The Syd Barrett story or myth rarely mentions the four last songs, mostly rejected by floyds were of his greatest. My favourites in fact, vegetable man, scream thy last scream and apples and oranges alongside jugband Blues are by far his best work with floyd. Imagine the album that could have sat on this foundation despite the hi defences of roger waters poor bass playing at that time and Nick masons ma ant drumming efforts, Rick Wright and syd forged a new, more powerful sound, every bit as nig,is tic as punk yet without punks conservative reversion. The story goes he couldn't write a single to compare to see Emily play. Well, vegetable man is so powerful, so self critical and the perfect commentary on the collapse of the psychedelic fashion.
And has anyone ever really gone mad from acid? Perhaps the mandrax didn't help but all descriptions of his obstreperous moments stink of downers taken to keep journos at bay. Acid might have triggered latent mental illnesses in some but syd was never once diagnosed with mental illness. How different and oppositional to those wanting stardom but not bothering to develope art first.
He had enough. I am not sure any of the madcap myths were ever true. A great artist.
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