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sublime220 
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 Topic: Did Floyd make the right decision about Barrett?
Posted: April 08 2015 at 12:50 |
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When Pink Floyd were in the middle of their WYWH sessions, Syd Barrett made an unexpected visit to ask if he can rejoin the band, but was ultimately declined. Was this the right thing to do and how would it have impacted the bands sound in the later albums? Comment your thoughts.
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dr wu23
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 13:23 |
First let me say that while I like Pink Floyd and own all the studio albums (except for The Final Cut) , I'm not a huge fan boy. Regarding Barrett, they could have given him a temporary try to see if he'd fit in again and had anything to offer at that stage. I don't think it would have been a bad idea. They could have always parted if it didn't work out.
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verslibre
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 13:33 |
 sublime220 wrote:
When Pink Floyd were in the middle of their WYWH sessions, Syd Barrett made an unexpected visit to ask if he can rejoin the band, but was ultimately declined. Was this the right thing to do and how would it have impacted the bands sound in the later albums? Comment your thoughts. |
With regard to WYWH, etc., do you like what you hear the way it sounds now? I do. From a purely financial perspective, I'm certain the other Floyd guys thought they made the right decision.
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Green Shield Stamp
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 13:35 |
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From the descriptions of Barrett at the time, it seems that he would have been incapable of contributing anything of worth. He was practically incoherent and any spark of his former creativity had long since dimmed. The state he was in reduced the band to tears. The idea that Barrett could have steered the band towards a new creative peak (which WYWH was anyway) is pure fantasy.
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NotAProghead
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 13:35 |
As far as I can tell, Syd did not ask if he can rejoin the band. The state of his health made his participation impossible in any form. The photo (Syd Barrett - Abbey Road, 1975) says it all:
Edited by NotAProghead - April 08 2015 at 13:37
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Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour)
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sublime220
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 13:43 |
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^ He did indeed ask but I doubt he could've done anything, like you said, because of his health. I've always prefered Syd-era to Gilmour-era but I don't think he could've contributed in any good way.
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NotAProghead
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 13:44 |
sublime220 wrote:
^ He did indeed ask |
Where this info is taken from?
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Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour)
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sublime220
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 13:47 |
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^ Taken from a Syd Barrett biography, entitled Syd Barrett: A Very Irregular Head by Rob Chapman. It's very interesting and would definitely recommend it.
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NotAProghead
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 14:05 |
^ Nick Mason in his book "Inside Out" says that he has no idea why Syd came to Abbey Road, he did not talk much and showed the lack of interest when the band played for him the recorded track "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". So I doubt Rob Chapman is right.
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Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour)
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sublime220
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 14:08 |
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^ It is known that he had no interest but what he wanted to do was bring the band back to the old sound. And if this is not right, forgive me. I'm going off of what I've heard.
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There is no dark side in the moon, really... Matter of fact, it's all dark...
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JD
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 14:09 |
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Doubtful, I think the distraction of having to worry about whether he was clear and free or might slip back into previous habits may, at the very least, have deterred the rest of the band from giving 100% and thereby diminishing their output for the album sessions. Plus, after 7 years and several albums, the band had pretty much moved on and created their own very successful identity without him.
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NotAProghead
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 14:25 |
sublime220 wrote:
^ It is known that he had no interest but what he wanted to do was bring the band back to the old sound. And if this is not right, forgive me. I'm going off of what I've heard. |
From what I've read about Pink Floyd I have the impression that in 1975 (and earlier) Syd's mind was far away from old or new sound and the music business in general.
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Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour)
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Progosopher
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 14:37 |
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I think it was the right decision. We have to remember that he was kicked out due to increasing instability. There was little since that time to prove that he had stabilized and become reliable. I do not care for his solo output, even with the attempts by his former bandmates to support his efforts. As mentioned earlier, Pink Floyd had established themselves with a very different style than his own; he had nothing positive to offer them at that time, only plenty of difficulties. Now, if he had some serious work to present the situation would have been very different but that was not the way it was.
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The world of sound is certainly capable of infinite variety and, were our sense developed, of infinite extensions. -- George Santayana, "The Sense of Beauty"
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SteveG
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 14:43 |
Did Elvis make the right decision when he made the "Viva Las Vegas" movie? 
Edited by SteveG - April 08 2015 at 14:55
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moshkito
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 14:46 |
Hi,
I also think that by this time, their shows were so mechanical and computerized that it would be way too easy for Syd to not fail quickly and embarass himself and the band.
I am pretty sure I would have also passed on it. By that time, there was no time for nostalgia in what PF was doing! Their shows were not something that half the musicians out there would be interestedin doing, and it got harder all the way to The Wall.
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The Sloth
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 15:24 |
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The guys in Floyd continue to tell the story of an estranged Syd popping up at Abbey Road, how it was deeply troubling, and how some of them even cried. But what you begin to hear after the tenth time you hear it, especially with the aid of that picture, is the guys were depressed that old Syd wasn't sexy anymore.
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Rednight
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 17:05 |
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Saw the TV documentary on "Floyd"'s "WYWH" and nowhere was it said about the incident that Barrett asked to rejoin the band. As a matter of fact, he wasn't recollected to have said much at all. He stood there practically unrecognizable to stunned former bandmates. The man must have been a little around the bend by that time, so yes, the lads would't have had much desire for him to come back, if at all. By the way, what is your source that stated Barrett wanted back in?
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Hercules
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 17:12 |
NotAProghead wrote:
^ Nick Mason in his book "Inside Out" says that he has no idea why Syd came to Abbey Road, he did not talk much and showed the lack of interest when the band played for him the recorded track "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". So I doubt Rob Chapman is right. |
Absolutely correct.
He made no attempt to rejoin and was completely incapable of doing so anyway.
There was no decision to make.
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Progosopher
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 17:20 |
SteveG wrote:
Did Elvis make the right decision when he made the "Viva Las Vegas" movie?
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To co-star with Ann Margaret? Absolutely! 
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The world of sound is certainly capable of infinite variety and, were our sense developed, of infinite extensions. -- George Santayana, "The Sense of Beauty"
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Finnforest
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Posted: April 08 2015 at 17:49 |
Hercules wrote:
NotAProghead wrote:
^ Nick Mason in his book "Inside Out" says that he has no idea why Syd came to Abbey Road, he did not talk much and showed the lack of interest when the band played for him the recorded track "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". So I doubt Rob Chapman is right. |
Absolutely correct.
He made no attempt to rejoin and was completely incapable of doing so anyway.
There was no decision to make. |
This.
Edited by Finnforest - April 08 2015 at 17:50
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Did Floyd make the right decision about Barrett?
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