Syd is dead

Posted by: Rasher on 11 July 2006

Eek
No details yet, but Syd Barrett has died
Posted on: 13 July 2006 by Tam
I find the current vogue that when someone dies, they are praised to the skies and nobody may question that greatness, rather distasteful (we saw much the same thing recently with a certain footballer). I don't think it disrespectful to question how great or important a musician he was. He did make some good music, I also think it's valid to hold the opinion that Pink Floyd's greatest work was done later. I don't see why, because someone has just died, one should refrain from making comments one would have made a week ago when he was alive, indeed, to do otherwise is rather two-faced.

It is true comments should be tempered with good taste, but, frankly, I don't think any of the things said here have crossed that line or come anywhere close to it.

regards, Tam
Posted on: 13 July 2006 by Tam
I would not wholly disagree with that - after all the point has been made (and there is little point in exercising one's free speech simply for the sake of it, especially if it does upset people).

regards, Tam

p.s. When the disc of Mozart I'm currently spinning is done, I shall be putting on some Syd era Floyd.
Posted on: 13 July 2006 by Tam
[smiley]
Posted on: 14 July 2006 by Chumpy
All the best of condolences/thoughts for Syd/his family. He seemed to blaze/burn early, and I hope he had life pleasure since late 60s.
Posted on: 14 July 2006 by Harry
I havn't seen any TV tributes scheduled. Anyone know if there's one going out?

Cheers
Posted on: 14 July 2006 by rupert bear
I think cultural significance is the key here, not a quantitative/qualitative measurement of 'output'. Someone who was impressionably around just in time for the spring of 1967 (like me!) will know that Syd represented something pretty important for a short but brilliant time. Joe Boyd best summed this up the other day - 'without him the swinging 60s may not have happened'. Along with a handful of others he defined a critical socio-cultural moment which had a profound effect on what was to follow. The fact that he burned out extremely quickly is, well, exactly what happens to catalysts in any reaction.

Having said that, if you actually look at the output, he pretty much invented British psychedelia and long-form LP tracks, and crystallised whimsy in a comic/serious, rather than embarrassing, form.
Posted on: 14 July 2006 by nicnaim
quote:
Originally posted by rupert bear:
... The fact that he burned out extremely quickly is, well, exactly what happens to catalysts in any reaction.


Rupert, quality first post. Welcome to the forum, and watch your wallet.

Regards

Nic
Posted on: 15 July 2006 by Harry
quote:
Originally posted by rupert bear:
Joe Boyd best summed this up the other day - 'without him the swinging 60s may not have happened'.


I understand where Joe is coming from but I think that’s a bit wide of the mark. If anything he was part of a movement that rescued the cheesy swinging 60s from its own narcissistic fatuous preening and took us to another altogether more interesting and dark place. I guess my POV on this like everyone’s, depends on where I was and how I saw the world. I can remember seeing a rather poor quality clip (which if anything added to the effect) of Astronomy Domine live and thinking that it made the likes of The Beatles, Small Faces, Kinks and their ilk seem rather lightweight and poppy, not to mention comparatively boring. But I’m probably just splitting hairs here.

Cheers
Posted on: 15 July 2006 by DenisA
BARRETT RADIO SPECIAL THIS WEEKEND & PODCAST INTERVIEW

See brain damage for the links.

Details below ......

Canadian radio station Chez 106 FM, based in Ottawa, have announced that they are airing a special edition of The Legends of Classic Rock - celebrating "one of the most intriguing members of the Classic Rock fraternity." The show airs tomorrow (Sunday, July 16th) at 7pm local time.

The radio station streams their programming on the web, via CHEZ106.com. You need to register yourself into their VIP club, but this is free of charge - and you can sign up from any country, too.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The UK's excellent magazine "The Word" regularly has good coverage of Pink Floyd related matters. As a tribute to Syd, they have recorded a very interesting 23 minute podcast, where musician Robyn Hitchcock remembers Syd in conversation with Word editor Mark Ellen.

You can find the podcast - Word Podcast 6 - using this link at Apple's iTunes, and you can sign up to the XML feed of the podcasts through this link.

Our thanks to Mark and David at The Word for letting us know about this.

Finally, we will keep you posted on the magazine's coverage of Syd's departure.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on: 16 July 2006 by Diccus62
Couple of good articles on Syd in today's Observer, though I would imagine there is in other Sunday broadsheets.

Diccus
Posted on: 17 July 2006 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by sebastian7:
quote:
Originally posted by Tam:
He did make some good music, I also think it's valid to hold the opinion that Pink Floyd's greatest work was done later.


I do not feel like answering in a separate thread initiated by Tarquin, so I'll post here:

I will omit the ethical consideration regarding saying critical things about the artist who just died, but what I can say is that what is 'greatest work' is very subjective.

For example, the first material of Pink Floyd I ever listened was Dark Side... on the tape -- it was in the Soviet Union and the records were scarce and very expensive. It made a huge impression on me, the same I can say about 'Wish you were here' which for many years remained my favorite album (along with early Led Zeppelin and Machine Head by Deep Purple). The Wall never appealed to me, although I had it, too, and tried hard to like it.

Later on (much later on, I should say), I heard early Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett solo work.

For the time being, I am not able to enjoy either Dark Side or Wish you were here. I have copies of these on CDs but play them very rarely, probably once per 3 years and when I play them, I never listen to the whole albums.

But I do play Syd Barrett songs, and I enjoy to listen to different takes of the same songs. It gives me more than the whole work of post-Barrett Pink Floyd (which was commercially very succesful).

I can also mention that Syd Barrett work was very influential for lots and lots of artists. I was listening to the track No 17 from 'Opel' album -- 'It is obvious' (Take 5) and I got the feeling that it is absolutely Belle and Sebastian but without their irony and mannerisms, it was just a 'strait' song but very beautiful and much more better than any of Belle and Sebastian ever done.

What I am trying to say is that post-Barrett Pink Floyd work is appreciated by one kind of listeners, and Barrett's work is appreciated by absolutely different category of listeners, it's very different music -- and it made a huge impact on lo-fi of late 1990-ies, and will stay separately in its own pantheon of 'particular fame'.


Sebastian

Superb post.

Although I still find Roger Walters led PF quite enjoyable. For me it can never match the magic of Syd. I would sooner listen to Madcap Laughs. Barrett and Opal than any of the later Floyd material.
Posted on: 17 July 2006 by Tam
quote:
Originally posted by sebastian7:
but what I can say is that what is 'greatest work' is very subjective.


Of course this is true, and in my original post, I stressed that it was simply an opinion. Others are quite free (and it seems many do) to hold the reverse.

However, I don't think it's right to pigeonhole listeners by suggesting the Barrett and post-Barrentt works are appreciated by different kinds of people - I enjoy both very much indeed (and would be loath to part with a single one of my pink floyd CDs), however, I simply feel that what was achieved with albums like Dark Side and The Wall, eclipses their previous work (however great it was). But, as you say, it is just an opinion, and listening to Piper again the other evening (it's been a little while since I dug it out) reminded me just what an impressive talent Barrett was.

regards, Tam
Posted on: 18 July 2006 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by rupert bear:
... look at the output, he (Syd) pretty much invented British psychedelia and long-form LP tracks, and crystallised whimsy in a comic/serious, rather than embarrassing, form.


Rupert

Very well put.

Did you ever see Syd live?



Best regards, Rotf
Posted on: 18 July 2006 by Chumpy
'All the best of condolences/thoughts for Syd/his family. He seemed to blaze/burn early, and I hope he had life pleasure since late 60s'.

I do not agree that Syd invented psychedelia. Although I liked his individuality, he was bolloxed by drugs. I have all of his recordings/official and unofficial, and most are not worthy of repeated listening.
Posted on: 18 July 2006 by rupert bear
ROTF - no, sadly, I was a few years too young to go to gigs in '67. I was in Cambridge for a few years, though, and may well have bumped into him on the street...
Posted on: 20 July 2006 by bhazen
Considering who else they've given knighthoods to, Syd should've been; if all he'd done was Piper he'd still be an absolutely crucial figure IMHO.

Sudden and magnificent, the sun's broad golden disc showed itself across the horizon facing them; and the first rays, shooting across the level water-meadows, took the animals full in the eyes and dazzled them. When they were able to look once more, the Vision had vanished, and the air was full of the carol of birds that hailed the dawn.

- "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn", from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame ©1908 Scribners
Posted on: 20 July 2006 by Malky
As the Salvation Army once shared a record with Syd.
Posted on: 21 July 2006 by Chris Kelly
I Picked up all 3 of his solo albums for a fiver each at HMV Kingston this week. I agree they are unlikely to make it onto the play often pile, but still good to have them. I wonder who gets his royalties now that he is gone?
Posted on: 21 July 2006 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by Chris Kelly:
I Picked up all 3 of his solo albums for a fiver each at HMV Kingston this week. I agree they are unlikely to make it onto the play often pile, but still good to have them. I wonder who gets his royalties now that he is gone?


Chris

Syd's brother gets the royalties.

You have two of the best albums ever made in Madcap Laughs and Barrett, I play these far more than I play my non-Barrett PF albums. I think the more you play them then the more you'll like them. Dominoes is one of my all time favourite songs, but there are so many great songs on these albums. I assume Opal was your third purchase and I like that too, but it doesn't quite match the excellence of the first two.

I don't believe Syd only created one maserpiece and then faded. I believe he left a legacy of several superb singles and three wonderful albums.

I hope you enjoy your new purchases. I certainly paid a lot more for my Crazy Diamond CDs. I can't remember what I paid for the vinyl, as I bought it when it first came out so it is very worn - there are few, if any, records in my collection that I've played more.

Best regrards, Rotf
Posted on: 21 July 2006 by Chris Kelly
Thanks ROTF. To be fair, I need to listen properly without interruptions. He was an extraordinary talent that's for sure.
Posted on: 22 July 2006 by Malky
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Harry K:
I havn't seen any TV tributes scheduled. Anyone know if there's one going out?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

BBC2, Thursday 23:20. Omnibus: Crazy Diamond.
Posted on: 21 August 2006 by Guido Fawkes
Crazy Diamond is a wondeful set and a must for anybody interested in Syd's music.
Posted on: 10 September 2006 by Diccus62
Don't know whether any of you Syd fans have seen this article in the Guardian yesterday. There was a picture of his lounge in the paper which is not produced here but interesting non the less.

Syd's house

diccus
Posted on: 10 September 2006 by Guido Fawkes
Thanks Diccus

Syd's decorating sounds like mine - though in looking through the descriptions of the rooms, I'm tempted to ask "Which one's Pink?".

Surely the National Trust should buy it.
Posted on: 10 September 2006 by Diccus62
quote:
Originally posted by Tarquin Maynard-Portly:
The house is up for sale...


crackin back garden, fascinating estate agent notes. Yes i think the nt should buy it too.

diccus