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It was announced on CNN’s website today that Syd Barrett has gone on the the dark side of the moon…

“Pink Floyd founding member Syd Barrett has died at the age of 60, according to a spokeswoman for the band. Barrett founded the band in the mid-1960s and was the creative force behind its first two albums. He was also the inspiration for the band’s 1975 album, ‘Wish You Were Here.’”

Prepare yourself…I don’t “blog” in the conventional sense, more or less I post news about me.

Anyway, this does hit a nerve with me.  I guess because 3 of my musical heroes were “lost”, all from the same era of the same band–Fleetwood Mac.  Granted, two of them (Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer) have made slight returns/recoveries.  Peter was the first to leave the band, after suffereing a nervous breakdown.  Jeremy followed soon afterward, joining the now famous religious cult, The Children Of God.  The remaining guitarist, Danny Kirwan pushed on for a few years, before suffering a similar breakdown and leaving the band.

Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer are now active musically, and have been for some time.  This is great for fans of the British Blues scene of the 60’s.  But sadly, Danny has not been so lucky, and he is still, more often than not, homeless, unwilling to discuss his time as a musician, and quite possibly mentally disturbed.

Danny has been for some time, my own Syd Barrett.  I personally support his desire to stay completely away from music and the music business.  It’s his life…  I just hope he someday tells his story before passing suddenly as Syd has.

Danny…”wish you were here.”  Syd, we’ll see you on the “dark side of the moon,” Buddy.  Shine on you crazy diamond.
~jp