r/sydbarrett

I have had a interest in Barrett since I was a child. Piper is probably my most listened to album ever. but I have always felt sad at Syd’s life. especially once he fully withdrew from the public after the wish you were here session. its sad that most stories are him being harassed by fans or reporters. is there any stories where Syd seemed lucid or had pleasant encounters once he withdrew to Cambridge until his death?

From what I've read it looks to me like trauma - PTSD or cPTSD after some kind of severe undisclosed assault.

I know about the LSD problem, but the syndrome he developed is more common to trauma sufferers than it is in LSD users. LSD use would certainly make him vulnerable to assault of some sort though.

I have a couple of probably outlandish theories.

1. He had an "experience" with Jimmy Savile at the BBC (this is the least likely, given his age at the time, and Savile generally didn't target the artists on TOTP).

2. He had an "experience" with Roger Waters ...

3. I remember pinpointing the "change" to roughly the day of the video shoot where he's wandering on somebody's property ... but that's a vague memory.

Thanks for any helpful comments.

If not an influence what reminds you of him I first think Lou reed and Bob Dylan But maybe a bit further down the line Jeffery Lewis, Daniel Johnston, Diane cluck and kimya Dawson. Lmk what u think

There was a David Bowie quote on this. I've seen the ones with eyeliner but haven't seen the more gothy protopunky ones with nail polish.

their new song "Days" directly references lines from "Candy And A Current Bun" and it brought me a smile, i hope it does to other Syd fans too :)

https://music.apple.com/us/album/candy-and-a-currant-bun/1209668243?i=1209668368&ls