Customer Reviews

Lost in the Woods - Syd Barrett & the Pink Floyd

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Julian Palacios' book "Lost In The Woods" is a comprehensive tale of a talented and troubled young man. Exhaustively researched, its only flaw is that it sometimes reads like a textbook. These moments are rare and overcome by the genuine empathy the author has for his subject. Syd Barrett's story is a sad but important tale in the evolution of modern music. He influenced the likes of Hendrix and the Beatles, and argument could be made that every album the Pink Floyd released after his ouster was about Syd.

Wish You Were Here.

A thorough yet digestable bio of the late Syd Barrett. Captures the pre and post Floyd Syd.

Similar to Mike Watkinson's "Syd Barrett & the Dawn of Pink Floyd: Crazy Diamond", but with some more meat on the bones. Particularly interesting is an interview with Barrett's nephew, which sheds light on Syd's activity during his later years.

I'd heard about this book a long time before it finally came out...that it's out of print is absurd but I guess there's not a big demand for books about Syd these days. This book is better than I'd even hoped it would be. Lots of detail and some intelligent insights into Syd's and his band's music. Wonder where Floyd would've gone if Barrett had kept it together for the long haul? Undoubtedly it would've been a far more interesting trip than the pretentious drivel David Gilmour foisted on us. There are numerous typos in WOODS which kept me from giving it 5 stars.

Mainstream rock knows Pink Floyd. The all too familiar grandoise 70's tours that gave thier audiences experiences of a lifetime. They recognize the string of lyrically and musically woven work that is considered some of the finest productions ever. This is the stuff which "legendary" is all about. The stuff of Meddle, Wish You were Here, Animals. The Wall. The sonic Dark Side of The Moon.
Beyond this, few rock novices know about the groups early history. This was a very different Pink Floyd. One that was controlled by Syd Barrett.
Roger "Syd" Barrett grew up like any normal post world war II english boy. Originally yearning to become a painter, an exposure to Elvis and Little Richard provoked him to take an interest in music as well. Being an art student in England within the early to mid sixties was an experience. Influences were abundant everywhere; American R&B and Jazz. The Blues. Also abundant was the uncontrolled avialability of pot. Syd, always wanting fresh, new experiences took thatin as well. Eventually his guitar playing bcame better than his artwork. He hooked up with the son of one of his teachers, Roger Waters. Together they formed bands and played small venues for a little more than a year and a half. Then came the infamous "First Trip" where Syd experiences LSD for the first time through magic mushrooms (this is forever immortalized on the celluoid "Syds First Trip", a sought after tape of himself being filmed by the student buddy showing Syd completely on his magic swirling ship. Syd liked this so much that he continued to use it on a regular basis, knowing that the more he could ingest, the more his development as an artist would blossom. He eventually got the acid in its most available form. Soon these Physedelic experiences reflected in his playing and concept. Lighting Display, which was almost unheard of for a pop act became a central focus for the band-now named The Pink Floyd by Syd-the philosphy being that what you cannot make in your playing you can make up for with a visual experience. It was this, and not the Floyds early music that made the band so sucessful in the early going.
Syd in those days ws considered a visionary. On LSD he...sure was. His musical ideas and concepts were fresh and uncharted-eventually his wirting skills developed as well as his bands presentation. The first sinle "Arnold Layne" made top 20 in England, but it was the second record, "See Emily Play" that established the Floyd as THE trip band. The formula was there; crazy lyrics, studio effects, unusual sounds and a tight arrangement-all completely orchestrated by Syd. Thier first album The Piper at The Gates Of Dawn (which includes uncanny songs such as "chapter 24", "Lucifer Sam", The Scarecrow, the phenomenal "Bike" and the extended space jam "Interstellar Overdrive") captured not only the essence of Syd Barretts Pink Floyd, but the London Underground as well. Soon it was Top of the Pops. Top 10 single and album. The Beatles visits, The UFO club. It was wall coming together rapidly for Syd.
Then came the fall.
Syd was still on a steady diet of LSD. His behavior was rapidly getting out of hand. The once focused and vibrant musician/songwriter was slowly but surely turning into an acid casualty. Acid didn't effect Syd's performance, it effected his actual functionality in life itself.
His mental state becoming more eratic, his behavior was even more intolerable. Add thhe responsibilities of writing music and touring,it became to obvious it was too much to bear (see aural evidence with the single "Apples and Oranges" and the still unreleased "Scream thy Last Scream" and visual evidence of the infamous American Bandstand appearance on thier first American tour)and became clear that he was basically incoherent-the proverbial "lights on but nobody home" scenario. Eventually the band discharged Syd altogether-replacing him with David Gilmour. It was Gilmours-not Syds-guitar style that became most identifiable with Pink Floyd.
Syd lived in a flat in London after this ouster and grew worse; outta touch with his music and the world. He managed to produc (with the help of the Floyd) two solo albums The Madcap Laughs and Barrett (both 1970). Though it was music, with some notable exceptions, they were clearly an unfocused and disjointed affairs. (highlights include "Terrapin","Octopus","Golden Hair", Gigolo Aunt" and one of syd's first written songs,"Effervescing Elephant").
His deterioration continued well into the mid-seventies. Chronically usntable and mentally challanged due to prolonged ingestion of drugs he wound up being institutionalized. Released later to the daily care of his family, he shacked up in his mothers basement where he lives comfortably and carefree to this day almost unrecognizable from his prime, but suffers from a diabetic condition.
One of the most brightest and gifted artists to come out of the rock era, Syd Barrett became one of the first burned-out rock stars, a physical toll being monumental, an emotional one being inmeasurable. Syd today eschews his past. Wordly known as the founder of Pink Floyd, he received entry to the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame(did not attend)and is held in reverence to numerous young musicians worldwide.
For one shining moment, albeit brief, Syd Barrett became the darling of The London Underground and one of England's brightest Pop stars before it all came crashing down. Syds story is nothing sort of tragic, a chronicled tale of drug abuse and the troughs of the Rock N Roll lifestyle. His price that he paid for entering that arena reserved for those of groundbreaking visionary status. The book documents this expertly, and doesn't leave too much detail out, in fact I feel there is too much detail. Syd will forever remain a footnote in the bands history. To this day Pink Floyd cannot denounce (or shake off) the influence and original vision he had for the band.
One might ask oneself, "What could have been"?

I heard about this book and was dying to get my hands on it. Of course, it's not available off the shelf. I went to a bookstore and ordered it and had it in within a few weeks. And it was well worth the effort. The author gives a very credible and fair view of Syd, enabling the reader to see him from many different points of view and from people that were obviously very close to him, before, during, and after his breakdown. It's an incredible story, and very well written, very complete, the typos are easy to look past, focus on the story! Good luck finding it!

With as many Pink Floyd fans as there are, I was stunned at how fast this book went out-of-print. I missed the publishing date and tried to get a copy 6-months after and *poof* - it's gone.

Well, I did get to preview 6 chapters and was impressed. Very artistically written. I am looking for a copy wherever I can. G

Syd Barrett will be greatly missed. His whimsical songwriting style was unique and greatly influenced many famous musicians like David Bowie. This book is an essential purchase for those wishing to know about a genuis.