Ok before I start let me just say i'm taking this story on the word of a friend of mine so I cant say for sure whether it's true but he's normally pretty honiest and I dont see why he would make it up...
Anyway he was the drummer in a band called the narrow way in cambridge(yes you can see where this is going cant you ) area about a year ago before going to university. They were not a serious band or anything just playing friends parties with a setlist of rock covers. Well anyway one weekend they were playing at a local pratice rooms(sorry cant remmber the name) when an oldish guy comes up to them and talks a bit about the band before leaving. Fast forward a couple of weeks and the same guy is there again only this time he's talks to them for a bit longer shows them a few photo's paintings he's done and gives them a tape of some music he's recorded. Well a couple of week's latter they are speaking to the owner of the place(who I spose must not have been aroudn at the time) and he tells them the guy was none other than Syd Barret! Seemingly he came to the place quite often to listen to local bands playing. Sadly the band broke up just after that and the singer kept the tape
Sounds a bit unlikely to be honest..
It sounds like this guy was acting a bit too normal to be Syd. I also doubt Syd has recorded any new music - I didn't think he was interested in music anymore..
Also I just can't see Syd hanging out in a bar - socialy interacting with folk.
But it's a nice story - and you never know I suppose..
No...I don't think it is true. Syd does not really communicate with the outside world anymore, and he doesn't go under the name Syd, not since the 90's he's Roger now his real name is Roger Keith Barrett, so Syd was his alter ego, he is ashamed now, I doubt he gets out often.
As this post is about syd barrett, i moved it to the syd barret forum from the pink floyd forum
Ta forgot there were seperate forums on this site. I agree it doesnt sound very likely on the face of it and i'm not sure I believe it myself but I was actually told parts of the story while it was happeneing which I think does make it more likely to be true. I'v lost contact with the guy since he's gone to uni though so I cant really ask him about it anymore. The only reason I brought it up now is that I found a few MP3's of his band and it reminded me of the story.
As far as Syd/Roger's current mental state well it's pretty much all conjecture isnt it. Yes he suffers from mental illness but i'd guess he's hardly a gibbering vegetable spending his whole life in 1 room.
Syd does not really communicate with the outside world anymore, and he doesn't go under the name Syd, not since the 90's he's Roger now his real name is Roger Keith Barrett, so Syd was his alter ego, he is ashamed now, I doubt he gets out often.
Syd/Roger didnt use that name for himself, like I said he didnt tell them who he was it was the guy who owned the rehersal rooms and even then he might have used the name roger and my mate used Syd when telling me.
I really don't dig you people!!!
You all act like you know everything about other people's habits and current conditions. Why Syd wouldn't go into a bar once in a while?! Why he wouldn't record some of his music on tape?! He's a man (ok, maybe mental ill),but he can walk and talk with other people, go out of his house etc. I'm not saying that the story is true, but give a man some air and let him BREATHE. Don't chain him within some kind of borders.
I think Syd could have done it . Since I doubt he hides in his basement all the time. Having a beer or two and just occasionally chatting with people who are Not going ( HEYYY YOUR SYD BARRETT) would probally do him some good.
Poor Syd. I've heard inside stories that strongly contest the public view of his mental condition. Don't we ever think it's possible that perhaps the guy is okay, just a little too smart for us "normal folk", and maybe just uses the "mentally ill" persona to get people to leave him the - - - - alone??? It's entirely possible, folks, hell we're lead to believe America is a FREE country and that isn't true either. Heh heh heh heh heh.
crofloyd wrote:I really don't dig you people!!!
You all act like you know everything about other people's habits and current conditions. Why Syd wouldn't go into a bar once in a while?! Why he wouldn't record some of his music on tape?! He's a man (ok, maybe mental ill),but he can walk and talk with other people, go out of his house etc. I'm not saying that the story is true, but give a man some air and let him BREATHE. Don't chain him within some kind of borders.
Totally agree. Everyone think that Syd is totally nuts, all the time, but if you for example check you http://www.sydbarrett.net, the author who worked with Syd clearly states that he is not at all so strange many claim. It could definately be Syd who went to the bar. I'm sure he has his bright moments after what I've read.
I would love som further investigation in this , Can't you contact your old friend who is on the universirty, and ask where it was and try to get a hold of the tape?
(Think I'll save money and buy a blue fender telecaster)
i think it's very hard to find out anything.
it could be Syd who went into the bar but then again maybe he wasn't.
we can only guess.
but we shall never find out for sure.
) area about a year ago before going to university. They were not a serious band or anything just playing friends parties with a setlist of rock covers. Well anyway one weekend they were playing at a local pratice rooms(sorry cant remmber the name) when an oldish guy comes up to them and talks a bit about the band before leaving. Fast forward a couple of weeks and the same guy is there again only this time he's talks to them for a bit longer shows them a few photo's paintings he's done and gives them a tape of some music he's recorded. Well a couple of week's latter they are speaking to the owner of the place(who I spose must not have been aroudn at the time) and he tells them the guy was none other than Syd Barret! Seemingly he came to the place quite often to listen to local bands playing. Sadly the band broke up just after that and the singer kept the tape 
, Can't you contact your old friend who is on the universirty, and ask where it was and try to get a hold of the tape?