Soon after creating the experimental pop group, Pink Floyd, in 1966, Syd Barrett took to using hallucinogenic drugs, which led to schizophrenia. He has now abandoned his past. Through interviews with Barrett's family and friends, this book provides an account of the man and his illness.
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34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
He's still lost...,
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This review is from: Lost in the Woods - Syd Barrett & the Pink Floyd (Paperback)
Lost in the Woods is a really sad story. Not just for Floyd fans who lost all of the potential that Syd's music held, but for his family and close friends who lost a genuinely unique, loving person. The book is fascinating, delving deep into the life of Roger "Syd" Barrett while chronicaling his rapid descent into madness due to a combination of the pressures of being a "pop" star and the consumption of mass quantities of LSD. "Syd blew his mind", a line from this book is probably the easiest way to sum up his tragedy, but that is way too easy to swallow. The author examines various external pressures Syd faced such as the having to come up with new "hit" 45's for radio play and dealing with a record business which he loathed. Syd's first love was art, he began as an artist and remains an artist to this day. Music took hold of Syd's life in the early sixties, stole his mind and left him by the mid 70's. Always putting the aspect of music as art first Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd broke new ground in music. As Syd to this day remains a recluse, I found it very refreshing that the author as well as Barrett's nephew URGE all fans to not try to contact Syd in any way, as he goes into deep depressions when reminded of the Floyd in anyway. Syd Barrett made spontaneous music in the sixties that was groundbreaking, he rarely if ever played the same song in the same way twice. It is somewhat fitting that now Roger Barrett still in someways is the same person, as he destroys every piece of art that he produces once it is finished. Syd is still in the body of Roger Barrett but his mind remains lost in the woods.
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of Music's Saddest Stories,
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This review is from: Lost in the Woods - Syd Barrett & the Pink Floyd (Paperback)
This highly interesting book chronicles the saga of one Roger Keith "Syd" Barret, founder and early lifeblood of the ground-breaking musical group Pink Floyd. It tells of Barret's early days, his influences, his non-musical interests, and how, when and why the Floyd came to be. Of course, it also chronicles his immiment decline. It is interesting to see the downward spiral that Syd rode. Not just the drugs; but the pressure of fame and success and all else. It is a very sad story. So sad indeed, that it times it can be quite unsettling. First-hand accounts from those close to Barret serve to illustrate these definite points. Of course, it also shows that Syd is still here, and we all must realize that. I recommend this book to all major fans of Pink Floyd (along with Schaffner's "A Saucerful of Secrets") and particularly ones of their early work and that of Syd's.
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Heartbreaking story,
This review is from: Lost in the Woods - Syd Barrett & the Pink Floyd (Paperback)
The author, Julian Palacios, focuses on the tragedy of Syd Barrett. Instead of the innumerable "funny" anectodes about what a nutter Syd was, Palacios presents Barrett in a very human light. While the book does present Barrettt's artistic triumphs, it also delves into the reasons surrounding the Syd's demise. Interestingly enough, his downfall was brought upon in part by his success, not just overindulgence in LSD.I found some of the descriptions of Syd's mental illness very overwhelming, leaving me quite unsettled. First-hand accounts from Syd's friends lent the stories immediate power. Palacios also presents some of Syd's influences, both literary and musically. Presenting Syd within the framework of the London Underground was also much appreciated. It showed how special Barrett's music was, but also how reliant it was upon a certain time and place. There will never been another Syd Barrett, because the origins of his particular muse was the pastoral idylls of his childhood filtered through London '66. There are numerous typos in the book, which tend to be distracting. Also uncalled for is Palacios' final page, which is strict conjecture of what Syd MIGHT be thinking 30 years after the demise of Floyd. Much appreciated, though, is the fact that Palacios does not worship slavishly at the alter of Syd Barrett. When a song stinks, such as "Maise," the author pulls no punches in saying so. This book is a fine companion piece of Nicholas Schaffner's book on Syd and Floyd, "A Saucerful of Secrets." It is more rewarding, however, in the indepth look at Syd's childhood and schooling. Kudos to Palacios to presenting the most humane look at the music and life of Syd Barrett.
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