Syd Barrett - Visionary or Just Psychedelic Doodler?... Let's Discuss

[@saintgeorge6706]

I could listen to Barry talk all-day. His command of words and wit are engaging.

[@classicalbum]

Thank you kindly

[@pedrorocha9722]

I think Syd himself gives us the key to that question: and what exactly is a dream and what exactly is a joke?

[@gtrDan1963]

"The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" is one of the seminal psychedelic albums ever and it's opening two tracks "Astronomy Domine" and "Lucifer Sam" are among my favorite psychedelic tracks ever.

[@stevemcgill355]

I'm not someone who thinks PInk Floyd was better during the Barrett years but as a founding member his quirky contributions are essential & legendary.

[@KB-rs1qn]

He was an absolute unique Artist...an genius seldom found

[@andrejz8954]

a genius*

[@Rosyglowofchristmas]

The Madcap Laughs is a total classic.........a singular talent!

[@willmistretta]

Agreed! As great a work as Wish You Were Here is, you'll get a lot closer to the real nature of who Syd was as an artist by listening to this.

[@Rosyglowofchristmas]

The soul of the Pink Floyd@@willmistretta

[@adamfindlay7091]

Barrett is just as fine and recorded at the same year ( I thinks).

[@alanthomson1227]

Had it back in 1970 , wish I still had it now .

[@secondchance6603]

@@alanthomson1227 So you wish it was here then.

[@johnnyjolijt2]

I really like the song "Bike".

[@hafstrat]

I was customer services and operations manager at Raleigh UK and would have used Bike as the phone hold music, but trade customers wouldn’t like the awesome sounds at the end of the track. Some were very sensitive. 😂

[@davidlynds9483]

Firstly, it's very catchy. But it is so boldly and unapologetically sweet and unassuming. "I'll give you anything, everything if you want things" sure gets to the point that a lot of other songs struggled to say as eloquently

[@stephenmorton8017]

You seem to think that there's a difference between the two. Every composer is just a psychedelic doodler.

[@robison5396]

The older I get, the more i find myself moving away from Waters' nihilistic Floyd of The Wall and Animals which seems quite death- like in many ways and more toward Syds' childlike escapism of 60s Floyd along with his solo albums which leave a much nicer taste in the mouth and have a ( generally) positive outlook. There's no doubting that Syd wasn't the best guitarist or vocalist, but i think he was a true original and theres' a wonderful spirit within his songwriting. Terrific video, really enjoyed this one.👍

[@jordil6152]

I think that The Wall is far more childish than Piper at the Gates of Dawn. "Boo-hoo I'm a bitter alienated successful millionaire musician, and I have to perform in front of 1000's of adoring fans. Life's harrrrrrrd!"

[@kerrycanfield332]

If you aren’t aware of it, I urge you to seek out a Hallowe’en show (2021?) by Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets at Seattle’s Moore Theater. Great players (as well as a second drummer), and emphasizing Barrett’s songs.

[@atari2602]

@@jordil6152 There's a big difference between childlike and childish. Mostly agree on The Wall, though there's some great songs there and you can pull a dynamite 45 minute playlist out of the 2 hours of The Wall + The Final Cut.

[@hafstrat]

@@robison5396 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@hafstrat]

@@jordil6152 great point!!

[@nectarinedreams7208]

Syd pioneered progressive rock and punk rock at the exact same time. A genius and a legend. Consider the long long list of legendary artists he's directly influenced... People like David Bowie don't take inspiration from doodlers. I think musicians today are every bit as inspired by Syd's work as they are the Floyd's equally brilliant conceptual work in the 70s. Maybe more so.

[@papalaz4444244]

nah

[@Paul-Gray]

Nah x 2

[@H-mu4bo]

Skip Spence's "Oar", and Syd Barrett's "The Madcap Laughs" are the two albums that reek of the fraying internal downward deterioration of mental ability committed to tape. Fascinating.

[@growlerthe2nd712]

@@H-mu4bo I’ve got both albums 👍

[@Darrylizer1]

I would put Big Star's third album Sister Lovers in that category but Alex Chilton did recover and continued to produce music.

[@podlife1]

I´m a bit disappointed you didn´t mention The Madcap Laughs and Barret. Are you going to do a video on those?

[@kristofftaylovoski60]

Everybody bitches about "The Madcap Laughs" being a crap album, I think it is well executed.

[@davidprice7162]

Totally. Little rough in places, but good songs and great to listen to.

[@spacedfutureworld]

That's because most people are small minded and ignorant.

[@jordil6152]

The thing about Syd is that given his brief career and how it ended, you're going to see the limitations. I was surprised with how well he played on the 3 surviving Pink Floyd shows. The improv is utterly gorgeous. Makes you wonder if he was more scary backstage and those memories got melded with onstage later on. On the solo stuff his weird meter changes that were both natural and unreplicatable. He was a formidable force. I love the instrumental stuff, but I'm also a Sun Ra fan. People always talk about how Pink Floyd would have survived without him, but, had he kept his marbles, it was inevitable that he would have ditched them. Even before Arnold Layne, he was already writing and recording songs for a solo project. Makes you wonder how much was mental illness and how much was burn out. Guy had problems and was so sick and tired and disgusted by the industry that he couldn't even pick up a guitar without shuddering.

[@crisprtalk6963]

Let's just put it this way, I play Syd songs all the time at home. I love all 55 of them. I rarely play post Syd Floyd stuff. Syd was a great songwriter. One of the best ever. Been a fan since 1982 I plan to be a fan for the rest of my life.

[@grantross2609]

.........who else is trying to work out the 55 here ?

[@crisprtalk6963]

@@grantross2609 You can do it, Come on. Be brave.

[@Supremor-tj9dv]

If Syd Barrett had been a straight like a dentist or something, would there even have been a Pink Floyd? I value him for that if nothing else.

[@justmadeit2]

He may have lived a happier life though

[@lancewilson7038]

@@justmadeit2 Possibly, but my life would have been less happy.

[@eglin32]

Gigolo Aunt remains a very cool piece of music.

[@crisprtalk6963]

Yeah the entire Barrett album is. The album just had its anniversary release date a few days ago.

[@johngray7791]

As a psych collector,Syds piper at the gates is a standout album in a year where there were many standout albums.

[@splankhoon]

Try writing something so original and captivating as 'See Emily play' or 'Mother Mathilda' or 'The Scarecrow'. Things that come off as effortless, spontaneous as if they've always been there is mostly a sign of a really brilliant musical mind.

[@David-mo5jw]

That first album is sparkling and having met people who were around the scene and knew him ,they all say he was a remarkable person who stood out

[@growlerthe2nd712]

Syd was truly unique a talent that you couldn’t teach , and after he went mad Marc Bolan stole his look and his sound ( sort of ) with the brilliant Tyanosaurus Rex ❤

[@hafstrat]

👍🏼And brilliant guy from Blur borrowed Syds singing style. Listen to Parklife. ❤

[@scottmooneyham5521]

@growlerthe2nd712, no accident. Bolan became Pete Jenner’s golden boy once he realized Syd wasn’t going to be re-entering reality.

[@growlerthe2nd712]

@@scottmooneyham5521 Didn’t Bolan also go steady with one of Syd’s former girlfriends, June Child 🤔

[@scottmooneyham5521]

@ Bolan married her, but I am not sure “girlfriend” is an accurate description regarding relationship with Syd. They may have slept together, but I think she was more of a protecter than a girlfriend. If I remember correctly, she had bad things to say about how the other band members treated him at the end. He would also show up on her doorstep after some of his bizarre bad trips.

[@growlerthe2nd712]

@@scottmooneyham5521 Poor Syd 💊🤪😱🙁

[@DavidCritchley-i6u]

I can't stand post Syd Floyd personally. Barretts guitar work on take up thy stethoscope and walk is mind blowing

[@StevieZero]

And Lucifer Sam

[@DavidCritchley-i6u]

@StevieZero theres a KZbin channel by a lad called tassio gomes, who covers every song on Piper at the gates of dawn on guitar. His version of lucifer sam is fantastic. He's well worth checking out.

[@StevieZero]

I enjoy doing my own versions of them every now and then when I'm bored...I think I've seen the guy you mention though...

[@AreJayCee]

Syd may not have been there in body, but he never leaves Pink Floyd

[@garaochiltree4566]

at the 68 concert i went down to the stage after the gig and...syd came back out onto the stage and i had an eye contact. i love the man...

[@vladdrakul7851]

IMHO and for half a century or more I have considered the album *'Barrett'* to be my fifth favorite Floyd Album, having the Floyd band back with Syd, a great production that is not just interested in mockery but making an AWESOME psychedelic Album (the other four being, 'Meddle', 'DSOTM', 'WYWH' and 'Animals'). Note I like it even more than their 1st LP that comes in at # 6 for me. 'Barrett' is so perfect and ahead of it's time in it's almost punkish venom. 'Rats' being Syd channeling 'the Lizard King'. It is a very bitter and angry LP, so fresh for it's time, reminding me of Lennon's 'Gimme the Truth' in it's disillusionment. Yet unlike his other solo LP it is fully formed and confident, I LOVE IT! Great songs and witty wordplay (ala Lennon again).

[@DrWrapperband]

Interstellar overdrive = Steptoe and Son theme. 3rd stone from the sun = Coronation Street.

[@hafstrat]

Yes indeed ! And off on a tangent, Roundabout from Yes was a Grandstand theme rip off. 😂

[@fatbelly27]

Syd pretty much invented his own genre. Nothing quite like him

[@paulthew2]

Some of his doodles were good, but it's hard to imagine life without DSOTM and Wish you Were Here, and these seem to have been made from their memories of him. So, still very influential.

[@miked6426]

You can hear where waters used some of syds voices ...wined and dined will never get old.

[@petermerison4002]

A genius for me, but whether he would have got any better we will never know.

[@douglasstruthers8307]

Thanks for this video. I enjoyed your thoughts and supportive visuals - as always!

[@classicalbum]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ilabelle1]

The untapped potential. Had Syd not gone off the deep end one can only imagine what Pink Floyd would have sounded like in the 70s. 🤔👍

[@paulduckitt3268]

we woldnt have got The Final Cut 😜

[@adamnutley600]

​@@paulduckitt3268that maybe would have been a blessing. But neither would we have got the run of albums from Meddle to The Wall

[@lonewolf8667]

@@paulduckitt3268 The Final Cut is the only Floyd album besides Animals that I listen repeatedly, so to me that would be a big miss. I can't imagine myself becoming a Pink Floyd if Waters hadn't taken over as the main writer/conceptualist.

[@scottmooneyham5521]

@@ilabelle1 he likely would have left them anyway after three or four albums. IMHO, he was true artist and the others, including Gilmour, are more master craftsmen. Without his mental breakdown, he would have found eventually found being “Pink Floyd” too confining, same as David Ayers with Soft Machine.

[@AnthonyWilliams-ew3wp]

They would have been skint.

[@dominiclewington]

This is actually a decent review, and on point with my own theories regarding Barrett, which surprises me!

[@stevebradley704]

Madcap's a difficult listen. A portrait of someone in the midst of some hellish breakdown. Some great songs though.

[@vladdrakul7851]

I feel it is almost abusive in showing 'the freak' having his mental breakdown, as a circus act. I MUCH prefer 'Barrett', that is respectful to Syd's visions but also properly produced and backed by the other guys in PF. The songs are more cohesive and Syd himself was very happy with it. So am I but it makes me sad that this classic is less appreciated when I like it even more than 'The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn' that is rightly seen as a classic.

[@thomashopper8616]

What gets overlooked with Syd Barrett is his charisma. Both Gilmour and Waters have talked about that in past interviews. I have Pink Floyd’s early demos in my collection. Even at that early stage Barrett’s charisma shines. It reminds me of a young Ray Davies. If Syd could have kept it together, Pink Floyd’s trajectory could have been very different. It’s unfulfilled potential.

[@scottmooneyham5521]

This is one of the better researched and reasoned reviews of Barrett’s influences and impact. So many people miss the AMM and (not mentioned) Stockhauen influences on early Floyd - which continued after Syd’s departure. I would say, beyond the Piper stuff, songs like Octopus and Dominoes do truly show his genius, even if he was damaged by then and they were not what they could have been. My only quibble would be that I suspect falling in with the whole “acid will change the world” beat crowd at such a young and naive age was a bigger part of his rise and fall than his father’s death. Obviously, that is another unresolved question.

[@kjetiljansen355]

I read an interview with a flatmate who said Syd was a bit of a doodler: writing, drawing, making music. The tragedy was, according to him, as Syd's mental state deteriorated - he woke up every morning with all those possibilities in his head, and ended up doing nothing.

[@alexbowman7582]

Usually people don't go mad they're already mad, it'snjust that they can no longer handle the madness. Barret was drawn to LSD like some people I know here in Glasgow because they have questions they want answered but they'll never get the answers.

[@mitchabate]

One of the best on the You Tube! Great insights!

[@classicalbum]

Wow, thank you!

[@christopher9152]

It feels like you approached this in a somewhat elliptical manner, which seems fitting for a reflection on Syd Barrett. I think Syd gives a better account of himself in some of his own lyrics than we find in Water's lyrics to "Shine On," however, great though they are. The songs "Dark Globe, "Jugband Blues," and "Opel" come to mind, among others. Syd was a brilliantly creative person who pretty clearly was cracking up in some fundamental way beginning at some point in 1967, but he retained (for a few years) the ability to write about what he was experiencing, which is amazing, discomfiting, and rare.

[@daviddoran2734]

Madcap Laughs was my college album.

[@63mckenzie]

I think it's quite ironic that his name is kept alive because of the success of Floyd after he left.

[@christopher9152]

That may be true in the States and elsewhere, but not in the UK. There, Piper is (correctly, in my view) widely remembered as one of the great classic albums of the psychedelic period.

[@flyinpigmusic331]

When I listen to Syd's music, I can really hear his genius buried deep. His mental state of being never allowed it to fully manifest itself, unfortunately. But you can definitely tell that Madcap Laughs and Barrett are both albums full of potential. Madcap especially sounds like demos ready to be polished up.

[@TomFazzini]

That Alan Bennett quote - brilliant. Kenneth Grahame - Wind In the Willows. (Bill Oddie's favourite book, apparently. Why do I remember these things?) Those four haunting notes..

[@kerrycanfield332]

So *now* you’ve got me wondering if perhaps Syd was Traffic’s “Mr. Fantasy” …

[@dansmithwave]

It's perfectly possible to adore both period of Pink Floyd (well, they had four distinct periods, but you know what I mean), just as it's perfectly possible to adore the different Fleetwood Macs, or the different Beatles eras and so on. And don't get me started on Furniture vs Transglobal Underground. 😅 I think the two minute backwards guitar solo at the end of Dominoes alone is enough to give Syd Barrett genius status, but others may feel differently. 🤷‍♂️

[@saintgeorge6706]

I feel Syd Barrett was still an integral part of the vast Pink Floyd entity. Even in his absence from them. He left his legacy on his band mates and us too. RIP wherever you are.

[@sampoernaquatrain1710]

You know, you said something a few videos ago, that American psychedelia was the genuine article for you, but coming from the literal other side of the pond, I have to disagree and say that the British whimsy/Wind in the Willows/connectedness to childhood idylls, and just general, anything-goes derring-do are what does it for me. Give me an Idle Race "Days of Broken Arrows" or a Spencer Davis "Time Seller" any day (and Syd too) over any California navel-contemplation!

[@alexbowman7582]

The Beatles were a direct influence, Piper was recorded at the same studio and same time as Seargents. They even used the same Salvation Army band as session musicians.

[@indigohammer5732]

Nice story, although The Beatles never used a Salvation Army band on any recordings. George Martin usually used members of The London Chamber Orchestra, LSO or Philharmonic.

[@QuesoWatt]

These lines always give me goosebumps: "For all the time spent in that room / The doll's house, darkness, old perfume / And fairy stories held me high / On clouds of sunlight floating by / Oh mother, tell me more" A Doll's House was the working title for The Beatles' White Album. Apt, since Matilda Mother and Cry Baby Cry seem like counterparts somehow.

[@tpbrcombo]

I enjoyed this one very much. I’ve long been a fan of all the chapters of Pink Floyd, I love Animals as much as Piper, but Syd is the only member whose solo albums I listen to. It is a relief to see a discussion on Syd that focuses on the nature of his talent, not his downfall. My opinion is that he is both. His work with Floyd is an exceptional pioneering of sound sculpture and story telling, and the deterioration of his gift is clearly mapped over his solo albums as his doodling turns from exploration to futile attempts to follow his muse, but there are still some amazingly clear and affecting ideas and emotions in there. I highly recommend Chapman’s book; it filled in a lot of blanks for me, especially around Syd’s references to English literature, of which I had no background. Thank you for this!

[@googoogjoobgoogoogjoob]

Wonderfully creative and unique. And had the image. Drugs and illness did for him. Mind you, it boggles the mind what PF might have become with him (and no mind-bending drugs).

[@arto2533]

PF with Barrett most likely would never have become anywhere near as big as they did. Waters wouldn't have taken over the songwriting, and there would have been no need for Gilmour to join the band.

[@fembotheather3785]

I think "at times, both" might be the best fit.

[@TFTO1973]

Syd's demeanor fit the psychedelic era of that time. Even without his mental breakdown, his musical career would have been as short lived as that [psychedelic] era was. Just my opinion.

[@finylvinyl66]

Nope

[@Majewski79]

Great video. I'm a fan and appreciate him but... For all of the sparks of absolute brilliance in songs we have of his, he also has a lot of bad ones. It's like a roller coaster which kind of makes sense to me considering his mental health state at the time.

[@arto2533]

he was obviously very talented. But I think the fact he's seen by many as this incredible genius legend is due to the fact he was finished so soon. It's kind of the same thing as with all the talented musicians that died young. They suddenly become a lot better once they're gone.

[@c.7610]

I immediately thought of Brian Jones when I read your comment.

[@arto2533]

​@@c.7610That's funny. I originally added "like Brian Jones, who's probably the most posthumously overrated backing player", at the end, but deleted it before sending.

[@Allen-jn4kx]

He was seen as a genius at the time. In the words of Pete Townshend, "there is no question that Syd was a genius". Piper is a great record but few have even heard Pink Floyd at their best.

[@TimC-Cambridge]

I guess if you're going to dig around the Dragon's cave you will find a few spilled treasures.

[@jswissman702]

I know PF members said they considered keeping Barrett on in a non-touring capacity, but it didn't work out. BUT imagine if it did, and Saucerful of Secrets and Ummagumma had songs by Syd on it like the ones on his solo works Madcap Laughs and Barrett (only more evenly played with the contributions of the other members). I imagine the evolution from PATGOD to DSOTM would have been something had that happened!!!!!

[@MarkThomas-hm3ju]

Its hard to describe. Things are not pinned down in his music and everything seems to be in a constant state of flux. Shimmering and like a morning dream ready to evaporate.

[@davidskidmore4189]

I've read that Waters would sometimes think what would Sid do when deciding on a direction in a song. I think the Floyd in some ways was always Sid's band.

[@hafstrat]

❤

[@secondchance6603]

Without him there would have been no Pink Floyd and at the same time with him there wouldn't have been a Pink Floyd, at least not for long given his downward spiral.

[@steveinglis4009]

He had a couple of good ideas that were groundbreaking but then....WAY TOO MUCH ACID. But yeah without him no Floyd.

[@antalantal2366]

He surely was a very original and visionary artist but, unfortunately, I cannot appreciate what he recorded as many people do. I write "unfortunately" since I kept listening to his records for years but...Eventually I had to admit to myself that I cannot grasp the genius behind the man.

[@ThinkForYourself1972]

Probably both a visionary and a bit of a psychedelic ‘doodler.’

[@adamfindlay7091]

Good one.

[@martinmason5008]

Splendid review yet again. Kenneth Graham's Wind in the Willows.

[@raypsychodad]

He had flashes of brilliance. They had to lose him to become the great band they were though. If syd had stayed they'd have split by 1970

[@shanepurcell8116]

I personally think he's somewhere in between. I don't see the genius that others seem to see, but it's hard to argue his relevance to PF's early years.

[@ImaginaryDay-nl3bp]

I'm surprised you hadn't touched on Syd's contribution to Saucerful - "Jugband Blues". Im intrigued by the lyrics: "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" Ive always wondered if that line was a shot at his soon-to-be former bandmates for carrying on without him

[@loftlegacy]

I watched a Jerry Shirley interview from about 20 years ago on working with Syd on his second solo album. It sounded frustrating and quite hard work.

[@Apartment8Records]

Well if anyone wants to refer to Syd Barrett as "just" a psychedelic doodler, then he was amongst THE GREATEST psychedelic doodlers of them all. He created psychedelic doodles that almost single-handedly defined multiple genres of music for endless artists, or "doodlers" after him to be inspired by. Amen.

[@ianemery4355]

Syd like Peter Green what could've been! Unforfilled promise!

[@MerseYattle]

green's solo debut post so called "accident" (bogus) is arguably his best work, not everything is as it seems, so they differ a bit in output id say. but in general of course yes you are right!

[@roboi2241]

People who hated Pink Floyd mk2 and thought if they continued the Pistols 'I Hate Pink Floyd' tradition it would make them cool and relevant, would always make out they loved the Barrett era, again to appear cool and relevant. Syd was great for that 67 psychedelic period and is probably the only artist of that era who was 100% authentic in that brief genre, he was that. It's like once that short phase passed, there was nowhere for him to go, drug casualty or not.

[@hafstrat]

Great video. 👍🏼

[@JoeTheLion60]

Kenneth Grahame = Wind in the Willows - you are welcome (my fav book) :-) Bowie also did Uncle Arthur in this period....

[@dilltdog1158]

I like Piper At The Gates Of Dawn and the single Emily Play which is timeless. The Madcap Laughs is a decent album, Barrett less so. However, no Syd, No Floyd.

[@markharwood7573]

To say that Interstellar Overdrive "liberated pop from its Blues roots" is just silly. A lot of pop music in that era had zero Blues influence; much was derived from Tin Pan Alley and folk styles. That said, I do believe that Syd Barrett was genuinely original in how he made little works of art where the sound and meaning of the words worked with terrific melodies and textures to create a world of whimsy that had shadows and dark things lurking around the corners. The naming of that first album was inspired. It is a clue to what it was all about. Yes, he did do some noodling live and on his solo albums, but just for a short while he created something very special and "visionary" is not too wide of the mark.

[@mattmaloney2445]

Excellent insight into Syd.

[@DashdownMusic]

bloody brilliant deep dive, cheers!

[@classicalbum]

My pleasure

[@crisprtalk6963]

There was nothing deep about it!

[@SpaceCattttt]

To me, Syd was kind of the British Jim Morrison. Less provocative, perhaps, but just as darkly poetic and messed up.

[@adamnutley600]

I don't think he had Jim Morrison's profundity. He never wrote anything that could be compared with 'The End' or 'Break on Through' . He was more childlike in his approach to music, I always feel

[@SpaceCattttt]

@@adamnutley600 Well, that's what I meant by "darkly poetic". Jim was more ambitious and prolific with his writings, but I feel that Syd could be just as dark and disturbing, only he disguised his darkness with nursery rhyme whimsy and Wickerman games. Both were inspired by drugs, though. And both were destroyed by them.

[@GriefTourist]

His Floyd material is gold his solo stuff is largely substandard. But for his better stuff he is a legend.

[@crisprtalk6963]

The production on his solo albums is the best Gilmour and others could do at the time with Syd's mental well being, being what it was. But the songs themselves are all classics, catchy, poppy, intraspective, jangly and just damn good. Dark Globe remains one of the best recordings ever. Here I Go, Baby Lemonade, She Took a Long Cold LooK Take 4, Dominos, Effervescing Elephant, Opel, Love You, Love Song are just a few standouts.

[@chrisbennett1243]

David Gilmore said that he considers a lot of Syds songs after the Floyd to be better songs just not as polished because of Syds mental state. I love both eras of the Floyd but agree no Syd no future Pink Floyd.

[@stevejanowiak1982]

Fantastic analysis of such an enigmatic person!!

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

I hope one day, Barry does a similar style video on Ian Curtis.

[@heath2483]

Well you captured the babbling doodling perfectly

[@SPARKLISWEETS]

I know this is blasphemous but I don't like Syd Barrett nor that era of Pink Floyd. Yet, I love psychedelic music and Pink Floyd is my favorite band of all time. Go figure. More power to those of you who love that era.

[@63mckenzie]

And the vitriol I got for saying Floyd would never have got so big if he had stayed, was quite visceral!

[@pommie5093]

I am of the same opinion as well. I hear moments from Syd's music that I enjoy but it doesn't go any deeper than that for me. And, like you, I really enjoy psychedelic music and PF is my favorite band of all time. The way I think of it all, Syd was such an integral part of creating PF and he had a profound impact on the rest of the band, particularly Roger. I do wonder if the way Syd was revered by the band-especially with Wish You Were Here, if this had an impact on how some of us think of the depth of Syd's musical abilities. Maybe not, maybe people (fans of PF) just see something in Syd that didn't touch me in the same way. In the end, I have tremendous gratitude for Syd, for his role on creating the best band of all time and for having such a deep impact on the rest of the band.

[@theo-dr2dz]

I agree. I am a Pink Floyd fan, but mainly the period from Atom Heart Mother up to Animals. Before it is all hippy noodling that is not for me, after that the real inspiration seems to be gone a bit. I am also more a Gilmore man than a Waters man. I don't like Waters' politics (I think those are crazy) and I don't like his ranting. I think lyrics are a nice bonus if they are good, but always secundary at best. The music should still stand up if the lyrics are completely meaningless. Give me Jon Anderson lyrics over Waters rants any day.

[@KevinRudd-w8s]

I was twelve years old in 67 and I loved Floyd from the first time I heard Arnold Layne, but I think Syd Barret has been wrongly elevated to mythical status, mostly due to people who weren't even around at the time swallowing all the waffle that the rest of the band came out with after they dumped him. That's how brilliant he was they got rid and changed their style. If he had stayed they would have been finished within a couple of years. He was a one trick pony. Some bands struggle when they lose their founding member especially if he is also the main writer, Floyd just got better and better.

[@adamfindlay7091]

No problem. It may be acquired taste. Or expectation. One day. Probably not. Anyway.

[@chriswelsh3517]

I think he was most important as a muse and an early driving force in the beginning of the band's rise While the work they did with him is not their worst work, like Ummagumma or Atom Heart Mother, which is a band starting again at day one, imo, almost unlistenable doodling, it was not their best by far. After they were forced to do the work and learned their instruments with his departure, he was a big influence to them and their work, and like you say, other bands at the time. In the end, he is a tragic cautionary tale and an inspiration for those who he influenced in his short time in the spotlight and is present in much of their best work. I DO think that if all there was of Pink Floyd was the work they did with him, they may have been relegated to some compilation of early psychedelic bands from the 60's akin to the Nuggets collection....but to be honest... there are a lot of great songs on those CDs that so few people ever got to hear. :)

[@ricknorris1466]

Tough to say how PF would have progressed had Syd not taken too much acid. I’m certain that his output would have been much more productive and their second, third and possibly more Albums would have been a steady crescendo in improvement. As for me I’m completely happy with the way things turned out without him.

[@ernger531]

The best book about him: Mr Pink Floyd, great novel.

[@babylemonade2868]

Piper is a masterpiece and the 2 solo albums some great songs and some not so much. Baby Lemonade is my favourite Syd song

[@MerseYattle]

"innocent truer self" hits it pretty close, some of his lyrics example "feel" hint of some barrier broken through, perceiving the human ill condition... gender split (in spirit, not flesh) if anything we are still all doodlers, prob he did not got there himself would be my guess, getting IT and getting THERE is a bit of a diffrent thing, anyway...

[@deanives3338]

Wonderful Analysis 🎉

[@rundbaum]

i think you gave the reasons syd might have been considered a genius! you mentioned critiques on his poetic style, grammatical improviso, surrealist bent. so, apparently, he had all these--i think that would make him worthy. but that doesn't mean his sound RESONATES w/me! as an american listener in the 21st century, i must say i like his stuff, but am still on the fence as to whether his stuff was fluff. there was a song someone played in college by him that blew me away, but i can never seem to find it. i think it was the necromantic one, a really weird one, or some other tunes, i believe . . . not sure.

[@Darrylizer1]

You know, Syd could be both! In any case I love the Pink Floyd's first album and early singles.

[@melk100]

Very nice!

[@BBlooger]

Syd was a far better lyricist, in my opinion.

[@anthonyscully2998]

Hi Barry. What do you think of his solo work after Floyd?

[@JohnFiocchi]

I see him as an artist who utilized a Sci-Fi TV theme style and fused it with British Psychedelic Rock and by doing so created a kind of Space Rock style that influenced Krautrock bands like Amon Duul II, Neu, early Guru Guru, etc...and also Gong because several of Daevid Allen ditties in the Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy are reminiscent of Syd Barrett's writing style. I do not see Syd Barrett as a virtuoso musician in any sense of the word. I see him as an innovator. His odd associations in lyricism caused quite a stir and inspired European bands to attempt lyrics in that style. It seems to me that Syd Barrett came up with a unique style that was influential. "Astronomy Domine" and "Interstellar Overdrive " were like Sci-Fi themes with a Rock edge. "Lucifer Sam" being a bit like that as well. He was also listening to AMMM MUSIC and adding similar sounds to his own material. Syd Barrett was not a great musician. If you're searching for that aspect you will be letdown. Certain songs that he wrote such as "See Emily Play, "Arnold Layne, "Lucifer Sam", "Chapter 24" or "Bìke" were just as good as any song from The Beach Boys SMILE or The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour. He had a short fuse based on his unfortunate experience with LSD. On Piper you can hear him strumming clearly on acoustic guitar and not great...however precise. After too many LSD trips he was unable to be consistent with that. ...which is evident on his solo albums where his hands are unbalanced and not coordinated as before. Classically trained musicians I knew in the 70s after having bad LSD trips could no longer play with finesse and sounded nonsensical. Several of them were admitted to a mental hospital and after their release they literally never came back to reality enough to ever function in the community again...

[@Michel-r6m]

Nice one to talk Syd Barrett. I love Pink Floyd and own few albums. Yet I got no Syd Barrett albums (with or without Pink Floyd). Though I got the Pompeii DVD.

[@finylvinyl66]

Your loss.

[@Michel-r6m]

​@@finylvinyl66???

[@SheilaThompson-od5tr]

The Barrett era, liked by those who don't like Pink Floyd.

[@paulduckitt3268]

obviously a big talent, love the Piper album (Pete Townsend hated it as it didnt represent their live show) and the stream of consciousness on the two albums which are great but I cannot hear the bloody-Syd happened to wander into Abbey rd just as the band were doing the wish you were here- tale again, god save us from this 😋

[@AnthonyWilliams-ew3wp]

I’ve never related to his work. Imagine Gilmour never taking his place?

[@grantross2609]

excellent appraisal of one of rock's giants...... check out the Crazy Diamond box set for a great overview of his solo work