Saluting Syd Barrett's Recorded Legacy
01/06/2011
.
(Gibson) Syd Barrett spent only 60 years on Earth, although for at least some of that time – maybe lots of it – Syd seemed to be in a place that was more interstellar. Barrett's recorded legacy of two Pink Floyd albums, two solo albums, a few live recordings and a handful of singles is the work of a visionary who ultimately lost both his vision and his grip on reality. He also lost his life to pancreatic cancer in 2006, after a 34-year retirement, or retrenchment, from music.Barrett was born on January 6, 1946, 65 years ago. His career as a musician lasted only seven years, starting in 1964 with the formation of Pink Floyd, who had four different names during their first year including the Screaming Abdabs and the Meggadeaths (take that, Dave Mustaine). Barrett's self-made musical realm was a kaleidoscope of fantasy and distortion and sonic gamesmanship perfect for the LSD-drenched times. Syd's (and early Floyd) fans included such rock dignitaries as John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger. He developed a vocabulary of extended technique based on alternate tunings, slide teamed with Echo-Plex, feedback and an angular attack instantly recognizable on such early Pink Floyd numbers as "Lucifer Sam" and "Interstellar Overdrive," which remains a study in epic six-string heaviness. more on this story
Gibson.com is an official news provider for the Day in Rock.
Share this article on Twitter
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Click here to read today's full Day in Rock report
Preview and Purchase Syd Barrett CDs
Syd Barrett Tour Dates/Tickets
Syd Barrett MP3 Downloads
| Was it Good for you? Please Fark it!, Stumble It, Digg it or more! |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Fark | Stumble Upon | Digg | Facebook |
|
tell a friend about this article know of a news item we should cover?  antiMUSIC News featured on RockNews.info and Yahoo News
.
...end |
