10 Fun Facts About Syd Barrett: “The Crazy Diamond”

In this post we will get to know the mysterious Syd Barrett a bit better.

The life of the visionary behind Pink Floyd’s early psychedelic sound whose time in the band was short-lived due to his mental health struggles was as colorful, unpredictable and complex as his music. Here are ten interesting tid-bits about the man known as the “Crazy Diamond”.

10 Interesting Facts About Syd Barret

1. Syd was the one who came up with the name Pink Floyd

Before they were known as Pink Floyd, the band went through several name changes, including The Tea Set.

When they discovered another band with the same name on the artist list, Syd Barrett quickly came up with a new one by combining the names of two blues musicians he admired – Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. The name stuck, and the rest is history.

2. His real name is not “Syd”

Many fans are surprised to learn that Syd Barrett was actually born Roger Keith Barrett.

He adopted the nickname “Syd” in his teens, inspired by a local Cambridge jazz bassist named Sid Barrett. To avoid confusion, he changed the spelling to “Syd,” and the name stuck, becoming part of his persona.

3. Barrett was childhood friends with David Gilmour

David Gilmour, the guitarist who eventually replaced Barrett in Pink Floyd, wasn’t just some outsider stepping into the band – he was actually a childhood friend of Syd’s.

The two knew each other well before Pink Floyd was formed and spent time busking and playing guitar together. David even taught Syd some guitar chords and techniques.

4. Roger Water’s mom was his teacher in Junior School

Syd and Roger Waters had a deep connection that went back to their childhood.

Waters’ mother, Mary, was Syd’s teacher at Morley Memorial Junior School in Cambridge. The two later attended the same high school, laying the foundation for their future collaboration in Pink Floyd.

5. He loved painting and gardening

Syd Barrett was an artist in every sense of the word. Before his music career took off, he studied at Camberwell College of Arts and had a deep passion for painting. Even after he left the music industry, he continued to create art.

Later in life, as a recluse, he found solace in gardening, tending to his plants with the same care he once poured into his music and painting.

6. Every wall in his house was painted a different color

Barrett’s artistic mind wasn’t limited to music and painting – he even turned his house into a colorful canvas. He painted each wall in his home a different color, with every room reflecting a unique mood or emotion.

Depending on his emotional state, he would spend time in different rooms, making his home a living canvas of his inner world.

7. Syd has two solo albums to his name

After leaving Pink Floyd, Syd didn’t disappear from the music industry entirely.

He released two solo albums, The Madcap Laughs (1970) and Barrett (1970). While these albums never reached mainstream success, they remain cult favorites among devoted fans.

8. His former Pink Floyd bandmates helped him record his solo LPs

Despite his departure from Pink Floyd, Syd’s former bandmates didn’t abandon him. David Gilmour, Roger Waters, and Richard Wright all contributed to his albums, providing instrumental support and production assistance.

However, the sessions were often chaotic and rushed, as the other members were also busy working on their band projects, such as Atom Heart Mother.

9. He and Richard Wright were roommates

During Pink Floyd’s early days, Syd Barrett and Richard Wright shared an apartment in London.

Wright would often leave for gigs and return to find Syd sitting in the same spot he had left him in hours before, lost in thought. This eerie behavior was one of the many signs that Syd was struggling with his mental health.

Fun fact – Roger Waters and Nick Mason also shared an apartment, but before forming the band, when they were architecture students

10. Syd Barrett had Synesthesia

Syd Barrett experienced synesthesia, a neurological condition where senses overlap, allowing him to “see” sounds as colors or shapes.

This likely influenced his unique approach to music and songwriting that defined Pink Floyd‘s early psychedelic soundscapes. However, this is not a rare condition as many artists and musicians have synesthesia.

Final Thoughts

Syd Barrett‘s time in the spotlight was brief, but his influence on psychedelic music and the legend of Pink Floyd remains as strong as ever.

The legacy of “The Crazy Diamond” continues to inspire many new generations of musicians and fans alike.