Probably old (sad) news to most of you but if not:
July 11, 2006 - Legendary
founding member of Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett, died Friday at the age of 60
apparently due to complications from diabetes according to reports from the
British media.
Barrett, who
had spent the past 30 years or so living in seclusion, was the lyrical and
musical mastermind behind the earliest incarnation of the seminal British
psychedelic outfit which also included Roger Waters, Nick
Mason, Rick Wright, and David Gilmour who joined the band in 1968.
Contributing the bulk of the songs on the band's 1967 debut The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Barrett
also worked on the follow-up A Saucerful of
Secrets before exiting the band due to what has long been cited as
"mental instability" as a result of his experimentations with drugs.
He was eventually replaced by Gilmour.
Barrett later re-emerged in 1970 with a solo album, The Madcap Laughs, which featured his
mates from Floyd (David Gilmour produced a number of the sessions), as well as
members of another legendary British outfit, Soft Machine. He followed this up
with the self-titled Barrett. A
compilation of live songs called The Radio One Sessions
was released in 2004.
Despite having left Pink Floyd early on, the remaining band members
continued to heap praise on Barrett, with the song "Shine On You Crazy
Diamond" from 1975's Wish You Were Here
long believed to have been a dedication to the man.
Barrett was born Roger Keith Barrett in
Will the NEW Adventures CD be released in the
John Wintemute