV for £4 or so, Syd bending sideways at the beach on the front...

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Hmm, "Here I Go" I always thought as one of the weaker ones on that album, along with "Love You", for the crime of being just a little bit too twee. At the moment I can't get "It's No Good Trying" on my brain, what a brilliant song.

Yes, there's plenty of pathos without having to know about the mental breakdown, but the talking, false starts and sounds of pages being turned do all sort of play up to it (not Syd's fault of course, presumably Dave Gilmour's).

― Jonathan Z., Tuesday, 6 January 2004 15:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Today is his birthday, but threads live forever. What betting this "Happy Birthday" message keeps popping up on "New Answers" all year and Roger gets LOADS of birthday cards all year in error ... ?

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Syd, I really love you, and I mean you.

― Schwingung (Damian), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 23:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, Barrett's stuff with Floyd is better than their stuff without him. Pink Floyd are one of those bands that people detailing quite how important they are, how 'historical' it was when they played at the UFO club etc etc just gets in the way. Unfortunately this gets in the way of the early stuff the most. Even though I adore Interstellar Overdrive, Arnold Layne, See Emily Play, Bike etc, I tend to disassociate it from all that jazz. For better or worse.

― Jim Robinson (Original Miscreant), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 23:47 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

Today is his birthday, but threads live forever. What betting this "Happy Birthday" message keeps popping up on "New Answers" all year and Roger gets LOADS of birthday cards all year in error ... ?

Especially if I do it...?

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 1 March 2004 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

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