Review Syd Barrett book

JULIAN PALACIOS – LOST IN THE WOODS (Syd Barrett and the Pink Floyd)

(Boxtree, 1998,  9,99 British pounds, ISBN 0 7522 2328 3)

 

For me Syd Barrett is the tragical meeting of my favorite hobbie progrock and my work as a psychiatric nurse: I’m delighted about his musical ideas and writing on Pink Floyd’s debut-album “The piper at the gates of dawn” but in my opinion the psychiatric disease schizophrenia was the basic element of his severe mental  breakdown. When I got the idea that Syd suffered from schizophrenia I started to collect articles and books about him. Then I realised his sad story: he was a very gifted songwriter (according to his friend David Gilmour “on the level of Ray Davies and John Lennon”), a creative personality (guitar, vocals, painting, lyrics) and  a nice and humorous human being who turned into a bizarre, capricious and even agressive personality (he badly mistreated his girlfriend) within a short period of time. Due to the schizophrenic process, in combination with the abuse of ‘acid’ and the pressure of beiing a popstar Syd gradually mentally desintegrated, was no longer able to function at his former level and finally “choose” to live as a kind of heretic in the house of his mother. Thanks to many first-hand accounts from people close to Syd Barrett writer Julian Palacios has succeeded in writing a moving book about the person Syd Barrett: about his childhood, his friendship with Waters and Gilmour, his creative talents, Pink Floyd as ‘the darlings from the London psychedelic scene’, the increasing problems with his erratic and capricious behaviour, the tragic decision from Waters to fire Syd as a musician from Pink Floyd and finally Syd’s battle with his mental problems, eventually resulting in separating himself from the pressure of the outside world (like Pink from Water’s story in The Wall) to find rest and a new balance (with medicins and professional help). According to the notes on the backcover Syd’s story is a the meteoric rise and fall of a beautiful, gifted and enigmatic character,  a singer and songwriter of exceptional promise. “In fact it’s very tragic” David Gilmour says. If you’re up to the very early Pink Floyd and want to know more about the genius of Syd Barrett this book is yours.

 

Erik Neuteboom

sounds interesting. I would also like to read it. Where can I buy it?

That's an excelent book, Im gonna get it.

I have that book as well as 3 or 4 other on Syd Barrett. It is a good book to start off with but after you read it you will want to seek out the other books about Syd. He was definately one of the most original songwriters of all time and it is a shame that he burned out so quickly.