SYD BARRETT'S FIRST TRIP*

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This is a disgraceful DVD release of footage shot by a student that shows Syd tripping on magic mushrooms. Lasting only 15 minutes long, this footage is poor quality and has no real point but to exploit Syd's drug abuse, pinpoint his downfall and give him a bad name. The second part of the DVD shows Pink Floyd signing to EMI records at Abbey Road. This is kind of interesting yet pretty pointless. I don't see the point of this DVD being released at all. With the prices charged for this DVD you would be paying about a pound/dollar for every minute of footage it is that short! Disgraceful!

Maybe these films should have been released as a bonus material on some other SYD BARRET or early PINK FLOYD release? At least that wouldn't have followed the unmoral line of record companies exploiting both the mental illness of the Crazy Diamond and the followers of his junkie lifestyle. This was an interesting thing to watch through once, but I doubt there should be any urges to watch it very often.

This short DVD elicits strong emotions from friends and fans of Barrett alike. Some feel it's a brief historical moment that should be documented, like anything else. Others feel it is downright exploitative, sensationalist and mean spirited garbage that should not be available in any form. What you will see is Syd and some friends participating in an art school project filmed by another friend, in 65 or 66 (I've seen both dates noted.) They wander around supposedly high although they may be just playing-some folks claim this isn't even real-that it's just acting for a film project. It's essentially a home movie like the ones in your attic, with people goofing around. Except this one happened to have a famous person in it and so someone decided to cash in. This footage is followed by the Floyd filmed the day they signed to EMI in early '67. It's a very short DVD of marginal quality that is clearly for hard core fans and collectors, if anyone. There is no sound other than some dubbed music (not Floyd) over it. The DVD is less than 15 minutes long total. Recommended to no one save absolute Barrett fanatics.

At my local video store, there is a lovely gimic called Free with rental. On the one hand, you can get some amusing odds and sods here and there (examples include the odd amusing short indie film, and once I even got a live Doors preformance of Light My Fire, which was fun, if not terribly deep).

Of course, there is a darker side to free with rental...like the odd DULL short indie, or, for example, Syd Barrett's first trip.

This is an utterly useless documentary of sorts; it's about as short as a four year old's attention span will allow, absolutely sound-free, and lacks any kind of...hell, you name it. Authenticity? None! Education value? Nary a drop! Insight into the artist? Yeah right!

There ARE some quick shots of the early Floyd tacked onto the end, but, whatever. The music that plays in the background isn't even them.

I was tempted to give this thing two-stars, but you know what? Why bother! It's not that good, and, what's more, it's somewhat offensive. I mean, this DVD (I think mine was a video, if that matters) just pushes into the faces of gaggle-eyed fans the whole Syd was a psycho drug user image without a drop of sensitivity or intelligence.

I care about Syd's legacy. A lot. A lot more than I should, in fact. And, in all honesty, I can deal with the fact that the poor bugger was a raving looney. But this is explotation without...anything. Sensitivity, payoff, whatever. A waste of time, and of Syd's name, and above all, utterly useless. Rent something else.