As it happens, I, formerly one of the biggest Floyd-heads (now recovered to mere obsessive) in existence, now work with someone who is related to Syd Barrett. Now, I’ve learned one or two facts about the madcap genius that the general populace will never be privy to, and that’s the way it must stay out of respect to the colleague in question and the extended family. What I can say is that he was able to lead a Peter-Green-style life, practically untroubled by the prying outside world, after his premature departure from Pink Floyd, which is kind of how you’d have hoped it had been.

While he was more than gently nudged out of the Floyd during the recording of their second album, many forget that he enjoy a fairly fruitful, if brief, solo career thereafter. The albums he produced, with a fair deal of help from Dave Gilmour among others, further showcase what a great songwriter he was, and how different PF would have been had he remained at the helm.

For me, his 1970 Peel session is as good as anything he released, although how much control he had over proceedings is questionable, as this quote from a 1989 Q magazine article suggests:

‘He didn’t talk to us; he talked to Dave Gilmour who’d tell us what he thought Syd had said.’

Gilmour, while not a direct replacement for Barrett, was brought into the Floyd as a ‘bolstering’ fifth member when Syd became increasingly unable to perform. He ended up in the role of replacement when Syd was removed from the band months after Gilmour had joined, although as Syd’s friend, he did as much as anyone to keep him going and establish his solo career. He is clearly a driving force on this session, and his vocal harmonizing on the final track ‘Two of a kind’ hints at how good a five piece Pink Floyd could have been. But then again, would we have ever seen ‘Dark side of the moon’, ‘Wish you were here’ or ‘The wall’ with him in the band?

Syd Barrett’s Peel session

Recorded 24th February, 1970
First broadcast 14th March, 1970
Producer – John Walters
Engineer – Tony Wilson
Studio – Maida Vale 4

Track list

- Baby Lemonade
- Effervescing Elephant
- Gigolo Aunt
- Terrapin
- Two Of A Kind

Line up

- Syd Barrett (Guitar, Vocals)
- Dave Gilmour (Organ, Bass, Guitar)
- Jerry Shirley (Drums)
- Alan Styles (Guitar)

Listen now…