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The Passing of Pink Floyd’s Syd Barrett

Pink Floyd’s co-founder Syd Barrett (born Roger Keith Barrett) died at the age of 60 Friday (July 7) in his Cambridgeshire home due to complications from diabetes (read more). “The band are naturally very upset and sad to learn of Syd Barrett’s death,” said a spokesperson for Pink Floyd in a statement. “Syd was the guiding light of the early band line-up and leaves a legacy which continues to inspire.” Now, others in the music community are paying tribute to departed musician.

Here’s what they’re saying:

“Do find time today to play some of Syd’s songs and to remember him as the madcap genius who made us all smile with his wonderfully eccentric songs about bikes, gnomes, and scarecrows…He touched more people than he could ever know.” — Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, davidgilmour.musicblog.co.uk

“Leaving aside successive generations’ interest in his drug habits, his music offered all kinds of pointers: chiefly, to how to combine being musically out-there with a confrontational edge…It’s certain that the influence of his music will go on and on.” — John Harris, The Guardian

“I can’t tell you how sad I feel. Syd was a major inspiration for me. The few times I saw him perform in London at UFO and the Marquee clubs during the sixties will forever be etched in my mind. He was so charismatic and such a startlingly original songwriter…His impact on my thinking was enormous. A major regret is that I never got to know him. A diamond indeed.” — David Bowie, davidbowie.com

“Syd led me to better places…from my agape 17-year-old first listen of ‘Bike’ to just the other day [with] ‘Jugband Blues’…languished in his noise…and dreamt in his night…stared at his eyes for answers… bent my ears to see his fingers…would have followed him into the dark…certainly followed him into the bleached out morning. Syd, dear man, what now? The music is there…a door he left unlocked…spend time there…it’s good.” — Graham Coxon, grahamcoxon.co.uk

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On the Web: pinkfloyd.com