It's really only been the last year that I've gotten to 'know' Syd Barrett, the ex lead singer of Pink Floyd who sadly went crazy in his early 20's, retreated from the music industry entirely after a couple of fragile solo albums, and lived as a near recluse for the rest of his life. He died a few years ago.

I am now a big fan of Pink Floyd's debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. It's my favorite Floyd album. Barrett was lead singer, lead guitarist and wrote most of the songs I think. Later on, after Barrett departed the scene, Roger Waters took on the main song writing duties and Pink Floyd turned into a much different band - darker, monolithic. Still very good. But with Barrett at the helm for that one glorious album, Pink Floyd was an upbeat, 'out there', very english band with true psychedelic spirit.

I've read the biographies which question whether Syd went crazy by nature, or due to the LSD. No one will ever know, but you can already hear Syd's mind going to the other side in Piper. In his solo albums, it is painfully obvious that Syd is far gone. However there are moments of real beauty too. Check out 'Golden hair take 5' from The Madcap Laughs. Syd sings harmony with himself, and the lyrics (apparently from a James Joyce poem) are very apt. I wonder who chose them, Syd or his producers?

Lean out your window, golden hair
I heard you singing in the midnight air
My book is closed, I read no more
Watching the fire dance, on the floor
Ive left my book,
Ive left my room

For I heard you singing through the gloom
Singing and singing, a merry air
Lean out the window, golden hair...

(lyrics from a poem by james joyce)
ref: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/s/syd+barret/golden+hair_20134752.html