What does Sup Forums think about Syd Barrett? Haven't been here in a long time so I'm not aware of it - and I think I never saw a thread about him even when I came more frequently.
You guys fall for that "schizophrenic" and "acid casualty" theories? The more I read his things (lyrics and interviews) and the things people next to him at the time spoke of him, the more I'm convinced people painted him way worse than he actually was, either to justify treating him like shit, others to justify stealing his place in a band that became sucessfull on his back one way or the other.
It's so blatant that people pretend not to understand him or his sense of humour when it was convenient for them to say, "see, he's lost it" "he's gone" etc while making money of bulshit eulogies while he was still alive!
Is Syd Barret General a thing? Only music loses if it's not
Bumping: dreamt I was is this house party and someone was doing a cover of "golden hair", and spent the day with it in my head. Still is now as I try to sleep
Jackson Harris
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Ryan Carter
Ehh, if some of the tour stories about him are true, the kicking him out was justified. Other thing is, he's something of a martyr, I love his music but I can't help but think the band was better off without him.
Kayden Torres
share stories please
Lucas Stewart
I 100% think that Roger Waters pushed him out of the band so he could have full creative control, which at the time belonged to Syd. Syd may have had an addiction at the time.
He wasn't schizophrenic, those are all just stories. Take the famous "Have you got it, yet" story. That's just a guy playing a joke on his mates, but it's construed to fit into the narrative of a man losing his mind.
I believe the stories about being difficult to work with him. I know it's none of my business and he died a very wealthy man, but I resent them for all the "tributes to Syd" it's like he was making them money not even in the band. And yeah, that "new" vocalist only had to win with demonizing Syd and then overcompensate the guilt.
I also believe that dick did a shit job producing Syd's solos because he knew he was a genius and was jelous and afraid of Syd coming on top of the break with the band
Joshua Cox
Best song on their debut. I also like Matilda Mother.
Asher Cruz
Too many, and most of them are over reactions, exagerations and misunderstandings on purpose.
Charles Ortiz
I think it really is a combination of all of it. He did a lot of acid, he did a lot of strange shit, and although Waters and Gilmour won't admit it, I bet with their massive egos they would love Barrett to leave I think Wish You Were Here was an apology to Barrett. They reached maximum fame with a band that was created by Barrett and they basically gave him the boot. Or maybe it was them benefiting off of Barrett. Who knows?
It's pretty clearly Waters wanting to be the leader of the band, but Syd was in the way. Syd had a drug habit so after isolating him from his bandmates it was easy to get them on board with ousting him. Then they assassinated his character to everyone else with the stories of him going insane.
Ethan Lewis
>"Have you got it, yet" story. That's just a guy playing a joke on his mates, but it's construed to fit into the narrative of a man losing his mind.
Good example and my point exactly. Other thing that annoyed me was one of the guys in the band using the lyrics of jugband blues to show how he was "losing it"
>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 >And I never knew the moon could be so big >And I never knew the moon could be so blue >And I'm grateful that you threw away my old shoes
Only sobg of his in the 2ND album, already with the new guy... RIGHT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT WHAT AN INSANE ACID CASUALTY POOR SYD BLESS HIS HEART
...sorry
Lucas Moore
Yeah I could totally see that. I like Roger's contributions to DSotM, Animals, and The Wall but he always wants everything to be about him. I had a buddy go to The Wall tour that Waters was doing a while back, and somebody asked him to sign a baseball and Waters looked at it confused and then threw it at him.
Kevin Myers
It's been forever since I've heard that song. Great song.
That song seems to touch on mental illness, but who knows what other songs of his were left off.
There's maybe a shed of truth to the whole thing, but honestly, if I went through all my friends cutting me out of the loop and spreading that I'd gone crazy, I probably wouldn't be in a great place mentally.
Jackson Hughes
genius one of my all time favorite songwriters and qt far more intelligent and self aware than even he let on
it's for the best he gave up and retreated to art after two albums and some leftovers though
i've always wanted to see his paintings but miss all the exhibits
Adrian Bailey
The whole first American tour was supposed to have been a pretty shitty experience. Dud was completely uncooperative during interviews, refusing to come out of the dressing room, and so miserable the whole time that Hendrix nicknamed him Smiling Syd as a joke. Though this probably had just as much to do with him not liking the whole dog and pony show bullshit of pop-stardom as anything.
Kind of a shame we didn't get more music from him though, don't you think? He was a songwriting force of nature.
Tyler Cox
not really, two albums and a legacy makes him more memorable overall i like smaller discographies with tons of leftovers cause they're more interesting and easy to compile, digest and explore for example, i just found out about "Rhamadan", some sort of free jazz jam epic
Charles Perry
Yes. It's not like he would sell out lol! Or would he? Don't care. I wish there was more of him
Isaiah Stewart
>and when the band you're in starts playing different tunes.. When they fired him he was completely whacked on stage, supposedly he played one note through a whole song once. He had some great songs but it would have been a different band if he hadn't lost it.
John Roberts
If he had kept it together they would have been the greatest rock band of all-time, bar none. A huge discography with Syd would be like Christmas.
Joseph Reed
richard wright said in an interview that he personally thinks he just took a massive acid overdose. he disappeared for two weeks on some acid binge and rich said when he came back he seemed just completely off and never recovered.
Joseph Miller
I would agree with you if we were talking about any band, but not of him. Too genius. Too outside the box. I wonder as a person who likes music AND as a human what kind of songs he would create
Kayden Gutierrez
Do you think so? Given the life he led he doesn't seem like the type. Some would argue Pink Floyd did that without him.
Sure, it's nice having bits and pieces but more albums would have been better.
Adrian Bennett
My guess is that he was already being pushed out by everyone and the "syd is crazy let's fuck with him" narrative was already bringing him down.
Gavin James
I don't know if that particular story is true, but doesn't it also involve him crushing mandies and then dumping brylcreem into his hair? That part's been disputed by a lot of people. I think the narrative of him progressively going crazy is somewhere between overblown and bullshit.
Dude, I'm preety sure PF would continue to feed off Syd's life whatever he'd do. Of course, they'd have more to gain by boycotting his every step. Shine on you crazy Diamond pt 2, 3 and 4. Shameful
Luis Wood
you both make a good point, but i've basically memorized the lyrics of Piper and Madcap Laughs and would like it to stay that way
i know he'd never sell out, so perhaps you're right perhaps he'd develop a jandek or robyn hitchcock or even scott walker-esque discog and massive cult following while retaining his reclusiveness
Camden Russell
The dude was well crazy, ended up living with his mom completely under her care.
Brandon Taylor
He moved in with his mom because he was flat broke. There's no evidence that he suffered from any kind of schizoaffective symptoms. Rogers set out to ruin his reputation and was successful.
Kayden Price
bullshit. gilmour and waters hate each other, so why would gilmour confirm how syd went crazy?
Alexander Gutierrez
He wasn't about to argue for Syd, he was taking Syd's spot. Plus his standing in the band wasn't good enough at the time to challenge the other members on something like that.
Jacob Torres
If it was on purpose, it wasn't just rogers
Dominic Wilson
at the time, yea sure, but now? if he wanted to piss waters off he'd start throwing that shit around left and right, and he fucking hates the guy
Cameron Fisher
No, the other band members either bought into it or latched on to get him out. I firmly don't believe Syd suffered from serious mental illness, or that all the stories are true.
Blake Morales
Gilmour only gained with syd being out
Leo Butler
He might hate the guy, but there's no point in opening that can of worms. It'd make him look bad, it'd make the whole band look bad.
Jeremiah Morales
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Gabriel Watson
Solid argument, clearly that's where I'm coming from.
Daniel Reed
>it'd make the whole band look bad. >my pic as a reply
Sorry if there was a missunderstanding, I meant I don't care how it makes the band nor any of the leftover members look like. In my opinion Syd was framed
Aiden Lee
Oh, I just assumed it was the previous guy claiming me hating Pink Floyd was clouding my judgment.
Yes, there's a word for what Syd suffered from. Defamation.
Landon Moore
He has two albums with floyd, but he made more music after that and it's actually really good.
It's really muddy who played with him in this albums but they were recorded by pink floyd producer.
Grayson Cruz
First time I've heard this. Tight track.
Jayden Young
It's like it was said here already, character assassination. I'm not saying he wasn't a bit odd, and tripping alot on acid doesn't help (read somewhere that syd lived with a couple of guys who kept spiking his morning tea with acid without him knowing)
He got away from all his "friends" who kept spreading he went mad, and made everyone see every little odd, eccentric or different thing he did under that light. It must have been painful.
He showed up fat and shaved in the studio when they were recording "wish you were here", supposedly, just to say "is this what you wanted?" in a very syd way- without bothering to explain to anyone the punchline
Christopher Cruz
I don't really know what to make of his Wish You Were Here appearance. Odd for sure.
I think he appeared socially removed and unhappy during the later shows when he was in the band, but it's because he'd been isolated. Then after it all shook out people either people didn't want to associate with him or he was too disillusioned by the industry to continue. I feel bad for what he probably went through.
Caleb Richardson
Not him, but maybe the two albums he meant was madcap laughs and barrett. Though, yeah, he has more tracks than those, too
Tyler Fisher
reading about his history, he was treated like utter shit.
It wouldn't surprise me if someone like Waters ran with the Syd myth to give Pink Floyd some sort of romantic history.
Jacob Morgan
saw slowdive do a cover of golden hair last week. Only good part of the concert
Gavin White
He seemed legitimately unhinged.
Carter Davis
>massive acid overdose
i dont believe this
Blake Powell
Did he do any interviews post Floyd?
Ayden Morales
I love jugband blues. The last lines really show that he knew what was going on as well as everybody else did if not more.
>and the sea isn't green >and I love the queen >and what exactly is a dream? >and what exactly is a joke?
Those bastards...
Nathan Evans
I heard a bit of it this morning, a live version, didn't know they had covered it. Didn't hear the whole thing because had just woken up from the dream and really wanted to hear Syd's version. But I'll definitely check it out later, always cool to hear covers of his songs, even though some suck
Gabriel Cooper
I don't really know anything about Pink Floyd but he was a legit good looking guy when he was young. Seeing those pictures of him later in life is such a crazy illustration of what kind of damage time and mental illness can do
Robert Brooks
Yeah there are some online from around 71 and stuff. Then you have the occasional predator interview at his doorstep like those guys from "actuel" or whatever their name is did in the 80's. I used to hate those interviews, but now I'm kinda glad we have that bit of his history. You just have to be careful reading those, because the interviewer almost always tries to push the "this is a recluse schizophrenic" bulshit
Chase Walker
Surely the "Shine on You" story is bullshit. It just seems too dramatically "satisfying" or "written in the stars" to be true.
Cameron Martinez
... or when society pushes an undesirable way and takes away everything he has.
Owen Butler
Or just what losing your hair and gaining weight can do.
Tyler Mitchell
I remember reading one that was after Madcap laughs. Nothing to revealing, he was jut like yeah it was fun to make, not sure if I'll do another album afterward but we'll see. I've been painting a lot.
Parker Rivera
Not what you're asking for, but here's one from 67.
And to think, just 7 months afterward, he was too schizophrenic and unstable to even be in the band...
Hunter Martinez
Was it entirely bullshit, the mental illness?
Lucas Flores
Yes
Daniel Thompson
I believe what happened to him can be explained without the " acid schizophrenic" simplification. But it's more complicated to understand, explain, and makes some people look bad.
But again, yes he was eccentric and diferent. Sometimes people accept people like that, sometimes apparently not so much
Jack Miller
I'm pretty sure he was half-retarded, or at least some sort of savant
William Murphy
Could have been on the spectrum. But others have said that in Pink Floyd's early days he was the best at pulling in chicks, so I have no idea.
Jayden Jenkins
It can be explained as a power grab by Waters.
Joshua Long
The band would have gone nowhere with Barrett after 1967, you don't want to discuss anything, you're obsessed with the idea that poor Syd was pushed away by his evil bandmates. Hey if it makes you feel better he probably didn't even realize he was kicked out and he thought his mates were about to pick him up until the day he died
Angel Wood
>He was a songwriting force of nature. LEL
Tyler Myers
Right, because he was crazy, of course...
Pink Floyd wouldn't be the massive brand it is today if Syd stayed the creative force. Kids wouldn't be walking around in their t-shirts. They would have made excellent music, as Piper was. Also I'm not saying Waters is untalented, that's not the case.
Charles Reed
Yeah, right, because he was crazy and had no idea what was going on, so we can do whatever we want to, and about him.
Yep. Thanks
Asher White
he was
Ethan Edwards
He's right you know
Luke Clark
No, he went mad later though. Not when they kicked him out, there are interviews after that in which he sounds pretty coherent, and on the bootlegs from his solo album sessions he sounds pretty normal. He was gone by the mid 70's
Daniel Jackson
Looking like he did in the early days and playing in semi famous band you don't need any brains or intelligence to get laid
Blake Harris
Seriously though, how did "society" push him away? He's had a strong fan base since the 80's and people would have loved to hear anything he released.
Mason Myers
Well, you can't be on the spectrum and pull chicks from a bar. Also he's given interviews and he's fine and sociable, I don't think he was autistic in any way.
His own band pushed him away, and his reputation made him a pariah.
Jack Martinez
>pull chicks from a bar. They were literally throwing themselves at him, do you think he needed to pay for drinks or something?
Carter Clark
the madcap laughs is great in a amateurish, rough kinda way, I really like the album first pink floyd album is kinda nuts
Nathan Flores
It has been said here already, he was overly stigmatized as an insane person. He was singled out and cast aside by other kids who had something to gain from it, and as usual others just for malice
Owen Young
You need to be able to make eye contact, hold some conversation, things an autist can't do. Watch his interviews, he's really not autistic.
Christopher Lee
No, but it was made worse by the fact that he lived with crazy hippie fucks who would constantly feed him acid everyday without his consent
Thomas Collins
What "reputation"? Nobody gave a fuck back then, nobody gave interviews about Barrett in the late 60's. He was gone and he made solo albums and he retired by choice, Gilmour, Wright and Waters even played on his albums. And Pink Floyd was basically a 2nd rate band until DSOTM, they never even hit it big while he was still active. Shit, maybe he was glad they let him go if he listened to the shit that his ex-band was putting out then
Brandon Taylor
It's true, for awhile their only singles were from Syd.
He only did one solo album. Other PF members helped produced it, and honestly did a terrible job.
He was known for having gone crazy in the 80's for sure.
Asher Brown
As far as I know the band was already big in the Londoner underground while he was still in the band. Because of him. And maybe the band wanted a change, maybe he was to big. Maybe they rather have Gilmour. All I'm saying is that things are not as simple as saying he went crazy + lots of acid and walked back to his mom where he lived as a recluse.
Carter White
>and honestly did a terrible job. I think Madcap was probably the best they could get out of him. But the two fucking drummers that play on it really sucked
Yeah, and I'm pretty sure Gilmour wanted in. This is not some epic Greek tragedy or conspiracy. It's just kids in a band and friends taking lots drugs a having sex and going to bars. And fucking with each other and pissing each other off sometimes. And talking shit and gossiping. "Went crazy and went home" is the best excuse you can give?
Daniel Campbell
I know Waters is an egomaniacal asshole, but then again, if Barrett was the leader of the band and the reason they were getting big, why would he kick him out and choose a literally unknown guitar player to replace him? And wasn't the idea to keep him as a sort of Brian Wilson? Writing songs but not touring
Dylan Ross
That's the narrative, but Madcap was better than what Pink Floyd was doing at the time IMO. Also I don't mean the instrument playing was bad, the production by Waters and Gilmour was poor.
Jackson King
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Cooper Davis
>That's the narrative Do you think Waters or Gilmour give a FUCK about the "narrative"?
Ian Walker
I think Waters thought he was capable of being the creative force, which turns out was correct. And Pink Floyd was hot shit at the time so they were able to recruit the best talent in Gilmour.
Brayden Allen
Yes.
"Syd was very difficult, we got that very frustrated feeling: Look, its your fucking career, mate. Why don't you get your finger out and do something? The guy was in trouble, and was a close friend for many years before then, so it really was the least one could do."
Does that make any sense in the context of Madcap laughs being better than Ummagumma, which Pink Floyd was working on at the time. How come nobody else who was working on the album with Syd was saying stuff like that? Waters is definitely pushing the Syd's crazy narrative.
Robert Peterson
>which turns out was correct. Well then why are we arguing? And it was a good thing, songs about gnomes and love you honey with nursery rhyme-like melodies gets old pretty fast
