OFF:Syd Barrett (very sad news)

[Christian Mumford]

I found this scanning the Pink Floyd newsgroup, and being an admirer of
the great talent, I was saddened to hear this:


(Forwarded message)

Just got this magazine as someone on the group mentioned it recently.
The only new news really is contained in the first paragraph.

"In a private ward in Adenbrooke Hospital in Cambridge, where a
Barrett Room is named in honour of his late father, the respected
pathologist, Syd Barrett lise resting. He is now almost totally blind,
following complications arising from diabetes. The prognosis
 is not good if he does not routinely take the prescribed insulin, and
Barrett seems either incapable or unwilling to do so himself. Since
the death of his mother Winifred in 1991, Syd has often lapsed into
dibetic coma, apparently unconcerned about his health. However, he is
watched over by a tight network of understanding relatives and
neighbours.

When he is healthy Syd lives a peaceful, comfortable life in a
secluded row of semi-detached houses on the outskirts of Cambridge.
His earnings from his recordings are substantial and he wants for very
little, though he choosesa modest existence. Nevertheless, he is still
in an emotionally precariuos state, talk of his illustrious past can
lead to bouts of depression, sometimes stretching to weeks. For this
reason, none of his former colleagues in Pink Floyd have direct
contact with him anymore. Barrett's mental illness has provided the
rock world with some of its most enduring anocdotes. What should be
remembered, though, is that behind these acts of inspired
eccentricity lay a creative but profoundly confused mind and an
unhappy individual. Though Syd's moment was only briefly bright, his
wild worldview continues to delight listeners and his life still
influences the work of Pink Floyd. The word genius is
often attached to his memory as fans wax fondly about his child-like,
trippy songs that came to define British psychedelia. Former friends
have been known to refer to him as "almost too talented". But was he a
visionary or simply a regular middle-class kid with a fixation on his
idyllic chilhood who blew his mind for eternity on too much high grade
acid."

This is the first paragraph. The rest of the article is pretty
standard Barrett/Eraly Floyd stuff. There are some new pictures
though.

Bye
Steve.

(Forwarded message ends)


Christian