Syd Barrett dies aged 60

Wed 12th Jul, 2006 in International News

Syd Barrett, born Roger Keith Barrett; the man responsible for founding Pink Floyd and the writer of much of their early material, died at his home last Friday, aged just 60. He had lived a reclusive life for much of the past thirty years, having left the group in 1968, a few years before the album Dark Side of the Moon and later The Wall would elevate them into the highest levels of superstardom.

It had been reported that Barrett had been suffering from diabetes, though whether this was in fact the cause of his death remains unclear. 

Many of the band’s early songs such as ‘Arnold Layne’, ‘Bike’, ‘Jugband Blues’ and ‘See Emily Play’ are attributed mainly to Barrett, and much of the band’s 1975 album Wish You Were Here, (he album where he was legendarily reported to have turned up to Abbey Road studios for the recording, unrecognisable and bald) including the title track and the epic ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’ that was said to be written about him.  He also released two solo albums during the 1970s.

When the band reunited with Roger Waters for the first time in over two decades last year Waters said ‘we’re doing this for everyone who’s not here, but particularly, of course, for Syd’.

The news comes just days after rumours circulated that the band may in fact reunite once again, though these rumours have persisted ever since their last tour in 1994.