Wonderful! Reminded me of many things. A little spooky on dot connect with Floyd, Nietzsche, Tolkien and Bosch (I had a poster of that painting over my bed in my first year at college many years ago) all of whom were very important in exploding my dogmatic worldview back then. I can’t say I have a favorite tarot card, but one that pops into my head often is The Tower. I thought of Syd B often then and meditated on the conventional ideas of sanity and insanity which seemed increasingly empty. Remembering…
Goodness- your mind carries the weight of generations of wisdom, memories, and knowledge. You have the magical gift of meaning making. Thank you for sharing. (Btw I miss Neil Peart of Rush - he was the ghostrider).
I have to think that if he'd stayed in the band, Pink Floyd would have released a Barrettized (The album, not the person) version of the Madcap Laughs and then faded into obscurity and the world be a much lesser place. I spent a night hanging out with him in the 90's and although he claimed to be Syd , I did not believe him and only realized he was telling the truth, years later when I saw a picture of what he'd become.
I think he used up every bit of genius he was ever going to have in those early years. The man I met was incapable of creating anything other than animosity in those who crossed his path. He was the spark that created Pink Floyd and deserves every bit of that credit. He was truly a legend, but as a man, no amount of romanticism of his personality could have saved his bandmates from the association. If he'd stayed we would be not only be lacking Wish You Were Here, but I am afraid that the Wall, The final Cut, and of course, Amused to Death would never have been recorded and that would be a horrific world to live in. Not saying this one isn't, but it has its bright spots and many of them were created by Waters and Gilmour, sometimes together and sometimes apart.
I often wonder what Amused to Death would have sounded like with Gilmour on guitar instead of Beck. I love Jeff Beck, but I believe it would have been a much better album and I consider it one of the greatest albums ever made, as is.
Thank you for the distraction this morning. I did not realize how much I needed one... sincerely, thank you. I'll be reading everything else you've written very soon.
Thanks Andi. This is my idea of anepic response. I tend to agree with what you said, though I love his solo albums... We got the Pink Floyd we needed and yet I can't stop wondering about the other, unfinished band we didn't get to know
I skimmed through your most recent few posts and was taken by the title because I incorporated some of the same elements in a post 2-3 months ago here as background for a book that’s hopefully coming out this summer about how a 30-something imagines a beetle thinks we need a different story/narrative about ourselves. Your post is great— and validating in that appropriately cosmic way : ).
A beautiful story beyond the poetry of the texts and the beauty of those classical evergreen musical pieces. It has been a golden age in this sense. A musical epoch of great relevance. …….
On topic, my brother was a troubled youth, a remarkable muso with the savant memory of a neuro-divergent. I didn't understand the connection he had to Syd until I saw a picture of him (the same one on your post). They looked like twins. My brother had his madness too, but came out or back to normality of a kind (if being a paid of up member of the Communist Party who regularly visits N. Korea as a 'Delegate of the West' is normal (which in some quarters it is)).
In about 2000, whilst still a little crazy, he'd managed to track Syd down to a flat in Cambridge (don't ask me how, given the internet was not in common use at that time), broke a long spell of seclusion (full on hikikomori tbh), took a train from London where we lived, found the flat and knocked on the door (He may have rung a bell. I don't have that level of detail). After an age, it was opened by a stooped, dishevelled man dressed in filthy rags, bald as a coot (I had to check why this phrase came about: bald was originally 'bala' in Old English, and meant 'white patch', hence the coot which isn't bald at all but does have that white patch at the front of its head), apart from a ring of extremely long hair running just above his ears - the sort one might drag up and over the dome if one cared to. After staring hard at my brother for a few seconds, Syd (we assume it was him) stamped his foot hard, as if coming to attention on parade, barked something incomprehensible at my brother and slammed the door in his face. I don't know if the encounter helped either of them. I do know I enjoyed reading your investigation!
Syd also became obsessed with a mystic community - Radha Soami Sat Sang Beas. I now because I was there. He consistantly wanted to be inititated by the them but the teacher Charan Singh politely said "No, Syd"
Really enjoyable read! Thank you for skillfully crafting this tale, I learned something and also agree that the song ‘wish you were here’ is simply perfect
Some writers who classify music have placed Pink Floyd in the hopper of Progressive Rock/Prog Rock - along with Yes. I have been a Yes follower since their first U.S. tour in 1971. My only exposure to Pink Floyd came by way of the early ‘70s radio. Two years ago, I purchased the Darkside CD, now my three-year-old vehicle doesn’t have a CD player. This year, I have come across Brit Floyd and watched their performances on TV, visited their website & see where they tour, even in the U.S. I read your post & much was new for me. Thank you.
I confess I didn’t read it attentively all the way through. Nonetheless it drew out memories that my mind had filed away not quite forgotten but dormant. I am of an age now that I was on the cusp of adulthood when they were releasing their smash hits. I didn’t own a copy of Dark Side of the Moon, but then I didn’t need to as everyone else did. My close friend had all PF albums including the Syd B ones. I haven’t talked to him in 20 years. I bet he still has them 50 years later.
I came across a biography of Syd Barret years ago at a discount bin and it's the only biography I have ever finished, and this essay reminded me why. His influence is so shadowy, as was his life, very Neptunian in astrological terms – a fascinating character and definitely the reason Wish You Were Here is one of the most beautiful songs about friendship ever written.
Wow you subscribed to my humble offering and I get to discover your gem. Do you like Simplicius?
Your style, such as I can tell from sampling this Pink Floyd piece, is similar. I eschew AI but honestly I don't know how he can be so prolific without it?
Thanks for the insight on Syd. Found myself loudly singing along as I read the lyrics to wish you were here. One line not how I remember, no time to check. Of how we found, not what have we found.
Have spent a bit of time teetering on the edge between genius and insanity. Often crumpling in a heap, just trying to cope. On a good day lost in labor, absolutely working to exhaustion. Quiet desperation is the English way. There is so much to know and so much static. Thanks Chen, sincerely
Wonderful! Reminded me of many things. A little spooky on dot connect with Floyd, Nietzsche, Tolkien and Bosch (I had a poster of that painting over my bed in my first year at college many years ago) all of whom were very important in exploding my dogmatic worldview back then. I can’t say I have a favorite tarot card, but one that pops into my head often is The Tower. I thought of Syd B often then and meditated on the conventional ideas of sanity and insanity which seemed increasingly empty. Remembering…
See, “The Myth of Mental Illness,” by Thomas Szasz
I check out all the boxes without knowing it! The Tower abd Syd - I can see that.
Goodness- your mind carries the weight of generations of wisdom, memories, and knowledge. You have the magical gift of meaning making. Thank you for sharing. (Btw I miss Neil Peart of Rush - he was the ghostrider).
I have to think that if he'd stayed in the band, Pink Floyd would have released a Barrettized (The album, not the person) version of the Madcap Laughs and then faded into obscurity and the world be a much lesser place. I spent a night hanging out with him in the 90's and although he claimed to be Syd , I did not believe him and only realized he was telling the truth, years later when I saw a picture of what he'd become.
I think he used up every bit of genius he was ever going to have in those early years. The man I met was incapable of creating anything other than animosity in those who crossed his path. He was the spark that created Pink Floyd and deserves every bit of that credit. He was truly a legend, but as a man, no amount of romanticism of his personality could have saved his bandmates from the association. If he'd stayed we would be not only be lacking Wish You Were Here, but I am afraid that the Wall, The final Cut, and of course, Amused to Death would never have been recorded and that would be a horrific world to live in. Not saying this one isn't, but it has its bright spots and many of them were created by Waters and Gilmour, sometimes together and sometimes apart.
I often wonder what Amused to Death would have sounded like with Gilmour on guitar instead of Beck. I love Jeff Beck, but I believe it would have been a much better album and I consider it one of the greatest albums ever made, as is.
Thank you for the distraction this morning. I did not realize how much I needed one... sincerely, thank you. I'll be reading everything else you've written very soon.
Thanks Andi. This is my idea of anepic response. I tend to agree with what you said, though I love his solo albums... We got the Pink Floyd we needed and yet I can't stop wondering about the other, unfinished band we didn't get to know
I skimmed through your most recent few posts and was taken by the title because I incorporated some of the same elements in a post 2-3 months ago here as background for a book that’s hopefully coming out this summer about how a 30-something imagines a beetle thinks we need a different story/narrative about ourselves. Your post is great— and validating in that appropriately cosmic way : ).
And….thank you as usual… you have “ a happy pen” , a special, pleasant
and also “soft” way “to make culture”…
Beautiful future 👍 project ….
A happy pen to create culture with... I'll humbely yet greedily take it!
A beautiful story beyond the poetry of the texts and the beauty of those classical evergreen musical pieces. It has been a golden age in this sense. A musical epoch of great relevance. …….
On topic, my brother was a troubled youth, a remarkable muso with the savant memory of a neuro-divergent. I didn't understand the connection he had to Syd until I saw a picture of him (the same one on your post). They looked like twins. My brother had his madness too, but came out or back to normality of a kind (if being a paid of up member of the Communist Party who regularly visits N. Korea as a 'Delegate of the West' is normal (which in some quarters it is)).
In about 2000, whilst still a little crazy, he'd managed to track Syd down to a flat in Cambridge (don't ask me how, given the internet was not in common use at that time), broke a long spell of seclusion (full on hikikomori tbh), took a train from London where we lived, found the flat and knocked on the door (He may have rung a bell. I don't have that level of detail). After an age, it was opened by a stooped, dishevelled man dressed in filthy rags, bald as a coot (I had to check why this phrase came about: bald was originally 'bala' in Old English, and meant 'white patch', hence the coot which isn't bald at all but does have that white patch at the front of its head), apart from a ring of extremely long hair running just above his ears - the sort one might drag up and over the dome if one cared to. After staring hard at my brother for a few seconds, Syd (we assume it was him) stamped his foot hard, as if coming to attention on parade, barked something incomprehensible at my brother and slammed the door in his face. I don't know if the encounter helped either of them. I do know I enjoyed reading your investigation!
Thank Vincent for sharing this with us. Hope your brother is well. And yes, according to Syd's sister - he didn't want to meet anyone
Thanks for introducing us to Syd, Chen! I appreciate knowing the backstory to the song 'Wishing You Were Here'. I think that might be my favourite.
Congratulations again.
A related question -- is there a specific Pink Floyd book that you'd recommend? There are certainly a lot out there.
Thanks Robert. I've listen to “Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd” by Mark Blake - a good book all around.
Syd also became obsessed with a mystic community - Radha Soami Sat Sang Beas. I now because I was there. He consistantly wanted to be inititated by the them but the teacher Charan Singh politely said "No, Syd"
Really enjoyable read! Thank you for skillfully crafting this tale, I learned something and also agree that the song ‘wish you were here’ is simply perfect
Some writers who classify music have placed Pink Floyd in the hopper of Progressive Rock/Prog Rock - along with Yes. I have been a Yes follower since their first U.S. tour in 1971. My only exposure to Pink Floyd came by way of the early ‘70s radio. Two years ago, I purchased the Darkside CD, now my three-year-old vehicle doesn’t have a CD player. This year, I have come across Brit Floyd and watched their performances on TV, visited their website & see where they tour, even in the U.S. I read your post & much was new for me. Thank you.
I should add I read Wind in the Willows because of Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Me too... me too
I confess I didn’t read it attentively all the way through. Nonetheless it drew out memories that my mind had filed away not quite forgotten but dormant. I am of an age now that I was on the cusp of adulthood when they were releasing their smash hits. I didn’t own a copy of Dark Side of the Moon, but then I didn’t need to as everyone else did. My close friend had all PF albums including the Syd B ones. I haven’t talked to him in 20 years. I bet he still has them 50 years later.
I came across a biography of Syd Barret years ago at a discount bin and it's the only biography I have ever finished, and this essay reminded me why. His influence is so shadowy, as was his life, very Neptunian in astrological terms – a fascinating character and definitely the reason Wish You Were Here is one of the most beautiful songs about friendship ever written.
Neptunian... Never crossed my mind but that sounds so true
Chen you are truly an excellent writer.
Thank you.
Ed Silverman
Thank you Ed. Glad you enjoyed it
Wow you subscribed to my humble offering and I get to discover your gem. Do you like Simplicius?
Your style, such as I can tell from sampling this Pink Floyd piece, is similar. I eschew AI but honestly I don't know how he can be so prolific without it?
Thanks for the insight on Syd. Found myself loudly singing along as I read the lyrics to wish you were here. One line not how I remember, no time to check. Of how we found, not what have we found.
Have spent a bit of time teetering on the edge between genius and insanity. Often crumpling in a heap, just trying to cope. On a good day lost in labor, absolutely working to exhaustion. Quiet desperation is the English way. There is so much to know and so much static. Thanks Chen, sincerely
Thanks Frankly, I don't know who is Simplicius but will google him/her/it for sure