Sid Barrett: a short biography of the founder of Pink Floyd

British musician Syd Barrett is best known as the founder of Pink Floyd. He was the main composer of the band in the first years of its existence. After retiring from the collective Barret began to lead a reclusive way of life. Until his death, he remained one of the most mysterious and even tragic figures in the history of rock music.

early years

Sid Barrett was born in Cambridge on January 6, 1946. He was brought up in a middle-class family. At the age of 16, the teenager became a fan of The Rolling Stones. He even met Mick Jagger. Then Sid Barrett began to try his hand at creativity. He began to write songs and play bass. Later, the musician finally switched to an ordinary electric guitar.

In 1965, Barrett, while attending college, joined the group The Tea Set. Later, she changed the name to Pink Floyd. The new sign was invented by Sid Barrett himself. He used a combination of the names of musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Kaunsil who played the blues.

Pink Floyd's success story

At the very beginning of its existence the Pink Floyd group existed within the framework of the London underground. The guys (with Sid playing Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Nick Mason) performed cover songs of famous blues and rock and roll musicians. Local success on the stage allowed Pink Floyd to acquire own managers. Then it was impossible to get into the music business without an experienced team of producers.

In 1967, the young band signed their first contract with the label. That same summer, the debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn was recorded at the famous Abby Road studio. The process of creating the plate was tense. Barrett lived in a rented London apartment, which his comrades later described as one of the most monstrous dens of the British capital. The musician used drugs, including LSD. Such habits were the norm for the then-rock culture, but Barret very quickly lost his sense of proportion.

First album release

In the same year 1967, the first signs of mental disorder began to appear, from which Barrett Sid later began to suffer. The biography, creativity and relationship of this man were full of strange features. He was distinguished by a changeable mood and could immediately change his cheerful merriment to a deep depression.

Despite the dubious lifestyle of the group and Barrett personally, the debut was still recorded. The album instantly achieved recognition of the entire rock scene. It became a landmark event of the music industry of that time. Pink Floyd was able to develop their own unique style. It was a mixture of psychedelic, experimental and progressive rock. The lyrics of the songs contained bizarre lyrics about fairy tales, gnomes, stuffed animals and bicycles. The album had a tremendous impact on the whole future rock culture, which at that time was only being formed. The biggest contribution to its creation was made by Sid Barrett. "Pink Floyd" on a wave of success went on an international tour.

Leaving Pink Floyd

By 1968 Barrett's condition became even more inadequate. Eyewitnesses later recalled that he could whole concert strum one chord on his guitar or not play at all. In the interview, he kept a complete silence or did something unexpected. Barrett's inability to normally touring caused a significant damage to the group. At the end of 1967, David Gilmour was invited to the band, who later will become the main composer of Pink Floyd. But in the beginning he was just a "safety net" of Sid.

Soon the band began composing material for their second album. Then Barrett wrote his last song for Pink Floyd. It was called Jugband Blues and was the final song in the second album of the band A Saucerful of Secrets. At rehearsals, Barrett behaved so strangely that Waters later compared him to a crazy genius, which probably was not far from the truth.

The participants of the quintet respected their frontman as a composer who created a successful material. But at concerts Barrett was completely useless. He ripped off performances and engaged the audience. And so, on April 6, 1968 the collective announced that one of the founders of the group had left it.

Future life

Although Syd Barrett left Pink Floyd, he continued to appear on the band's performances. The former guitarist stood in the front row and gazed at the newcomer Gilmour, who took his place. The latter later described the then atmosphere as paranoid. Only with the passage of time, Gilmour finally became accustomed to the group and became its integral part.

Barrett's antics also ceased. He distanced himself from the public and began to lead a reclusive way of life. However, many studios wanted to release the talented material that Syd Barrett wrote. The discography of this artist could bring a noticeable income to the labels. Barrett really tried to start a solo career. In 1970, he recorded two studio albums. The producer of the records was David Gilmour. However, after those two sessions, Barrett finally left the music industry. He did not give concerts and interviews.

Last years

June 5, 1975 Barret suddenly came to the studio, where the participants of Pink Floyd recorded their new album Wish You Were Here. The former front man has changed beyond recognition. He grew fat, and his head was nalyso shaved, and along with the eyebrows. The musicians did not even immediately recognize their former comrade. It was a sad moment, which was later recalled in interviews and autobiographies.

Barrett continued to live a recluse until the very end of his life. He did not work, receiving royalties from previous records. The musician suffered from diabetes and stomach ulcers. Barrett died on July 7, 2006 at the age of 60. The cause of his death was pancreatic cancer.