probably the most neglected pink floyd guy besides nick mason (the drummer who doesn't write many songs on the albums i have).

syd helped start pink floyd. he was a brilliant guitarist and was very experimental about many things - playing techniques, lighting, effect pedals, and, unfortunately, drugs.

syd had a mental disability (schizophrenia?) and acid only made things worse. by the time he was released from the band, he was not able to interact with the group anymore. for example, he wouldn't sing the same words or play the same riff more than once.

syd was gradually replaced by david gilmour (around the 1968 album "ummagumma"). he has been recently diagnosed as diabetic, but otherwise he is doing fine, having a bonfire now and then in the garden, and painting from time to time.

(Roger Keith Barrett) The former front man of the psychadelic force known as Pink Floyd. In his late teens and early twenties he was exposed to fame, hard drugs and a difficult lifestyle. His genious emanates from his songs done with Pink Floyd and as a solo artist. Syd created music that was so abstract and transcendent that it is often misunderstood for a bunch of drug generated bullshit. If you feel the same way, then i feel bad for you... because you're a complete shithead.

Syd Barrett was the original singer, songwriter, and guitarist for the group. Yep, I think everyone else pretty much hit the nail on the head, except for a few points.

Many artists have acknowledged Barrett's influence on their work. Paul McCartney and Pete Townshend were early fans; Jimmy Page, David Bowie, Brian Eno, and The Damned all expressed interest in working with him at some point during the 1970s. In fact, Bowie recorded a cover of "See Emily Play" on his 1973 album Pin Ups. On a VH1 program, honoring rock bands and artists, Pete Townshend gave a speech honoring Syd Barrett, and telling a story where he told Eric Clapton that he had to come see this guy play, who was Barrett. Townshend called Barrett legendary. Barrett as a guitarist was remarkable for his free-form style in playing chords (and also for the use of echo, tapes and other effects): his rhythm guitar, as well as his often minimalist and dissonant solos, are seen even today as a major influence on punk, post-punk, and similar scenes.

Syd died on July 7th, 2006 due to "complications arising from his diabetes." It has been said that the family specifically did not want the remaining members of Pink Floyd to attend the funeral.

Syd Barrett was the original guitarist, vocalist, and composer for the great band, Pink Floyd. He was in college majoring in Art when he met an architech student, Roger Waters. The two formed a band along with Nick mason and Rick Wright. They went through several name changes, and Barrett finally settled on The Pink Floyd, amed after his favorite blues artists Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. The 'the' was later dropped from their name.

Barrett composed several of the band's early hits, including 'See Emily Play' and 'Arnold Layne'. He also wrote almost all the songs on their first album 'Pipers at the Gates of Dawn' (named after a chapter in the Wind and the Willows, one of Barrett's favorite books).

All through this period Barrett experimented with drugs, mainly LSD. At somepoints he would even lace his morning coffee with LSD. This problem eventually led to Barrett's downfall. While Pink Floyd were acheiving small amounts of fame, Barrett was becoming harder and harder to work with. At some of their concerts, he would refuse to play more than one chord and at others wouldn't play at all. An old friend of Syd's was brought in to replace him, David Gilmour. In highschool Gilmour had taught Syd how to play guitar, one of the reasons their playing styles were rather similar.

Though they had Barrett still writting songs in the background, even that became to frustrating. His songs started growing darker and darker until, eventually, Pink Floyd were forced to kick ...

Everyone else pretty much got it, except one thing that really bothered me. Syd Barrett was never and isn't mentally ill. Everyone thinks that he is schizophrenic or whatever but he isn't, and that was cleared up a long time ago. So lay off, he's perfectly fine. He just did a lot of LSD that might make people think something was wrong with him. And since it was the 60's, it was fine to take LSD, nothing wrong with that. Syd doesn't have problems, he is awesome

Syd Barrett was the original singer, songwriter, and guitarist for the group. Yep, I think everyone else pretty much hit the nail on the head, except for a few points.

Many artists have acknowledged Barrett's influence on their work. Paul McCartney and Pete Townshend were early fans; Jimmy Page, David Bowie, Brian Eno, and The Damned all expressed interest in working with him at some point during the 1970s. In fact, Bowie recorded a cover of "See Emily Play" on his 1973 album Pin Ups. On a VH1 program, honoring rock bands and artists, Pete Townshend gave a speech honoring Syd Barrett, and telling a story where he told Eric Clapton that he had to come see this guy play, who was Barrett. Townshend called Barrett legendary. Barrett as a guitarist was remarkable for his free-form style in playing chords (and also for the use of echo, tapes and other effects): his rhythm guitar, as well as his often minimalist and dissonant solos, are seen even today as a major influence on punk, post-punk, and similar scenes.

Syd died on July 7th, 2006 due to "complications arising from his diabetes." It has been said that the family specifically did not want the remaining members of Pink Floyd to attend the funeral, as they blamed them for Syd's downward cycle.

Founding member of Pink Floyd aka: Crazy Diamond, fallen genius.... He was kicked out of the group and replaced by David Gimour in the late 60's due to drug-induced insanity. This still does not chnage the fact that pink floyd remained the best psychedelic rock band on earth. LONG LIVE THE FLOYD.

To pull a Syd Barrett is to drop out before you sell out. Also see Kurt Cobain.