Pink Floyd’s Syd Barrett Would Be 66 Today

(pink-floyd.org)

For many who know Pink Floyd as Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright, they might be surprised to find out about the artist who was the original founder, singer and songwriter for the band, Syd Barrett (1946-2006).

“ Even if you haven't heard of Syd, you're feeling his influence when you listen to a Pink Floyd record, no matter what.
” Joe Boyd, Music Producer Born Roger Keith Barrett, Syd’s short time with Pink Floyd influenced not only that band, but future psychedelic artists such as Julian Cope and Robyn Hitchcock.

The title of Floyd’s first album in 1967, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, comes from a favorite child’s book of Barrett’s called The Wind and the Willows. All but one of the songs on the album are written or co-written by Syd.

But by early 1968, he left, or perhaps was fired from the band, due to drug use and erratic behavior that made him too difficult to work with.

The song list for The Piper at the Gates of Dawn:

1 Astronomy Domine    Barrett    4:12
2 Lucifer Sam    Barrett    3:07
3 Matilda Mother    Barrett    3:08
4 Flaming    Barrett    2:46
5 Pow R. Toc. H    Barrett, Mason, Waters, Wright    4:26
6 Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk    Waters    3:06
7 Interstellar Overdrive    Barrett, Mason, Waters, Wright    9:40
8 The Gnome    Barrett    2:13
9 Chapter 24    Barrett    3:42
10 The Scarecrow    Barrett    2:11
11 Bike    Barrett   3:23

In 1970, Barrett came out with two albums, The Madcap Laughs and Barrett, much of them produced by David Gilmour.

In this tribute video to Barrett’s memory, Music Producer Joe Boyd says, “Even if you haven’t heard of Syd, you’re feeling his influence when you listen to a Pink Floyd record, no matter what.” Although he was only a part of Pink Floyd for about a year, his creative influence set up the sound that made the band the rock standard that we remember today.