British musician Sid Barrett is best known as the founder of Pink Floyd. He was the main composer of the group in the early years of its existence. After leaving the team, Barrett began to lead a reclusive lifestyle. 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 a conventional electric guitar.
In 1965, Barrett, while studying in college, joined the group The Tea Set. She later changed the name to Pink Floyd. A new sign was invented by Sid Barrett himself. He used a combination of the names of the musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Councilsil, who played the blues.
Dawn of success Pink Floyd
At the very beginning of its existence, the Pink Floyd group existed as part of the London underground. The guys (with Sid played Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Nick Mason) performed a cover of compositions of famous blues and rock and roll musicians. Local success on stage allowed Pink Floyd to acquire their own managers. Then it was impossible to get into the music business without an experienced team of producers.
In 1967, the young team signed their first contract with the label. That 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 stressful. Barrett lived in a rented London apartment, which his comrades then 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 Barrett very quickly lost his sense of proportion.
First Album Released
In the same 1967, the first signs of mental distress began to appear, from which Barrett Sid later began to suffer. The biography, creativity and relationships of this person were full of strange features. He was notable for his changeable mood and could instantly change his cheerful joy to a deep depression.
Despite the dubious lifestyle of the group and Barrett personally, the debut debut was still recorded. The album instantly gained 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 contained fancy lyrics about fairy tales, gnomes, stuffed animals and bicycles. The album had a tremendous impact on the entire future rock culture, which was then just being formed. The biggest contribution to its creation was made by Sid Barrett. "Pink Floyd" in the wake 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 play the whole concert one chord on his guitar or not play at all. During the interview, he remained completely silent or did something unexpected. Barrett’s inability to tour normally caused considerable harm to the group. At the end of 1967, David Gilmore was invited to the team, who will then become the main composer of Pink Floyd. But at first he was only a "safety net" Sid.
Soon, the group began composing material for their second album. Then Barrett wrote his last song for Pink Floyd. It was called Jugband Blues and became the final song in the band's second album A Saucerful of Secrets. At rehearsals, Barrett behaved so strangely that Waters later compared him to a crazy genius, which was probably not far from the truth.
The quintet members respected their frontman as a composer who created successful material. But at concerts, Barrett became completely useless. He plucked performances and engaged the audience. And so, on April 6, 1968, the team announced that one of the founders of the group left it.
Future life
Although Sid Barrett left Pink Floyd, he continued to appear on the band's performances. The former guitarist stood in the front row and gazed steadily at rookie Gilmore, who took his place. The latter later described the atmosphere at that time as paranoid. Only with the passage of time Gilmore finally got used 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 lifestyle. However, many studios wanted to release talented material written by Syd Barrett. The discography of this artist could bring labels a notable income. Barrett really tried to start a solo career. In 1970, he recorded two studio albums. The producer of the records was David Gilmore. However, after those two sessions, Barrett finally left the music industry. He did not give concerts or interviews.
Last years
On June 5, 1975, Barrett suddenly came to the studio where Pink Floyd members recorded their new album Wish You Were Here. The former frontman has changed beyond recognition. He was getting fat, and his head was shaved baldly, and with his eyebrows. The musicians did not even immediately recognize their former friend. It was a sad moment, which later the band members recalled many times in interviews and autobiographies.
Barrett continued to live as 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.