On this day (June 5) in 1975, former Pink Floyd vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Syd Barrett quietly wondered into Abbey Road Studios in London. His former band was working on their ninth studio album, Wish You Were Here, an album featuring songs inspired by Barrett.
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Barrett was one of the founding members of Pink Floyd. As the band’s main songwriter, he contributed heavily to their 1967 debut album, Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Barrett also contributed to the band’s sophomore release, A Saucerful of Secrets. However, the rest of the band decided to fire Barrett in 1968 as his mental health deteriorated in the face of his habitual abuse of psychedelic drugs. He released two solo albums, The Madcap Laughs and Barrett, in 1970 before vanishing from the public eye.
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Syd Barrett Visits Pink Floyd at Abbey Road
According to Rock N’ Roll True Stories, June 5, 1975 was a big day for Pink Floyd. They were finalizing the mix on “Shine on You Crazy Diamond,” a tribute to Syd Barrett, and David Gilmour was getting married.
When Barrett walked into the studio carrying a plastic bag, no one recognized him. He was overweight and had shaved his head and eyebrows. Gilmour reportedly believed he was a record label employee, and the rest of the band had no idea who he was. Eventually, though, they discovered his identity.
Art director Storm Thorgerson was there when Barrett walked into the studio. “Two or three people cried. He sat around and talked for a bit, but he wasn’t really there,” he recalled.
The band let Barrett hear “Shine on You Crazy Diamond,” and he reportedly didn’t realize it was about him. Roger Waters asked for his opinion of the song, and Barrett said he didn’t like it before walking out of the studio. Later that day, he briefly attended Gilmour’s wedding reception. However, he left without saying much. That would be the last time many of his former bandmates saw Barrett alive.
Waters reportedly ran into him at a supermarket a few years after Barrett visited the studio. However, the two didn’t speak.
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