The galvanising force behind Pink Floyd’s early successes, Syd Barrett’s gifts for quirky lyricism, imaginative songcraft and audacious guitar playing were central to the band’s kaleidoscopic sound. Yet this captivating frontman’s career as an innovative trailblazer was short-lived.
Though Pink Floyd’s 1967 debut, The Piper At the Gates of Dawn, stands as testament to Barrett’s genius, by the time of its follow-up merely a year on (1968’s A Saucerful of Secrets) Barrett had become a troubled and distant figure.
Suffering from debilitating mental health issues - clearly exacerbated by heavy LSD intake - Syd often struggled to remain in tune. Barrett was losing his grip on what was happening both musically and socially.
