Syd Barrett, The Madcap Laughs

[Abu Pepe]

While this album was a commercial flop (compared to his work with Pink Floyd) it was artistically 20 years ahead of its time. The raw underproduced sound and even Barrett's appearance looked more like 1990 than 1970. It was as if his troubled mind tried to take us to a post-punk alternative reality before anyone was ready.

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[The Polack MSgt]

1. Not all artists are tortured souls

But Syd Barret certainly was.

If I believed in an after life - I could picture him and Townes Van Zant working together in the tortured songwriter wing of Heaven

[hlthe2b]

2. His story is so poignant and more so, given the band's loyal dedication to his memory...

That said, I guess I came too late to Pink Floyd to really appreciate Syd's accomplishments and influence. To me, it has always been the exquisite guitar of Gilmore and the writing/creativity of Waters (aided by Mason, Wright and the guest vocalists/musicians) that made them what they are.

Still, the band credits Syd much more than I so, to the late Syd Barrett. May he continue on in a more conducive and forgiving realm.

[Abu Pepe]

3. Their muse until the end.

He was "the lunatic" on the grass (Cambridge University grounds). He was the "cold steel rail" and the "black holes in the sky" The whole body shaving scene in the WALL was based on him. In the 90s Gilmore's Floyd marched a giant bust of him through Cambridge