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Originally posted by -Tired Hiker-
Shine on you crazy diamond.

quote: (post)

Originally posted by -Tired Hiker-
Shine on you crazy diamond.

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LONDON (AP) - 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.

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.

Barrett co-founded Pink Floyd in 1965 with Waters, Mason and Wright, and wrote many of the band's early songs. The group's jazz-infused rock and drug-laced, multimedia "happenings" made them darlings of the London psychedelic scene. The 1967 album "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" - largely written by Barrett, who also played guitar - was a commercial and critical hit.

But Barrett suffered from mental instability, exacerbated by his use of LSD. His behavior grew increasingly erratic, and he left the group in 1968 - five years before the release of Pink Floyd's most popular album, "Dark Side of the Moon" - to be replaced by Gilmour.

Barrett released two solo albums - "The Madcap Laughs" and "Barrett" - but soon withdrew from the music business altogether. An album of previously unreleased material, "Opel," was issued in 1988.

He reverted to his real name, Roger Barrett, and spent much of the rest of his life living quietly in his hometown of Cambridge, England. Moving into his mother's suburban house, he passed the time painting and tending the garden. His former bandmates made sure Barrett continued to receive royalties from his work with Pink Floyd.

He was a familiar figure to neighbors, often seen cycling or walking to the corner store, but rarely spoke to the fans and journalists who sought him out over the years.

Despite his brief career, Barrett's fragile, wistful songs influenced many musicians, from David Bowie - who covered the Barrett track "See Emily Play" - to the other members of Pink Floyd, who recorded the album "Wish You Were Here" as a tribute to their troubled bandmate.

It contained the song "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" - "Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun." The band also dwelt on themes of mental illness on the albums "Dark Side of the Moon" and "The Wall."

The band spokeswoman said a small, private funeral would be held.

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Originally posted by StinkFist462
sYd. at least have the decency to spell his name right.

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Originally posted by Joseph_Kerr
Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
You were caught on the crossfire of childhood and stardom,
blown on the steel breeze.
Come on you target for faraway laughter,
come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!
You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Well you wore out your welcome with random precision,
rode on the steel breeze.
Come on you raver, you seer of visions,
come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!
Nobody knows where you are, how near or how far.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Pile on many more layers and I'll be joining you there.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
And we'll bask in the shadow of yesterday's triumph,
sail on the steel breeze.
Come on you boy child, you winner and loser,
come on you miner for truth and delusion, and shine

RIP Syd

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Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
He wasn't even in the band when they made their best music.

Chill out. As soon as someone dies, they become the greatest at something. How about we recognise what they actually did, before we do that?

-AC

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Originally posted by rickyduck
As if we didnt? Wtf do you mean he wasnt in the band when they made their best music? Syd Barret is a hero to me, he made Arnold Layne, which is the best Pink Floyd song, he made bike, see emily play, jugband blues, scarecrow and countless others... since when did we say he was the greatest? Thats rather naive of you, all we were doing was mourning the passing away of one of musics greatest legends.. its not wrong..

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Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
He was hardly one of the world's greatest musicians. A legend by reputation, maybe. He spent decades as a mentally-wrecked recluse. He wasn't a current anything, so I don't see why he's been addressed as such. How many of you hailed him or loved him before he died? I've never seen him mentioned in this forum.

He was replaced by David Gilmour, who is better than Barrett was anyway.

-AC

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Originally posted by pinkfloydkor
with out Syd, there would be no Pink Floyd.

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Originally posted by rickyduck
thats rather naive of you aswell, He was one of the greatest musicians ever, as he was DIFFERENT to all the music that was out then, influencing many artists. So what if he was a mental wreck? Cobain commited suicide and was a druggy, but was still considered one of the best musicians ever. He has been mentioned in this forum, and the only reason this thread was made was because he died! If someones (on this forum) relative died, or friend, they would state it, if a footballer died, they would state it, and David Gilmour is better in some aspects but not in others. I dont think you should take musicians like that for granted, its rather ignorant of you..

He didnt spend decades as a recluse, mentally wrecked maybe, but only the last few years as a recluse.. I just think its rather stupid that you can say all that..

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Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
[Sarcasm]I perish the thought...[/Sarcasm]



I'm not saying being a mental-wreck is something I held against him, because it's not, but when was the last time he contributed anything at all to music? Seriously. His solo work? Hardly anything special. He did things with Pink Floyd that many people love, but they're not exactly Rush, putting out album after album of great quality, consistant music, somewhat regularly. He wasn't even with them for Dark Side of the Moon.

I don't care what you think is stupid, I know enough about music to have an opinion on the matter. What's he getting credit for? A couple of famous songs? Forming the most name-dropped, overrated and pretentious band in British rock history? That doesn't constitute being called one of the greatest musicians ever. If you liked what he did, then say it, but calling him one of the greatest musicians ever puts him in a catagory with people he doesn't deserve to be with.

-AC