Syd Barrett, LSD, and God

[@zenaudio108]

Really enjoyed that, and added the book to my wishlist. Thank you. I remember listening to BBC 6 music on the day that Syd died and the DJ played Dark Globe as a mark of respect. It is a shame that Syd did not record more music but his two lps remain as treasures from that time. Feel is one of my favourites where it seems that time signatures go all over the place!

[@HardcoreZen]

I heard a little bit of his 1974 sessions on KZbin. There are some hints of the old Syd, but I can see why they were abandoned.

[@zenaudio108]

@@HardcoreZenI can understand that. I imagine you know more after reading that book but I have read elsewhere that David Gilmour struggled to keep him on track even for the two earlier albums and, as you say in your video, he was turning pages to read lyrics and stopping and starting songs.

[@HardcoreZen]

@@zenaudio108 It seems like everyone who tried to record Syd had a hard time.

[@williamhecht984]

Your advice to avoid drugs is good, especially now that there is so much fetanyl about.

[@michigandersea3485]

Many newer schools of Buddhism seem to think we can dispense with the precepts but man, I see everyday examples of why we should speak positively about following them…

[@troyalanmusic6292]

Intoxication is the precept. Heedlessness. It’s not just about drugs. Y’all are like Christians. I swear.

[@HardcoreZen]

A friend of mine's son died of a fentanyl OD. It's bad stuff!

[@martink9391]

thank you Brad, for not being as prescriptive as was being suggested to you 🙂

[@TheImpossibleist]

Buddhism is almost entirely prescriptive.

[@kriseikenbery112]

“Having enough is enough”- heard in an interview view with Wendell Berry. “The less I needed, the better I felt”- Charles Bukowski. Trying to walk that tightrope has been a struggle for me.

[@kriseikenbery112]

@@smoothbuddha7212 another one I really like is “ it’s not that I hate people, I just feel better when they’re not around”😎

[@wilhelmmischief8416]

When I was about 20, I loved Syd Barrett solo. I was amazed at how he could write nonsensical songs that where both happy and sad at the same time. I love his solo work. When I was 29 my dad died and I soon fell into a psychotic episode. I remember telling a psychiatrist something along the lines of "I do not understand my emotions. I am scared I am a psychopath." I have insight into my mental illness now and appreciate Syd Barrett even more.

[@HardcoreZen]

Wow. What a story! In my 20's I wondered if I was a candidate for becoming schizophrenic. A somewhat older guy I knew who was a psychology grad student told me I wasn't the type.

[@wilhelmmischief8416]

@@HardcoreZen I had mental illness in my family. The randomness of life is usually the ultimate reason someone does or does not loose touch if they are susceptible to it. I would like to mention too: You said in the video you did not believe Barrett was necessarily schizophrenic and that he seemed to be fine with people when he got older. Schizophrenia is not necessarily a life sentence. You can have insight, you can loose insight. You may only have one episode and nothing ever happens again. Incidentally, when I was psychotic, I remember listening to Opel and fully believing I knew exactly what he was talking about. A lot of the delusions I experienced were based around song lyrics as I listen to a lot of music and constantly have lyrics in my head (this is very obvious on meditation retreats hahaha) Ultimately, my insanity and fortunately regaining sanity led me to Buddhism.

[@waynesilverman3048]

I was interested in him before I owned a song of his (echoes ) when I was 20 ,but the other way round I read lost in the woods (same author as that book on this vid which I've also read ) and I heard he was permanently tripping and became interested but I prefer his music but think he was very charismatic with looks and personality like Jim morrison was

[@waynesilverman3048]

You look a lot younger then 60 ,there's a video on KZbin called stuck on a trip -a guy who says hes on the 'afterglow ' permanent

[@dhtm3577]

You crossed the intersection of my life. In eighth grade, my friend played an album from a band called Pink Floyd their first album Piper at the Gates of Dawn. I was high on weed and my mind was blown. I had all kinds of music from Beatles to Steppenwolf to stones but nothing like Pink Floyd. I am still to this day a huge fan to put it mildly. I’ve seen them in concert at least six or seven times including the wall. I also spent many many many days high and tripping on LSD in my high school days and after. Somewhere in that period I discovered Buddhism and read the Dhammapada one night. Reading that changed my life as I sat on top of the roof, looking at the bright MorningStar. I decided I was going to become a Buddhist monk and a vegetarian. Not long after I was introduced to Kobun Chino, and eventually joined the Sangha which had been started by Suzuki Roshi (as referenced in his book Zen Mind Beginners Mind). I never went crazy from taking LSD, Mushrooms, or peyote. However, Zazen became the “way” for me. Thanks for the subject. P.S. - I’m close to 70 and work at the entrance of a Costco!🤡🙏

[@HardcoreZen]

Thanks for that story. You knew Kobun? I'm not worthy! And if you're working at Costco, maybe there's hope for me! I actually think that looks like a pretty good job!

[@waynesilverman3048]

Dhtm -interesting story ,what type of acid did u do microdots or blotters? Mostly and what was your favourite types orange sunshine maybe?

[@waynesilverman3048]

That very irregular head is very good and better edited

[@dhtm3577]

@@waynesilverman3048 I think the best I can recall were Orange Barrels, Purple Barrels, various blotters. It’s been almost 50 years🤡

[@dhtm3577]

@@HardcoreZenyes, Kobun taught a class on Zazen at a local Jr. College, then later I read about a sitting group in Los Altos (the talks given by Suzuki), and knew where the Zendo was. I called Kobun from the Los Altos phone book, and he invited me to his house! I then joined Haiku Zendo and sat with them for about 2 years (started while in High School). Awesome experience!!!

[@haroldcheeseburger]

Loving your garden.

[@HardcoreZen]

Thanks!

[@wilhelmmischief8416]

I liked this video before watching it!

[@brokeboyswagger666]

Love your off topic vids

[@Joejoe-q6w]

Master brad many blessings

[@gundulfguy2179]

Hi brad, have you ever made a video about the jhanas? Is this even a topic discussed/practiced in soto zen?

[@george221999]

Its a nice thought about lamenting the loss.of a chance to ponder syd playing.

[@george221999]

When you talk wistfully, you remind me of liehzi, who tells a beautiful storiy about a woman chi sang so beautifully that even the places where she sang became more beautiful long after she had left

[@KingJorman]

Has me thinking of Peter Green! Similar issues with fame and hallucinogens.

[@joeg3950]

I bought those LPs back in early 80s. Only in the past few years have I returned to SB's work. Enjoy the day. Viva Ziggy!

[@mathanmor]

I had read elsewhere that Syd indulged in "Mandrax" (a sedarive/tranquilliser with psychotropic qualities, similar to "Qualaudes") to the point where he would drench himself in them. After one such episode, friends and the rest of The Floyd said he was never the same again...

[@HardcoreZen]

Yeah. It seems like Mandrax was more of an issue than LSD.

[@VanishedPNW]

​@@HardcoreZen LSD ruined Syd Barrett, everyone who was present for his collapse routinely has stated such the last five decades, all except Roger Waters, who simply has an unbelievably fragile ego and must believe, for his own strange reasons, that Syd simply was going to break no matter what, and that he, Waters, was the true mantel of the band. Mandrax came after his lost weekend, which was where whatever point-of-no-return was crossed for Barrett, much like Peter Greene's German commune weekend. Barrett simply used too many psychedelic drugs. That whole week he spent tripping while his girlfriend grew increasingly agitated and terrified is another period cited by those who were around. Acid was exponentially more potent back then, and Syd imbibed recklessly in its consumption, consuming unthinkable amounts of it, and, like Peter Greene, surely Syd Barrett would have eventually recognized its damaging effects, had he ever recovered at all, which Greene thankfully did somewhat.

[@Jack-il3qv]

'All I ever really wanted was to be a good guitarist.' Syd quote.

[@ricardomaran2338]

Very interesting video!

[@cadenschaefer7909]

I saw Nick Mason’s tour group play “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” last year. Amazing show. They did a lot of the older Syd stuff too.

[@Gaztronaut]

That's weird. I just finished writing a piece about Syd for Radio Times magazine when this popped up.

[@TheImpossibleist]

That variable tempo thing is often heard in Indian music and even The Grateful Dead. Thats the ONLY thing Hebert Von Karajan could not tolerate from the musicians in his orchestras. I'll give Syd one thing...he was flexible enough to sit in full lotus posture with a straight spine and without a zafu. Most Buddhist monks can't even do that...even though its the foundation of practice. The name of the guru was Charan Singh...but Syd was rejected.

[@BullyMaguire4ever]

On his solo work it’s actually because he recorded guitar and vocals first and then they tried to overdub the other instruments but Syd’s tempos were erratic. At that time I do think he was struggling a lot.

[@mattrkelly]

big fan of the titles 👍

[@TheLydian23]

Great video.

[@kraz007]

Listening to "Shine on, you crazy diamond" many times, I'm convinced Roger first wrote it as "come on you crazy bastard" but changed it because the others were appalled.

[@zenmite2525]

As another commenter said, the guru rejected Syd, claiming he just wasn't ready for his teachings. The source I read said this caused a huge disappointment and initiated a downward spiral for him. It also suggested Mandrax (not a psychedelic) was a big part of his descent into sickness. My wife, who is a Pink Floyd fan, thinks I'm nuts because I like the band's early stuff with Syd too. Been imbibing Floyd for over 50 years now. I kept hoping he'd rejoin Floyd (along with David) until the day he died. Still a huge fan at 65.

[@HardcoreZen]

I don't remember the author of this book saying the guru rejected Syd. But that sounds likely. I might have rejected Syd if he'd come to me... unless I was too star-struck.

[@danielpont3907]

Weird Bard mentioned it wasn't a Buddhist video at the end, was it ? Syd Barret's life in flesh and bone even if taken only as a cautionary tale is such a valuable teaching and may be easier to understand for a lot of us than deep ancient scriptures that require a lot of academical knowledge to fully appreciate...

[@fhoniemcphonsen8987]

You get to hang with Ziggy & Syd's ghost, no fair.

[@ukulelalienation]

I was very fortunate to have had a long one to one with Syd without knowing who he was. I lived in Cambridge and as a young man (me not Syd) he frequented a few pubs in my locale. I was a Floyd fan.....but more importantly I was a fan of chatting to underdogs after I'd a couple of snifters. I sat down with the fella In The Cambridge Arms public house....he seemed lonely.....and we talked for a couple of hours and shared beers and spoke bollocks about the world. It wasn't until days later that my friends who ran the pub's security, who knew him, asked me what we were talking about...as they rarely saw Syd that animated.....I hadn't realised it was Syd...and the truth is I can't remember what we talked about....only it made both him and me happy for a while.

[@HardcoreZen]

@@ukulelalienation I AM NOT WORTHY!!!!!

[@walterforsyth1414]

I love Syd and it is always interesting to hear about him .. I think you are right that he found a measure of peace . I think if drugs can be used responsibly they can open up worlds of experience that one might go a lifetime without being aware of.but I think it is important to use them with at least a basic understanding of spiritual thought and practice I like your music also. Though I love Syd, i do not blame the band for wanting to move on with their careers when Syd had become dysfunctional as a touring musician. I think David was especially very kind and patient working with Syd and did what he could. . I like Syd's solo albums but I am a die hard fan. I suppose it is easy to be compassionate from afar but these were young men trying to have a career in music with much to offer and dealing with someone like Syd would not be as romantic in reality as in fantasy.

[@HardcoreZen]

I think you're right. Pink Floyd couldn't have continued with Syd as he was.

[@JeffToker]

The Madcap Laughs!! I Love Ziggie. And Handel’s Ice Cream.

[@GenXMystic]

That is really interesting. I thought that Syd Barrett had died in the 70s. I did a lot of acid when I was 17. It definitely changed me. Then, I only did it a handful of times after that year of insanity. I'd be too afraid of not coming off a trip. I got clean in my late 20s. Luckily.

[@tegeuscromis8947]

Now do a video on Skip Spence!

[@CaridadeCaio]

Having used ayahuasca for 3 years myself I agree that psychdelics are a way too dangerous path to go thru....althoug it can be a good start...

[@Formelyknownasnone]

No way Syd would’ve/could’ve played a better solo than Dave. That Page telecaster is rad.

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a wonderful day also today is my dad birthday ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@jamesheath7601]

I love Syd I’m a huge fan of him and man you don’t look 60 either

[@kraz007]

Syd has such an interesting story. The other tragic story from the 70s for me is T Rex's Marc Nolan.

[@martink9391]

puzzled... why "god" in the title? was that just your nephew who suggested catchy titltes? or did I miss the mention? Anyway, thanks! that was interesting 🙂

[@HardcoreZen]

It was a stretch. I did mention Syd's friends trying to get him into religious stuff.

[@markbrad123]

Not alot of people know this but if you say someone has dementia it is treated as medical term but if you say someone is demented it can be treated as an insult that could get you in trouble with HR.

[@HardcoreZen]

Yeah. When I named my band Dimentia 13, I spelled it deliberately wrong because actual dementia is bad stuff. I wish I'd spelled it Dymentia instead. Because spelling it with an "i" just looks like an accidental mistake, not a deliberate misspelling.

[@gregwallace552]

I read A Very Irregular Head and it is quite good. It does seem like Pink Floyd are to blame for at least some of Syd's problems. For one thing they recorded a couple of songs, Scream Thy Last Scream and Vegetable Man, that they left off of Saucer Full of Secrets and they really should be on there. I mean he was the group's leader but it seems like they just pushed him out. I think it said in the book that he showed up for a number of sessions and politely waited in the lobby waiting to be invited in but they just ignored him. It seems to me that he was their most talented member and they really should have kept him involved with making records as much as possible but they didn't. Roger Waters and David Gilmour also seemed to do a pretty half assed job when they produced some of his solo recordings as well. They could of at least overdubbed some more instruments on some of those songs but they couldn't be bothered. I still think that Piper at the Gates of Dawn is the best Pink Floyd album.

[@justahumanbeing.709]

might of Kirpal Singh or Charan Singh from a group called radha soami, that Syd's friends tried to get him into.

[@glenmccarthy8482]

Thankfully the great David Gilmour replaced him.

[@BullyMaguire4ever]

I have often disagreed with Brad about his views on psychedelics, but I feel like he has become a little more reasonable in his views, less dogmatic about it. Which is good. I personally got interested in Buddhism because of psychedelic experiences and wanting to understand the insights I experienced in those mind states. I wouldn’t say psychedelics are for everyone but I do think they have potential in small dosage as treatment for depression, and anxiety, and potentially at higher does for profound experiences, that can be life changing for people. But it is true that it could be risky in some ways. Syd definitely seemed to have latent schizophrenia brought out by too much acid. That is a risk factor for people with schizophrenia in their family tree. I don’t think Syd faked his breakdown to run from fame. He seemed to genuinely become quite unstable. His housemates also dosed him without consent. He took way way too much.

[@GodUranus]

maybe if they just let him play a sick solo on wish you were here , it would fix his sickness and pink floyd would be playing with barrett and the world would be a whole different place

[@BullyMaguire4ever]

Man it would have been cool to hear Syd’s attempt at a solo on Shine On. I don’t think it would have worked but they could have had him do a solo on a different track maybe. Their style at that point was just pretty far from the Barrett era stuff, and far more stylized and minimalist.

[@HardcoreZen]

I'd like to have heard what he'd do. His style was very different from Gilmour. But maybe it could have worked. We'll never know.

[@ricardomaran2338]

Ziggy seeing leprechauns!! 😂😂

[@paulengel4925]

love Pink Floyd "We are just two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl"

[@jamesboswell9324]

Let's be honest, Syd Barrett would never have written or played music like that had be not used psychedelics in the first place. I mean it's not called psychedelic rock for nothing, right? That his massive use of LSD then deepened his questioning of reality and with it the dubious nature of fame was doubtless a consequence too. Was he therefore a casualty? Arguably. I mean certainly this is the general view. But then, arguably he escaped just in time since perhaps the path to fame he was already on may have destroyed him altogether as a soulful individual. Perhaps as in the famous Zen story of the guy with the horses, it worked out for the better for Syd - or that the very least, we have to accept that his life may have gone worse in any number of ways had he never taken LSD in the first place, and that in the same event he may have been far less imaginative and creative and that the world would then have lost out on some terrific music from a uniquely talented artist. Whatever the truth, RIP Syd.

[@EricJohnson-c4z]

Seems to me that it is potentially easy for some to go off the rails using drugs if there is no familiarity with some Buddhist teachings such as impermanence and emptiness. But all in all, drugs are best avoided altogether.

[@blackbird5634]

I dated a girl (Not for long) who actually said: "I like Pink Floyd, but i stopped listening when Syd left the band." Which would have been when she was 3yrs old. IF you are looking for signs that someone is a hipster, this is a good one.😂

[@cjelvado]

Ashok Singh maybe.

[@exlauslegale8534]

Pink Floyd is a nice example of capitalism overcoding, reterritorializing schizophrenia...

[@zfid]

Diabetes itself can lead to psychosis amongst many other health issues.

[@MrPsiman]

if all else fails you can always go drive Uber and espouse whatever to the people you pick up and be paid for it and somebody may listen to the gibberish. Aren't we blessed ?

[@Teller3448]

The story from Pink Floyd about how Syd was non-functional was probably made up. Syd went on to make two solo records, so he could obviously still play guitar and sing and write songs. So whats the real reason he was fired? The other members probably realized at some point that David Gilmour was a huge talent outshining Syd by leaps and bounds...and just ran with it.

[@donyoung7874]

Recording his 2 solo albums was reportedly like pulling teeth. Especially the 2nd album. It's well documented.

[@tatagram]

Do you like "To Record Only Water for Ten Days"?

[@kemosabe168]

Fame reminds another great artist JJ Cale /\

[@richardhawley8041]

I found that book to be a bit of a slog. A lot of detail - probably great if you're _really_ interested in every little detail about his life - but my gosh what a grind.

[@HardcoreZen]

Yeah. I skipped over some sections where the author piles on way too much detail.

[@VanishedPNW]

Ehhh. I dont subscribe much at all to the "he didnt like fame or want fame and that has a lot to do with his exit" theories. There is a mountain of evidence that shows that the opposite is true, and that Syd, prior to whatever precipitated his having gone mad, was quite open and embracing of his burgeoning pop idol status. His rejection of it came as a result of his collapse and the wild, "pendulum thrown all the way the other way" type of changes noted in his personality by anyone who knew him before and after. Its a lofty and earnest thought, that he had the presence of self awareness enough to know definitively his place in the world and what he specifically did not want his place to be, but im afraid the evidence says otherwise, and that any repudiation of the spotlight happened only as a result of the severe changes he underwent during the final two quarters of 1967.

[@jonwesick2844]

Fame, schizophrenia, and LSD - a bad combination

[@beyond.the.paradigm359]

Cool. I love Syd Barrett too. Definitely one of my early psychedelic influences for music as well. He was one of the folk heroes of LSD that was still relevant to kids in the early 2000's. He probably made my favorite song about bikes. 😊

[@sawtoothiandi]

remembre une dayo

[@elizabethwarren3454]

Zig Zag Zen is the only good zen book.

[@Trace-l7k]

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Repair. The Tao of Poo. Plenty good zen books. ✌️

[@kirtundercoffer7655]

The guru was apparently Maharaj Charan Singh Ji (Rolling Stone) from the Sant Mat tradition : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charan_Singh_(Sant)

[@sparrowsparrow4197]

thanks Brad compassionate depiction🙂if you work at Walmart please do these once a month😊😊😊🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️I still say your very good🙂mentor, help freind 🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️

[@sparrowsparrow4197]

thanks Brad compassionate depiction🙂if you work at Walmart please do these once a month😊😊😊🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️I still say your very good🙂mentor, help freind 🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️