BBC Omnibus: Syd Barrett

[Already posted on "Syd's First Trip" forum but thought it might be found easier under its own heading.]

Was a very interesting and entertaining programme on this evening under the above title with all the gang (RW, RW, DG, NM, and Bob Klose) amongst others giving their personal takes on "Syd the Beat".

I mention it here because it showed a clip of Syd having what looks to be a very heavy trip. Later in the clip, he's shown with mushrooms between his fingers and over his face. Whether the drug du jour was acid or 'shrooms, one wasn't told. He was just tripping.

The hotel scene in The Wall film with Bod Geldof as Pink, we're told, was based directly on Syd. Roger said, the shot of Pink sat zombie-like in the chair with the cigarette burnt down to his fingers was based on an actual memory of Roger's of Syd.

All in all, it was a very poignant, almost depressing review of our beloved Crazy Diamond, his skyrocket rise and meteoric fall from Rock stardom. Consensus verdict: "Syd took too many/too much drugs."

Roger seemed the most perturbed by Syd's leaving and, he claimed, continued absence. Roger said he didn't visit Syd because he's aware that Syd would rather not be reminded of that era of his life and that such a visit would probably be too disturbing for Syd, and just as disturbing for Roger himself. Nick seemed the most unsympathetic, but after hearing his accounts of some of Syd's antics during his last public appearances with The Pink Floyd, Nick could hardly be blamed.

So glad I saw it. Wish You Were Here is the BEST PF album, ever!

[A repost of my reply to you, BoaB]

How recent did the interviews with the Floydians seem? If they're recent (as in within the past two or three years), I admit to being interested in how the Floydians looked. Do they all seem to be doing well, and in good health?

Well, this will soon get ridiculous if I continue replying on two different fora.

The interviews looked fairly recent, that is, they are very much their greying selves, and the guy whose downstairs flat they Syd, Roger and Nick initiall shared was much much greyer. I'd say very recent.

They all seemed in good health and spirits, except for the slightly depressed Roger, but since they were all seated the TV can be deceptive with regard to healthy appearances.

Just curious...would you say Mr. Wright looked anything like he does in the photo from Broken China? (That's the most recent I've ever seen of him.)

But I am glad that they all seemed to be doing all right. I can't blame Mr. Waters for being depressed, though. He seems to have taken it the hardest, out of all of the Floydians.

Richard looked littled changed (from his Broken China pic) except for shorter hair.

Roger explains that Syd was a very good chum during their early days together in London, and that indeed it would have been hard for him to greet Syd today and perhaps receive no sign of recognition, a blank, dead stare from a once very vibrant talent.

David said Syd was the prettiest, physically and socially, most popular of the bunch. One the girls loved and the boys envied, but a nice chap all round.

In a tragi/comic set of circumstances, unbelievably, I can only get ch5 (which is a strange kind of torture: "WHEN ORAN-UTANS SNAP!! ONLY ON CHANNEL 5!!!"), so I was actually considering getting your # from directory enquiries to remind you it was on. Obviously, the ulterior motive was to ask you to tape it for me, but it'd be cool if you'd done it under your own volition. Go on, tell me it's so....

Cheers,

Mark

IT's gonna get more tragic yet, I fear, dear fixxy.

I have nearly my whole household in storage for my redecorating mis-efforts (Oh, how the English love their DIY ) I have no tape with which to record anything. Not even an Emergency Fast-track blank at the ready, no. :sad:

This nonchalant air is because I know the Beeb (BBC) will soon enough repeat it on SKY and/or have it available on video/DVD(?) from their very own shop.

p.s. fora = more than one forum, plural
_________________
It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter.

.... that's a bummer.

Cheers anyway Matey,

Mark

ps- fora?

Yep--fora.

Don't you love those Latin words?

Anyway, thank you for telling me what you did, BoaB. Glad to know all of the Floydians are doing all right. A shame Mr. Wright cut his hair AGAIN, though...but oh, well. I'm sure he found something attractive to do with it! :smile:

(Seriously, I don't think I've seen a picture where I was ever displeased with that particular feature...though I think his eyes are really THE best in the looks department.)

Oh please!

Ahem, but doesn't David speak well. :grin:

Oh, please--what? :smile:

Yes, I heard Mr. Gilmour speak once on an interview. He definitely does have a pleasant voice!

I'm sure he found something attractive to do with it! That, oh please!

David has very pleasant, crisp tones. Much like his guitar playing, I guess.

David said there was a very tense period when Pink Floyd consisted of the 5 members, the dimishing Syd overlapped by the replacing David. Learning Syd's parts while covering Syd's part when, increasingly required. Strange.

Ahh...I see....

I wish I could have seen it.

me too...;((((