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Syd Barrett dies
Wednesday, 12th July 2006, 12:04
LIFE STYLE EXTRA (UK) – Syd Barrett, the co-founding member of Pink Floyd, has died.

Barrett died at home in Cambridgeshire, aged 60, on Friday (7.7.06).

A spokesperson for Pink Floyd has cofirmed he passed away from health complications caused by his diabetes. Barrett also suffered from painful stomach ulcers.

The spokesperson has revealed there will be a small, private funeral for family and close friends.

Pink Floyd released a joint statement last night (11.07.06) expressing their grief.

It read: “Syd was the guiding light of the early band line-up and leaves a legacy which continues to inspire.”

Barrett founded the legendary rock band with Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Rick Wright in 1965.

The pioneering musician – who was born Roger Keith Barrett, but was given the nickname Syd as a teenager – was the band’s guitarist and wrote many of their early songs, including the hit singles ‘Arnold Layne’ and ‘See Emily Play’.

Their debut album ‘The Piper at the Gates of Dawn’ was released in 1967.

However, dduring his time in the band Barrett’s extensive LSD use brought on mental health problems, and he left the group in 1968.

He was replaced by David Gilmour and five years later Pink Floyd released their most famous and successful album ‘Dark Side of the Moon’.

Barrett released two solo albums, ‘The Madcap Laughs’ and ‘Barrett’, but then shied away from the music industry, becoming a virtual recluse.

He was often seen around his hometown of Cambridge, Britain, cycling or walking to the local shop.

In 1975, Barrett arrived at the Abbey Road recording studios unannounced and watched Pink Floyd record the song ‘Shine on You Crazy Diamond’, a track written about him.

In his later years, while living alone in his late-mother’s semi-detached house in Cambridge, Barrett became an avid gardener and painted large abstract works of art on canvas.

(c) BANG Media International.