The Strange Return of Syd Barrett
One of the more notable events during the recording of Wish You Were Here occurred on 5 June, 1975. Gilmour married his first wife, Ginger, and it was also the eve of Pink Floyd’s second US tour that year. The band were in the process of completing the final mix of “Shine On”, when an overweight man with shaven head and eyebrows, and holding a plastic bag, entered the room. Waters, who was working in the studio, initially did not recognise him. Wright was also mystified by the identity of the visitor. He presumed that the man was a friend of Waters’ and asked him, but soon realised that it was Syd Barrett. Gilmour presumed he was an EMI staff member, and Mason also failed to recognise him; he was “horrified” when Gilmour told him. In Inside Out, Mason recalled Barrett’s conversation as “desultory and not entirely sensible”. Storm Thorgerson later reflected on Barrett’s presence: “Two or three people cried. He sat round and talked for a bit but he wasn’t really there.”
Waters was reportedly reduced to tears by the sight of his former bandmate, who was asked by fellow visitor Andrew King how he had managed to gain so much weight. Barrett said he had a large refrigerator in his kitchen, and that he had been eating lots of pork chops. He also mentioned that he was ready to avail the band of his services, but while listening to the mix of “Shine On”, showed no signs of understanding its relevance to his plight. He joined the guests at Gilmour’s wedding reception in the EMI canteen, but left without saying goodbye. None of the band members saw him from that day on to his death in 2006. Although the lyrics had already been created, Barrett’s presence on that day may have influenced the final part of the song—a subtle refrain performed by Wright from “See Emily Play” is audible toward the end of the album.
I’m very sad about Syd. Of course he was important and the band would never have fucking started without him because he was writing all the material. It couldn’t have happened without him but on the other hand it couldn’t have gone on with him. “Shine On” is not really about Syd—he’s just a symbol for all the extremes of absence some people have to indulge in because it’s the only way they can cope with how fucking sad it is, modern life, to withdraw completely. I found that terribly sad.—Roger Waters,
Bonnie Brae 12:11 pm on August 26, 2012 Permalink |
Poor guy. I read somewhere that Pink Floyd paid him royalties on the bands music til the day he died. Which if that is true is so amazingly awesome.
John 10:34 am on August 28, 2012 Permalink |
Yes, that’s cool. LSD messed up a lot of young people back then. Literally made them go insane. This is what happened to a few of the early members of Fleetwood Mac. They took some bad acid, made by some guru asshole, and went nuts, were never the same. They had to leave the band. One of them ended up homeless. It’s all on wikipedia.
Bonnie Brae 9:49 pm on September 25, 2012 Permalink
I’m a big fan of Fleetwood but did not know much history on the band. Acid is the only drug that I have not tried. Never appealed to me. I dated a guy in high school though that dropped acid before our date and accidentally kicked in the windshield on my car during a drive in movie. Thankfully it was only Roadhouse so I didn’t miss much. I do find Syd totally fascinating. I have read quite a bit about him. In one story I think he was painting his basement. And he painted all around himself but then stopped and left himself sitting in an unpainted circle in the middle. I love that story.
Have you read about Richey Edwards? He is in the 27s club. But a very tragic fascinating life. He rather disappeared at 27 but is presumed dead.
John 6:23 am on September 26, 2012 Permalink
In my new classic rock magazine, Peter Green, one of the founders of Fleetwood Mac, got some bad acid at a party. He said that he has been fucked ever since (i.e. mentally ill). The other bandmate Danny Kirwan, who joined him that night also went nuts. Danny was even homeless for spells the last 40 years. Both guys are in the RnR Hall of Fame.
John 6:25 am on September 26, 2012 Permalink
I will look Richey up when I get to work! Thanks, that was a spooky video.