In his essential book of collected rock music essays and profiles, The Dark Stuff, writer Nick Kent recounts how famed psychiatrist, R. D. Laing watched an interview tape of Pink Floyd’s genius and drug-addled leader, Syd Barrett and claimed the singer was incurable. Not long after, Kent saw the evidence for himself:

Less than five years earlier, I’d stood transfixed, watching [Syd] in all his retina scorching, dandified splendor as he’d performed with his group the Pink Floyd, silently praying that one day I might be just like him. Now, as he stood before me with his haunted eyes and fractured countenance, I was having second thoughts. I asked him about his current musical project (a short-lived trio called Stars…) as his eyes burned a hole through one of the four walls surrounding us with a stare so ominous it could strip the paint off the bonnet of a brand new car. ‘I had eggs and bacon for breakfast,’ he then intoned solemnly, as if reciting a distantly remembered mantra. I repeated my original question. ‘I’m sorry! I don’t speak French,’ he finally replied.

Perhaps Barrett just wanted to avoid the dandified Kent. Then again, when Kent “rubbed up against the likes of Syd Barrett” he astutley realized:

...these were people who’d gotten what they actually wanted, only to find out it was the last thing on earth they actually needed…

This isn’t to dismiss Barrett’s immense talent or achievements - for one, he took an average band and turned them into something quite incredible. And his importance was such that when he left, his bandmates went on to make music inspired by his absence.

The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story was originally screened in 2001, as part of the BBC’s Omnibus strand as Syd Barrett - Crazy Diamond. The documentary gives a fascinating portrait of Barrett’s brilliant rise and tragic fall through a drug-induced breakdown. Contributions come from Roger Waters, Nick Mason, David Gilmour, artist Duggie Fields (who describes sharing an apartment with the Crazy Diamond), Robyn Hitchcock, and, of course, archive of Syd Barrett - who, incidentally, watched the doc, when it was first broadcast and enjoyed seeing the archive, though found the music “too loud”.
 

Uh… According to Nick Mason, Syd was the last Pink Floyd mark 1’s member joining the band. Although he gave the idea for the band’s name (THE Pink Floyd SOUND) and being the main composer of the first album, I think that technically he’s not the founder.

I think in modern parlance we’d probably say that Syd Barrett was probably self-medicating for an underlying case of (perhaps) schizophrenia or perhaps bipolar manic depression. Of course, the medication he chose probably excerbated his symptoms in the long run, but it’s sad when you hear how brilliant his songs were on those later solo albums, but his brain isn’t up to the task of performing them.

@Em : “(...) Syd Barrett was probably self-medicating (...)”

That made me remember a “Kids In The Hall” sketch, where a fake doctor recipes cocaine to a patient.

I don’t think any of us can know for certain what Syd’s diagnosis really was.  He may have been borderline schizophrenic and the acid brought it out (certainly that is the age when it often manifests), OR he may have just done too much (I have heard stories, apocryphal perhaps, that some of his not-so-close friends or hangers-on dosed him with massive amounts, then locked him in a closet when they couldn’t handle his subsequent instability.)

I knew a kid in college who took an awful lot of psychedelic drugs, pot mostly (nearly constantly), but for one extended period he was buying mushrooms every day and taking them, alone.  He definitely developed a similar “far-away stare”, and became even more aloof and hard to read, odd ticks and bits of strange body language, random uncontrolled (and kind of creepy) laughter, until he finally snapped and was asked to take a year off.  But again, I don’t know if he was already destined for mental illness, or if it was the drugs.

I definitely believe some people should not take powerful psychedelic drugs.

Thanks for posting this, i had no idea it was Syd’s birthday, been listening to madcap laughs all day. Great docs posted lately, this and the hash one.
Occupy DM !

On the plus side, he’s not numbered among the hundreds of rockers on the rolls of the dead. Yeah, there were a lot of casualties. The same can be said of racers and pilots of experimental planes and balloonists and scuba divers and world explorers. How many came back from Magellan’s trip, 18?

So the straight world has its heroes and rock has its casualties, right? And tabloid journalism just keeps cashing in.

First floyd track ever heard was with a group of mates one playing ‘One of these days’ in a 2CV lmfao.  To be young again. This led me to digging 2nd hand stores for vinyly and early floyd which is undoubtedly my favourite.
Can now reflect back on mispent (well not entirely) youth smoking, tripping and generally enjoying music of many genres under the influence in different realms.  Incredible and dangerous but man it was good.  Self medication, prescribed and recreational is all part of everydeay life now whether participating or not and needs to be investigated further.  Whatever SB’s issues and headfucks I have to agree I would have no idea if constant herbal abuse, tabs, pills and shrooms make the schizophrenic all the same now grown up!  Is or was it the musics’ influence or the pharmaceuticals or freewill to blame for the self participation?  Now settled and at ease with the world I will never know if the ulteria thoughts and views are mine or historically impaired!

Respect to a once great band and collabrative artform.

I come here first time. You can share some of your article, I’m like you write something, really very good! I will continue to focus on to here.

@TJ,

Where have you been for the past 5 1/2yrs? Syd died in July of 2006.

@Anton,

I think TJ sayings would be taken as he is on denial or was talking about “live fast, die young”. IMO, it was the last.