Pink Floyd Pictures

The Dark Star - Syd Barrett

The kaleidoscopic rise of Syd Barrett was shattered by his fragile state of mind amid an unhealthy appetite for hallucinogens. Clash traces the life behind the myths of Pink Floyd’s cosmic founder.

With dark curls, deep-set brown eyes and a mirrored Fender Telecaster, Syd Barrett epitomised the burgeoning psychedelic scene that emerged as Swinging London dropped a tab and weaved flowers into its hair.

Photographer Mick Rock first met him in the mid-Sixties and described him as “the man who had everything”. For a while he was about as cool as it got, with London’s hippest fawning over him and his dapper clobber at alternative clubs such as UFO. However, within months clouds had gathered over Barrett’s very irregular head, and he drifted from the scene amid rumours of a drug-induced breakdown, while those he’d led for months blossomed into beautiful flowers, freaking out beneath the late-Sixties sun.

Roger Barrett was born in January 1946 and spent his childhood in bohemian Cambridge with his middle-class family. By his teens he had acquired a guitar and a love of R&B and jazz music, inviting friends over for sessions in his parents’ basement after school.

But in December 1961 Barrett grew up fast when his much-loved pathologist father Arthur Max Barrett died from cancer. The dark mornings and freezing nights provided a fitting backdrop to a home already cloaked in sadness - and the grieving Barrett retreated further into his music and art.

By 1963 Barrett, now going under the name Syd, was also trying his hand at writing songs. As the months rolled on a distinctive style emerged, with the teenager displaying a knack for melody and finding inspiration in the work of Edward Lear and The Beatles.

As time went on Barrett formed bands with friends around Cambridge. Long afternoons were spent along the banks of the Cam, strumming acoustic guitars and boozing. But as idyllic as this was, London and stardom were never far from Syd’s mind. In summer 1964 he packed his bags and headed for the capital to begin a course at Camberwell Art School. Upon arrival he moved in with another Cambridge friend, Roger Waters.

Waters soon offered his new housemate - two years his junior - a place in his blues band. Syd had an immediate impact: changing the name to Pink Floyd in homage to legendary bluesmen [Pink Anderson and Floyd Council] and emerging as a creative leader. Barrett steered the band away from R&B staples and into the darkness of free-form improvisation.

New magazine looks at Gilmour/Mason guest ... - Pink Floyd Fan Network

Just out in UK stores is the new issue (cover date Summer 2011) of the UK's Classic Rock Magazine ( http://www.classicrockmagazine.com ), which has a couple of looks at the guest appearance of David Gilmour and Nick Mason at the May 12th London concert which formed part of Roger Waters 2011 The Wall Live tour.The main review of the show appears near the back of the magazine, and is a well-illustrated look at the show in general, from the run of nights at the O2. The reviewer notes that Waters delivers an overwhelming, hard-hitting experience dotted with truly iconic moments... A moving and ceaselessly relevant piece . However, the highlight of the magazine is a nice, double-page spread right at the beginning, with a couple of great pictures of Roger, David and Nick during Outside The Wall on the 12th. The magazine is available now in most good stores across the UK, and available shortly worldwide in selected outlets as an import. You can also buy it direct through this link to the publishers ( http://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.u...Summer-11.html ).

Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd, Dark Globe

Pink Floyd and philosophy, careful with that axiom, Eugene!

World Wide Web secrets

Billboard

Heritage Music & Entertainment Auction #7006