**If you love this interview PLEASE CONSIDER HITTING THE "$ SUPERTHANKS $" button ! (It's under the video. ) Any small donation helps with my work - retrieving, editing & uploading my unique and original content. Thank you for your support ! John **
🌲☄🌲Joe Boyd is an actual Legend in a time when the word is overplayed and over-used!He worked with Syd Barrett,was a personal confidante&support to Nick Drake,and besides that he worked with Don Simpson at Paramount-Top Gun,Beverly Hills Cop,Flashdance,anybody?I shall never forget the vibe of rubbingshoulders with him and Gabriella Drake at the Nick Drake tribute concert at London's Barbican Centre-London September 1999:)That vibe was Nick's love for his sister&producer coming like a misty bloom from elsewhere!God Bless & Always Be Well,Mr. Joe Boyd:)🌲☄🌲
This may be the best of your interviews. Boyd is both an outsider (American) and ultimate insider, as a creator of that London underground scene in which Syd became a high priest at the altar. His candor is refreshing, perhaps a reflection of the differences in American and English culture. None of the hippy-dippy BS of, “He wanted to go off on a different visionary path.” Just the reality: “He wrote pop songs.” The Floyd survived and thrived not have to write pop songs. And very quickly he went from that bright-eyed, mischievous genius to “he’s been tripping for days,” to nobody’s home. As everyone who was there has always said, it was a sad and terrible tragedy.
Syds influence runs through pink Floyd syd left the band but he is still there syd still being discussed in 2023 after he left in 1968 mind boggling just goes to show how unique syd was
Boyd, Joe Boyd. One of the most sensitive and erudite and intellectual and loving and, indeed musically accurate interviews I have ever heard. Boyd is one of the few articulate people... who actually believes what he says. Thank your for uploading, John.
Wow, I’m extremely impressed with Joe Boyd. He’s extremely articulate and clearly has a strong memory. That last bit towards the end about hearing Syd’s voice come thru the radio speakers and again hearing how he spoke BEFORE the fog set in was especially powerful. That interview he refers to is one of the only recordings of healthy Syd that I’ve ever heard and know to exist. There’s another interview recording only a few months later and Syd sounds significantly less articulate. Very sad Syd always haunts me.
Syd was definitely undeniably special... Genius that the rest of the band members carried the torch very well for and like they said.. i too hope Syd knows what an impact his music had and still has on many generations back then all the way to now and decade's ahead to come....timeless
Producers who only work for the industry, in terms of achieving market hits, are substantially different from ''aesthetical'' producers, who contribute to the final conception of a work of art. It takes higher understanding of the musicians' nature, and that's what i've always seen in Joe Boyd. I don't think he's ever failed in letting the music, the songs, the band come through as naturally as possible. As far as his 60s and 70s productions have come, in 2023 we can still speak of a Joe Boyd's sound, always in accordance with the diversity of artists he has worked with, some more linear, some more complex, some more unpredictable, like Barrett. Anyway we look at his legacy, it's always among the bringers and enhancers of the great Music we shall find him. Thanks for sharing this excellent, really insightful interview.
I always thought that Syd had schizophrenia. As my brothers has this disease for many years; I can see that the similarities are many. What a brilliant musician, songwriter, and great singer he was. I loved his sometimes childlike songs and the beautiful wordplay and ideas that he expressed in his songs in such a unique way.
Yes. Schizophrenia seems to give some people very abstract creativity which brings about very different and unique music. And yes Syd's music and lyrics were pretty childish and kind of fairy tale like at times, which was brilliant and inspiring
I've noticed that many fans of the later, post-DSOTM Pink Floyd material tend to disavow Syd's influences on the band. They acknowledge he came up with the band name and served as Roger's muse but that's it. They also say Pink Floyd wouldn't have been as successful if Syd remained healthy and stayed with the band because they think Syd's songwriting would've sounded dated and stuck in the 60s. So it's great to hear Joe Boyd acknowledge Syd's significance and how much of an impact he had on their overall sound. I'm not trying to take any credit away from Roger and Dave because they made the band extremely successful, but Syd created the framework and they basically followed through with it. And for those who think Syd's songwriting wouldn't have progressed if he remained with the band. If you listen to his early songs, the early singles, PATGOD, the later singles, and his solo material, none of it sounds stylistically or thematically the same. Two things about Syd which were well known: he didn't like repetition and he had a fear of selling out. So while it's impossible to know how successful the band would've been if he was able to remain, its safe to assume his songwriting would've progressed and the music would've been unlike anything heard at the time. I can only imagine what Syd would've done with the synthesizers the band eventually acquired a few years after his departure. Finally, I think my ultimate dream band would have been a 5 piece Pink Floyd with a healthy Syd at the helm. Maybe in another time or dimension.
Yeah, I think some of that is just boredom talking. I don't think you have to diminish one to raise up the other. The whole reason Pink Floyd really has almost no comparison is the unlikelihood of ALL of it. The one thing I'd add is that had Syd NOT gone mad, an awful lot of Rogers imagery and song theme wouldn't have happened. But then Animals and Amused to Death and even Radio KAOS I like better than his other stuff, so it wasn't like he was totally bereft of other ideas.
@mikearchibald744 I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "boredom talking". It may sound like I'm diminishing post-Syd Pink Floyd, but I'm not. In my opinion, the period from Meddle to Animals, is one of the greatest consecutive album runs ever. I believe Waters wrote some of the most amazing, humanly relatable lyrics. Also, being I'm a guitarist, David Gilmour was my first major influence on the instrument. I could go on and on, but my point is, I'm a huge fan. Yet, the point I was making in my previous comment is that Syd doesn't receive enough credit for his part and influence on their overall sound. He wasn't just Roger's muse and the guy who came up with the band's name. While their sound evolved, and moved away from free-form, psychedelic improvising, Syd created the formula of surrounding well-written, melodic songs with spacey, ethereal instrumentals. They stuck with his formula and just added their own ingredients. The theatrical live performances combined with film, lights, and quadraphonic sounds all stemmed and grew from Syd's Pink Floyd. Does this mean he deserves writing credits for the lyrics, music, and concepts, from those later albums? Absolutely not. But he does deserve credit for his role in creating the blueprint that they followed.
@@cdkilo77 I wasn't referring to you, I mean the people who go on and on about "how great X is and how much Y and Z" suck. My PF album is Meddle, I find Dark Side WAY too overproduced, Animals I loved so much for about six months that I think thats ALL I listened to, but really haven't listened to since, and now I find it much like other Roger Waters stuff and too dark and depressing. I think Rogers best stuff is actually on Radio KAOS and AMused to Death. But apart from that most of what you've written I've said myself so have a good weekend.
@@cdkilo77 Well, I did write 'you' but it was a generic 'you'. And social media its not unnatural to expect whatever response you get is somebody attacking you:) I think Syd's music is SO different and so different to his live stuff that its easy to write it off. Sort of the same way that people write of David Bowie's "Laughing Gnome" and even "hunky dory" as his 'goofy stage'. But anybody can go read the lyrics to Dominoes and see how much of that is in Roger Waters lyrics for "time". There is no doubt about Waters genius for lyrics, but you can tell how he takes the 'offshoots' of other great lyricists like Syd, Leonard Cohen, and Peter Gabriel, and flushes them out into a full song. Nothing wrong with that of course, but any artist will admit they don't live in a vacuum.
Another point here: Boyd says in this interview and in the ‘96 BBC doc that the last Floyd show at the UFO was in May. He is misremembering. It was the last week of July, one day after the final BBC Top of the Pops performance. It is documented through the official PF site. That is significant because it fits in with the timeline of Syd showing up at Sue Kingsford’s in a nearly catatonic state and with Rick Wright’s memory of his changing dramatically in a few days. It also fits with them canceling gigs in early August, and then the trip to Ibiza to try to recover.
@@dr.buzzvonjellar8862It definitely did. We will likely never know exactly what happened, but that final week of July is the most crucial time related to Syd’s mental decline
An amazing interview John, thank you so much for unearthing this gem! I already thanked you on the Roger Waters group about all these wonderful interviews that you share with us :) Pink Floyd is my favourite band of all-time, hence this content is gold for me.
Tommy Jed here- Thanks for this revealing interview of Joe Boyd. His take (subjective speculations) are limited, as he makes evident during his rants, but he offers valuable historical insight on Syd, being the producer of Arnold Layne and running the UFO club.
Joe's book - "White Bicycles" - is a wondrous glimpse into music making in the sixties. Intelligence of this caliber in musical/industrial complex is a rarity.
If you enjoy this lovely relaxed and interesting interview, Joe's biog White Bicycles is really worth a read. It paints a picture of a man who really was a curator, and not money-man in any way. As I said in a comment below, it made me really want to love the music of ISB - despite them not being my thing at all. His passion for music and artistry is lifelong.
"Roger's never going to be subtle." First thing that came to my mind was a very early film clip of them space jamming , and Roger goes over to the gong and quickly brings its volume up and over everything else that's happening. 😅
While Roger has certainly had many intentionally bombastic moments musically, I would certainly describe "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" and "Grantchester Meadows" as subtle.
Thanks so much for uploading this wonderful, fascinating interview. Joe Boyd has always struck me as a lovely guy: so warm, articulate and perceptive. It must have been a pleasure to interview him.
By listening/reading to several accounts of what Syd was really like during those infamous years (like the diary of Malcolm Jones during the recording of The Madcap Laughs, that interview with his flatmate Duggie Fields, etc.), it became more and more plausible to me that Syd simply faked going mad because he absolutely despised the music industry, hated lip-synching at Top of the Pops, was exhausted of touring non-stop, and just didn't want to do the whole famous Rock Star thing. He found the easiest way out: Faking insanity. Being a famous Rock Star is not for everyone, especially if you're a painter, a quiet nature-loving soul, and a sensible poet that's just discovered reality-altering hallucinogens. He WAS counterculture.
That's an understandable take that I've heard before. And yet, virtually everyone who really knew him (his band mates, his sister, etc.) do not buy that. No doubt he hated some aspects of the music business, but he also very clearly had a mental breakdown or illness of some kind, one that lingered for the rest of his life in some fashion. Inherent/incipient schizophrenia triggered by his (by many accounts quite excessive) LSD use seems the most likely culprit.
Joe's book, "White Bicycles," offers an important glimpse into music making during the sixties. Intelligence of this caliber in the musical/industrial complex is a rarity. Syd is remembered as the quintessential acid casualty, but my guess is that someone gave him STP or DMT or Angel Dust or rhinoceros tranquilizer.
Man I’ve been a Floyd fan for about 32 yrs i use to read everything about them i knew of Syd and when i heard their early stuff it blew me away . Great artist Syd Barret
Wow this was a real story the bottom of it all a subjective observation by this Floyd Producer I think it had a deep effect and a true understanding abaught Syd...
At that time, probably only Jimi Hendrix had done something as hauntingly original as what Syd did on "Interstellar Overdrive". Man, that's like a painter playing guitar, he was first and foremost an artist.
Pink Floyd #4 is "Gyppy Floyd" (post-Waters): "I bought this album cuz it said 'Pink Floyd' but it sure ain't a Pink Floyd album, man I got gypped". Though let's be honest, 'The Final Cut' belongs to both the "Lippy Floyd" and "Gyppy Floyd" categories.
Thank you so much for doing this. I don't know if it would have prevented Syd's downfall, but it's one of the great losses that Joe Boyd (contractual reasons) was not able to be in the producer's chair for anything more than "Arnold Layne." It almost certainly would have made it less stressful on Syd if Joe had been there for the early singles, "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" and "Saucerful of Secrets" instead of Norman Smith.
You have collected, made, sooo many documentaries about Syd, enables us all, to kind of imagine a little who he could of evolved in... Does tht make sense? ❤
The closest american corollary was Captain Beefheart. Don Van Vliet wasn't a musician really, but banged out music and 'claims' he played teh instruments. Either way, like Syd he was a painter and talked about music in paint terms. VERY different of course, but like Syd he was a true artist, meaning he was always changing. The idea that Syd would have been preaching world peace is a guess. But Vliet basically laboured in near obscurity all through the seventies, then in early eighties retired quietly to paint. Thats likely more like what an 'orginal' Syd would do. Artists are rarely 'mainstream'. Peter Green got normal a bit, then came back and just played guitar in clubs and made a modest living.
Hi Captain John! When we did a book launch last month in Manchester for "The Routledge Handbook Of Pink Floyd", any questions that came from the audience I took, the rest of the panel thought it best(?)... one question came in about "good quality audios of the Syd-era live", I did my best job (try the early years box set... etc etc), but I did add that I felt like it would be really good if we could get an audio story of Syd "in his own words", using his voice, because we are so used to his singing voice, it's weird when you find you're actually on the same track as Joe in many ways, allbeit a dozen years later. I was at the Barbican Tribute and sat with Nick Laird-Clowes (he kept disappearing, being the co-producer with Joe) and Kevin Ayers and Hoppy. I got to meet Joe afterwards outside, it must have been such an overwhelming night, definitely the last gathering of some of those key players in the band and Syd's story. Thanks for this video! Big bestest wishes, Bob :)
Why in the world is this book retailing for nearly $300 in the USA? At least that's what Amazon is asking for it. I own the Mortal Remains coffee table book on Floyd and even that wasn't nearly $300 or anything near it. Anybody know why this is so expensive? Routledge Press books are usually not that expensive.
Hi @@thiscorrosion900 ... unfortunately it's an academic book, the company make their money by selling it to universities and libraries. Even in Floyd-fan-world I've noticed fans buying half a dozen copies (when it was £192.00. I never got paid to do it, and still don't have a copy of it (the person who issues the Gratis copies left, and the publisher said "we are not issuing any until her role is filled..."), I wrote and added a visual element totalling 17 pages out of the 500. It's my... "Atom Heart Mother", an interesting experiment... but a cul-de-sac! ;)
@@bobfollen8262 I see, I should know better since I've written a ton of stuff for people like Greenwood Press and McFarland! All mainly academic titles and reference titles aimed at universities and academia, etc. I didn't realize at first glance that this was that type of book, since Routledge, which I know well enough, also does more mainstream titles as well. That's rather frustrating because I'm not reviewing for anybody regularly as I once was, or I'd request a review copy and bang out a serious review of it, or even on RUclips. It sounds like a book worth checking out though, in any case. Maybe a paperback edition will follow. I'd written a bunch of entries in our Supernatural Lit. of the World encyclopedia in 2005 or so, and that book retails for at least $350 I think, due to being a total reference/academic work and only in hardcover from Greenwood Press.
I remember reading that one of the reasons record companies signed both bands and independant members to the same contracts was because in the sixties bands would get together, get interest from a record company, get an advance, then break up and record all that music as solo artists with the other guys playing, or form new bands with almost all the same guys. So that was pretty 'machiavellian' on the part of bands, also pretty ingenious but maybe just OBVIOUS once somebody else thinks of it, but that turns the 'evil corporation' on its head. ANY industry will have bad players. Phil Collins talks about Atlantic and that guy who ran it with real reverence, and Genesis claimed they had no interference. Pink Floyd says that as well, but usually anything 'special' you need, comes from future earnings. Which is a big risk that there will BE future earnings. In PF AND Genesis AND Yes' case, its a BIG assumption that money is going to come out of it. 90125 made big money, but mainly because of new members who weren't prog, had Phil not been in Genesis, they would maybe be as popular as Van Der Graf Generator, meaning not at all. But I've noticed there seems a big difference depending on managers. Rush had fantastic management almost from day one. Anvil had piss poor management. Both have put out almsot an equal number of albums, both had amazing guitarists and drummers (ok, not neil peart level but metal drummers say he was great). But which of those two canadian bands have you heard of? What I've noticed with new industries is that at first its chaos, with 'enthusiasts' just dabbing, then it gets business like, THEN it becomes mafia like. The eighties were likely the worst due to corporate ownership. Now for new music I listen to local people and young people who do it just because they love it, while a lot of people on youtube of my age complain there is no more good music. Its just not spoon fed us, as it used to be. EMI though just seems to have been satan incarnate even more than this Brian Morrissey outfit discussed here.
I don’t know what he is listening to , but Sid was important to Floyd and I think the rest of the band understands that . They would never have been as creative or successful with him .
How do you know ? They might have been even bigger with Syd. Syd's songs on his solo albums were better than anything Floyd was doing at that same time.
@@robertmartin8565 Seriously? What Pink Floyd albums are you referring to? I love Saucerful of Secrets, More, Atom Heart Mother , Ummagumma , and Meddle. I can't imagine how anyone could possibly have done music any better than those albums. Of course Relics, and Piper At the Gates of Dawn are incredibly good, but Syd was on those albums, yes I know that he did a song on Saucerful of Secrets also. I got to find Syd's solo albums if they are that good
@@godetonter4764 The Madcap Laughs and Barrett both came out in 1970 but were recorded in 1968-69 with Gilmour's help. The songs are fantastic, better than anything on More - Ummugumma or Atom Heart Mother.
@@robertmartin8565 It's not hard to be better than most of the material on More , and Atom Heart Mother ( or at least have a bit more energy) . Even though Ummagumma was pretty experimental, the Live version of Careful With That Axe Eugene was pretty good. I have never been able to find any of the Syd Barrett albums, I definitely regret not being able to obtain them. I am sure that I would really like them. Piper At the Gates of Dawn and Saucerful of Secrets are my favorite Pink Floyd albums. Matilda Mother, Remember a Day , Arnold Lane , See Emily Play, Julia Dream , and Nile Song are my favorite songs . I was a little surprised that to find out that Richard Wright did the Vocals on both Matilda Mother and Remember a Day . I always assumed that it was Syd Barrett
But Syd had one brilliant song on 2nd Floyd album, and I think he played on two others. AND please buy/listen to Syd’s 3 solo albums. Soooooo brilliant!
@@JOHNEDGINTONDOCUMENTARIES Thanks John ! I did watch the one with David . Then i had to rule it out ! lol I met Ian Ritchie many years ago , who was in Roger's band . Someone got him interested in my songs and i was due to spend some quality time with him . But it all went pear shaped . It's a long story that i won't go into here . But it was a very significant opportunity for me musically. It could of potentially taken my music to another level .....if the arranged meeting had taken place . It's not easy when your not a proper businessman ...like he is i guess . It was one of those learning curve moments in time . I wrote a song on the keyboard about it all titled ' The Magic of The Brilliant Failure ' . I must get that track to him one day in the near future . I thouroughly enjoyed all your interviews with the Floyd . Much appreciation . Paul
0:31 "Big nose. Big... You know". Wait, what ? All these many stories about Syd raise more questions then they provide answers. Like "I was walking on Cambridge circle and run into his GF and she pointed at Syd sitting in the gutter - 'he has been tripping for days'. And I thought 'That's bad'". And.... I wonder, what did you do? Kept walking? Or you helped Syd out of the gutter and took some care of him? Or "He was just standing on the stage strumming his guitar and Rick had to fill in". Well, did you talk to Syd? What did he had to say to explain himself? There must have been some interaction like that, no? Or is this the English way? The fella behaves weird, but we would never ask.... just keep on keeping on like nothing is happening? It is just like all these stories are never complete. Like they observe a person, report their condition but did not interact. A zoo of sorts. All in all I am never satisfied with these stories and I just think that his songs were the only way of communication that has been left to him. Luckily it is preserved on tape. From the content of these songs I believe that Syd was perfectly aware of his condition and he speaks about it directly in his songs. Seems like a cry in the desert of indifference.
@@saulinvictus9274 Of course, he made a comparison between Syd and Roger. Who else do you imagine on stage when you say big hands, long fingers, big nose, big ears, everything big, but also a great musician.
@vicinvesta Syd's tripping in the gutter was on a scale of behaviour that wasn't unique to Syd, in sixties London. Lauded talents crashed in Chelsea sitting rooms, not Cambridge Circus pavements, and it was only the tourist setting that sparked Boyd's concern. People were making the 1960s up as they went along, ambition, fame, eccentricity, clinical depression, greed, showmanship emerging from the post-war soup in a way that wasn't clear to those on the inside. He could be barking mad or winging it, and even the band members weren't sure which Syd was.
@@JOHNEDGINTONDOCUMENTARIES why wouldn’t there be an audience for it? As it is, the edits frustrate any coherence in the flow of the conversation. If it’s worth putting up at all it’s worth putting the whole thing up, yes? Your video interviews with the members of the band are fascinating, partly because they aren’t edited. Boyd may not be famous, but his insights into the story of Floyd and Barrett are much more interesting than either Mason’s or Wriggt’s. I would argue.
Hmmm… thanks. I may put it up but not just yet as this is getting a lot of interest. Boyd has great insights but i think Mason and Wright have a unique perspective as they lived the experience of being in the band with Syd
I do agree with Joe Boyd that pink floyd should have stayed and recorded more albums with him instead of signing with EMI because of the pressure. I think Joe Boyd and Norman Smith did a much better job at recording and capturing that floyd sound from songs like see emily play, arnold layne, candy and a currant bun which they kept that UK 60s sound which EMI piper album was totally different. I always thought what is joe boyd would have recorded that whole pipers album it would have been totally different and much better I think. Syd barretts solo albums should of sounds like if he would have went back with Joe Boyd instead of having david gilmour produce his solo albums which were awful what gilmour did to those solo albums it needed Joe Boyd to give it that acid laced ice cream truck UK floyd sound.
One thing for people to understand, Boyd’s “criticism” of the Morrison agency reflected only his feelings at that moment. He ultimately became good friends with one of the top three guys there. He writes extensively about that and insights about the bare-knuckled English music managers in his memoir, White Bicycles. Also worth considering, many of the freaks/hippies around Hoppy Hopkins ultimately began to see Boyd as a “breadhead.”
He's hardly the first guy to say that about the music industry, particularly EMI. Just look at how Nick Kent talks about 'welcome to the machine'. I've listened to a fair number of musicians interviews and by the seventies, bad as it was, it was actually getting BETTER. Particularly black artists in the US, but for women the 'casting couch' was nothing compared to the 'producers couch'. I've read a few academic books researching the inside of the entertainment industry, and its pretty much always been organized crime, not much of a step higher than the porn industry (and maybe now less). I don't know what a breadhead is, but meeting corporate executives and calling them evil is hardly an out of the park comment. Compared to today thats positively benign, hell Blackrock is funding both the weapons of the Ukraine conflict AND has contracts for the rebuild.
Its sad this guy missed out on a cares he helped build those first songs were great he was the foot in the door businesses can be ruthless bob close is another that deserve credit oink floyds first lead guitar player
Although they may be nice guys, I would love for someone to press Pete Jenner and the other guy from Blackhill on the following: 1) What was your opinion of these bookings by you and the Morrison Agency that appeared so haphazard and strenuous? They sure don’t look anything like Hendrix’s bookings ahead of AYE. 2) Given Syd’s fragile state in the fall of ‘67, why did you go through with the US tour? If you were going to do that, didn’t you think he would need more babysitting than you provided? He certainly did more of the drugs that had already damaged him there, including perhaps STP. 3) It is said that RW persuaded Barrett to remain in a songwriting/studio but non-performing role, and begged Blackhill not to screw it up. Then they did exactly that immediately. Is that true? If so, why? 4) Given that, did Jenner not feel an absolute duty to get a solo album produced no matter what, something that clearly would not have happened without Malcolm Jones? What were his feelings having enabled the split and then basically abandoning Syd?
The one thing about that I wonder is they wanted Syd to 'just write songs'. THen he DID write two albums of songs while they kind of didn't know what they were doing. So what I don't get is that he was writing songs AND being produced by them, so what was the deal, did they just not like the songs he was writing?
The healthy Syd Barrett was very creative. He was a talented, gifted young man. Unfortunately, he had the wrong friends. He started taking drugs very early on. The first record with Pink Floyd The Piper...... is a good record. Syd wrote 52 songs. Unfortunately, he took LSD several times a week... That's too much. No brain can handle that!!! He failed as a painter and musician!!! At 22, Syd was a sick person. ... He became lethargic... He was mentally absent... He didn't live in the here and now..... He could no longer play the right scale.... He was no longer productive... He had thinking and speaking disorders..... He wanted to climb walls.... He wanted to become a doctor and get married.... He wanted to start a cult.... He wanted to hit his sister Rosemary on the head with his guitar 🎸... Psychiatry wasn't ready at that time... Syd had dropped out!!!! 🎞️🎥 His whole life should be made into a movie.... I don't know if he ever found redemption or peace for his soul ??? He lived in an inner and outer prison....
He definitely struggled for most of his life, but it sounds as though he somewhat returned to a periodic "normal" toward the very end of his life, late-1990s & 2000s.
@@VanishedPNW Okay, I do think that some of the LSD consumption stuck with him. I think that a lot of things went wrong between the ages of 15 and 18. He smoked joints before his time with Pink Floyd. There is an interview with his sister Rosmary on RUclips from 2023. Unfortunately only in English.
Sure, but they were hardly in the charts. Of course the Floyd have their imitators, but I think Joe's referring to successful mainstream artists. I love Eloy, by the way.
Pink Floyd's music was 100% British the true Made in the UK not like the amps made over seas that's has upset me. the best Rock the best musicians but the amps never mind..
Certainly Pink Floyd Mk. II, their chrysalis, if you like, with the crystallisation heard on 'Meddle". But their entire poetic identity was the dangerous light observed in eclipses,, ,the spectre at the gates the heir to the running hare. Drugband bluebroke loose the cool breezes... The UFO house band like a Persian rug 'neath the burgeoning lysergic prince and the piper whose diamonds abruptly rusted,,, piper indeed pied (with no crust!!) Trancers and heavy-lidded eyes glanced forbidden planets. eyes of saucers , on par with Chaucer and the tiger broke down
Yeah. What I'm failing to connect is the image of a young man bombed out of his gourd on LSD and Mandrax while somehow being a 'genius' .... Beyond his harking back to English Romanticism (something PF continued with in Ummagumma and Obscured by Clouds) complete with watery melodies there was NOTHING else. To suggest Syd could have been something truly great is a long way from actually being great which, if he was, was seemingly overlooked by the British mainstream. Curious. The Floyd needed at least another 5 years to make a good album in 1973. They were pretty slow learners when put aside their peers. Syd was a very pretty but very quaint guy who would have fitted in well with the Merry Pranksters and Ken Kesey
Well, you have people like David Gilmour, Bob Klose, and Joe Boyd and Nick Kemp all talking about what a genius he was, and I suspect they know a little bit about music and have met a few musicians. You have Bob Klose who was a trained classical guitarist talking about what a great RHYTHM player Syd was, and as anybody will tell you, the number of great rhythm players at that age are rare. Then you have dave talking about what an innovative and unrepreproducible LEAD player Syd was, and once again, lead playing playing is an art in itself. Then you have guys like Jerry Shirley talking about how good Syd was with melody, so much so that "getting Syd to play something SIMILAR twice let alone the same was like pulling teeth". In other words, about NINETY percent of the melodies Syd came up with ended up on the cutting floor. Then you have tons of writers and performers NOW copying the songs, songs that range from sneaky exposure in adult perversions like Arnold Lang, at a time when the Jimmy Saville's and Johnathan Kings were running amuck. Then of course there is See Emily Play about the death of a young girl, or chapter 21 based on the I Ching. While he used much romantic imagery, he wasn't writing things like Grantchester Meadows, that was Roger. He was writing pop songs like Bike where Roger talks about their 'english originality'. Just the idea that Roger claims he got the idea "to not throw away those things that might embarass you because they are so cliche", from a teenager two years YOUNGER than him. Nick Kemp talks about how 'summer is evoked' when he listens to that Pink Floyd album. So in short, you have a guy who at a young age is not only great at writing pop tunes, but is "always playing something interesting live". He was known not only as a great rhythm player as well as a great lead player. He could come up with melody so fast that it was impossible to even LEARN one of his songs. And lyrics that went ALL over the place from eastern mysticism to hilare belloc to rhyming ditties about the perverts dotting the english country side. Now, that sound pretty bloody brilliant to me. Combined with the fact everybody from the Beatles to Pete Townshend would cancel their OWN gigs to hear Syd. So thats not really even in dispute. About the only other guy that critics like John Peele put in that 'genius' category is somebody like Don Van Vliet or Captain Beefheart. Everybody else, well, there's an interview here about David Bowie and Frank Zappa fighting over the same guitarist. Most bands have ONE guy who does ONE thing, Syd did it all. Since we know the CIA and FBI were watching John Lennon once he started his politial activism, we know the 'what could have happened' is an open question. I'm not into conspiracy theories but the establishment was fully aware that these young poeple were active politically and wanting to change the world. They say "imagine" motivated an entire generation, so who is really to say what he would have accomplished, it seems a lot of the political artists ended up dead one way or another. Sorry thats so long, no time to edit
It's because after Syd left the band and following the album Dark Side of the Moon, Roger became the principal/sole songwriter. That's where a lot of the royalties (50%) go. They get equal shares of the music sales(albums, singles, videos etc) for being members of the band and for profits from their stage shows. Obviously since the break up both Roger and Pink Floyd went their separate ways and I imagine David has made the most money from music sales since but I don't really know.
@@alexvernon7456 ~~ that is true - even for the few artists like PF who sold (and still sell) - a LOT of records - tours are where artists make their money and Roger has been hitting the tour circuit hard for many years - much more than Gilmour ..
Uh, really? He is the co-founder of the UFO club, the place where Jenner and the EMI people found them. Difficult to know whether Pink Floyd becomes anything without UFO. This is also where Syd becomes the high priest of the acid freaks, so perhaps a different result for him too. Point is, Boyd was definitely integral to the Pink Floyd story
**If you love this interview PLEASE CONSIDER HITTING THE "$ SUPERTHANKS $" button !
(It's under the video. ) Any small donation helps with my work - retrieving, editing & uploading my unique and original content.
Thank you for your support ! John **
🌲☄🌲Joe Boyd is an actual Legend in a time when the word is overplayed and over-used!He worked with Syd Barrett,was a personal confidante&support to Nick Drake,and besides that he worked with Don Simpson at Paramount-Top Gun,Beverly Hills Cop,Flashdance,anybody?I shall never forget the vibe of rubbingshoulders with him and Gabriella Drake at the Nick Drake tribute concert at London's Barbican Centre-London September 1999:)That vibe was Nick's love for his sister&producer coming like a misty bloom from elsewhere!God Bless & Always Be Well,Mr. Joe Boyd:)🌲☄🌲
This may be the best of your interviews. Boyd is both an outsider (American) and ultimate insider, as a creator of that London underground scene in which Syd became a high priest at the altar. His candor is refreshing, perhaps a reflection of the differences in American and English culture. None of the hippy-dippy BS of, “He wanted to go off on a different visionary path.” Just the reality: “He wrote pop songs.” The Floyd survived and thrived not have to write pop songs. And very quickly he went from that bright-eyed, mischievous genius to “he’s been tripping for days,” to nobody’s home. As everyone who was there has always said, it was a sad and terrible tragedy.
I enjoyed reading your very perceptive comments. Thanks!
Syds influence runs through pink Floyd syd left the band but he is still there syd still being discussed in 2023 after he left in 1968 mind boggling just goes to show how unique syd was
And here I am after I've listened to Baby Lemonade, Bike, Jugbland blues and Domino!
Thank you for everything Joe Boyd!
Joe’s eloquence is very impressive
I agree
Boyd, Joe Boyd. One of the most sensitive and erudite and intellectual and loving and, indeed musically accurate interviews I have ever heard. Boyd is one of the few articulate people... who actually believes what he says. Thank your for uploading, John.
Indeed! Speaking thoughtfully like this is a list art. I miss it.
The Joe Boyd mixes are the Supreme! Boyd new exactly how to catch what Syd was all about. Thanks Joe. Please release your Barrett mixes officially ❤🙏
RIP Syd I hope his music will never be lost.
Wow, I’m extremely impressed with Joe Boyd.
He’s extremely articulate and clearly has a strong memory.
That last bit towards the end about hearing Syd’s voice come thru the radio speakers and again hearing how he spoke BEFORE the fog set in was especially powerful.
That interview he refers to is one of the only recordings of healthy Syd that I’ve ever heard and know to exist.
There’s another interview recording only a few months later and Syd sounds significantly less articulate.
Very sad
Syd always haunts me.
AND IT IS INCREDIBLE THE SIGNIFICANCE THAT TIME WAS ABLE TO GIVE TO BARRETT
Syd was definitely undeniably special...
Genius that the rest of the band members carried the torch very well for and like they said.. i too hope Syd knows what an impact his music had and still has on many generations back then all the way to now and decade's ahead to come....timeless
Producers who only work for the industry, in terms of achieving market hits, are substantially different from ''aesthetical'' producers, who contribute to the final conception of a work of art.
It takes higher understanding of the musicians' nature, and that's what i've always seen in Joe Boyd. I don't think he's ever failed in letting the music, the songs, the band come through as naturally as possible.
As far as his 60s and 70s productions have come, in 2023 we can still speak of a Joe Boyd's sound, always in accordance with the diversity of artists he has worked with, some more linear, some more complex, some more unpredictable, like Barrett.
Anyway we look at his legacy, it's always among the bringers and enhancers of the great Music we shall find him. Thanks for sharing this excellent, really insightful interview.
I value your comments and thanks for your generous praise of the interview !
I always thought that Syd had schizophrenia. As my brothers has this disease for many years; I can see that the similarities are many.
What a brilliant musician, songwriter, and great singer he was. I loved his sometimes childlike songs and the beautiful wordplay and ideas that he expressed in his songs in such a unique way.
Yes. Schizophrenia seems to give some people very abstract creativity which brings about very different and unique music. And yes Syd's music and lyrics were pretty childish and kind of fairy tale like at times, which was brilliant and inspiring
This is awesome it's good to see recent and relevant reflections from people like him on sid. I know a lot about Syd bear so this feels fresh and new
Thank you John as always these extended clips are pure gold..
I've noticed that many fans of the later, post-DSOTM Pink Floyd material tend to disavow Syd's influences on the band. They acknowledge he came up with the band name and served as Roger's muse but that's it. They also say Pink Floyd wouldn't have been as successful if Syd remained healthy and stayed with the band because they think Syd's songwriting would've sounded dated and stuck in the 60s. So it's great to hear Joe Boyd acknowledge Syd's significance and how much of an impact he had on their overall sound. I'm not trying to take any credit away from Roger and Dave because they made the band extremely successful, but Syd created the framework and they basically followed through with it. And for those who think Syd's songwriting wouldn't have progressed if he remained with the band. If you listen to his early songs, the early singles, PATGOD, the later singles, and his solo material, none of it sounds stylistically or thematically the same. Two things about Syd which were well known: he didn't like repetition and he had a fear of selling out. So while it's impossible to know how successful the band would've been if he was able to remain, its safe to assume his songwriting would've progressed and the music would've been unlike anything heard at the time. I can only imagine what Syd would've done with the synthesizers the band eventually acquired a few years after his departure. Finally, I think my ultimate dream band would have been a 5 piece Pink Floyd with a healthy Syd at the helm. Maybe in another time or dimension.
Yeah, I think some of that is just boredom talking. I don't think you have to diminish one to raise up the other. The whole reason Pink Floyd really has almost no comparison is the unlikelihood of ALL of it.
The one thing I'd add is that had Syd NOT gone mad, an awful lot of Rogers imagery and song theme wouldn't have happened. But then Animals and Amused to Death and even Radio KAOS I like better than his other stuff, so it wasn't like he was totally bereft of other ideas.
@mikearchibald744 I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "boredom talking". It may sound like I'm diminishing post-Syd Pink Floyd, but I'm not. In my opinion, the period from Meddle to Animals, is one of the greatest consecutive album runs ever. I believe Waters wrote some of the most amazing, humanly relatable lyrics. Also, being I'm a guitarist, David Gilmour was my first major influence on the instrument. I could go on and on, but my point is, I'm a huge fan. Yet, the point I was making in my previous comment is that Syd doesn't receive enough credit for his part and influence on their overall sound. He wasn't just Roger's muse and the guy who came up with the band's name. While their sound evolved, and moved away from free-form, psychedelic improvising, Syd created the formula of surrounding well-written, melodic songs with spacey, ethereal instrumentals. They stuck with his formula and just added their own ingredients. The theatrical live performances combined with film, lights, and quadraphonic sounds all stemmed and grew from Syd's Pink Floyd. Does this mean he deserves writing credits for the lyrics, music, and concepts, from those later albums? Absolutely not. But he does deserve credit for his role in creating the blueprint that they followed.
@@cdkilo77 I wasn't referring to you, I mean the people who go on and on about "how great X is and how much Y and Z" suck.
My PF album is Meddle, I find Dark Side WAY too overproduced, Animals I loved so much for about six months that I think thats ALL I listened to, but really haven't listened to since, and now I find it much like other Roger Waters stuff and too dark and depressing.
I think Rogers best stuff is actually on Radio KAOS and AMused to Death. But apart from that most of what you've written I've said myself so have a good weekend.
@mikearchibald744 Sorry about that. Sometimes I find things get lost in translation in social media conversations. Cheers.
@@cdkilo77 Well, I did write 'you' but it was a generic 'you'. And social media its not unnatural to expect whatever response you get is somebody attacking you:)
I think Syd's music is SO different and so different to his live stuff that its easy to write it off. Sort of the same way that people write of David Bowie's "Laughing Gnome" and even "hunky dory" as his 'goofy stage'.
But anybody can go read the lyrics to Dominoes and see how much of that is in Roger Waters lyrics for "time". There is no doubt about Waters genius for lyrics, but you can tell how he takes the 'offshoots' of other great lyricists like Syd, Leonard Cohen, and Peter Gabriel, and flushes them out into a full song. Nothing wrong with that of course, but any artist will admit they don't live in a vacuum.
Brilliant as always John. Thanks so much man, Joe is a true gentleman, imagine a world without his ears. 🙏
Imagine a world without his toes. None of what people consider reality would be real
Another point here: Boyd says in this interview and in the ‘96 BBC doc that the last Floyd show at the UFO was in May. He is misremembering. It was the last week of July, one day after the final BBC Top of the Pops performance. It is documented through the official PF site. That is significant because it fits in with the timeline of Syd showing up at Sue Kingsford’s in a nearly catatonic state and with Rick Wright’s memory of his changing dramatically in a few days. It also fits with them canceling gigs in early August, and then the trip to Ibiza to try to recover.
Excellent timeline insight. Something happened that latter half of July
@@dr.buzzvonjellar8862It definitely did. We will likely never know exactly what happened, but that final week of July is the most crucial time related to Syd’s mental decline
thanks for these outtakes JE, a very worthy project.
Glad you like them!
Another revealing interview John. I found this captivating.
Best of these docs. Outsider but lovingly generous take on the band's progression. Cheers, Joe
I met Joe Boyd a few years ago at a tribute show for Nick Drake, he was a nice fella.
What a great interview! :-]
Great interview!
Great interview and great person Joe
you can tell he went to harvard. very sharp intellect. great interviewee.
Joe is a big syd supporter
I just like Syd Barrett stuff or when they had it together
An amazing interview John, thank you so much for unearthing this gem! I already thanked you on the Roger Waters group about all these wonderful interviews that you share with us :) Pink Floyd is my favourite band of all-time, hence this content is gold for me.
Rip syd and Rick
Tommy Jed here- Thanks for this revealing interview of Joe Boyd. His take (subjective speculations) are limited, as he makes evident during his rants, but he offers valuable historical insight on Syd, being the producer of Arnold Layne and running the UFO club.
Great stuff from Joe Boyd. Explanations have really nice insight.
thanks for these wonderful insights
Joe's book - "White Bicycles" - is a wondrous glimpse into music making in the sixties. Intelligence of this caliber in musical/industrial complex is a rarity.
People with already highly creative minds - like a Syd Barret - should be especially careful with drugs. Madness is too close by and watching us👁️
It is? Now I'm feeling paranoid. 😕
😆
Thanks for this amazing work.
My pleasure!
If you enjoy this lovely relaxed and interesting interview, Joe's biog White Bicycles is really worth a read. It paints a picture of a man who really was a curator, and not money-man in any way. As I said in a comment below, it made me really want to love the music of ISB - despite them not being my thing at all. His passion for music and artistry is lifelong.
Thanks Nick for sharing your enjoyment of Joe's interview !
Were Storm & R. Geesin interviewed?
Thanks John ❤️
"Roger's never going to be subtle." First thing that came to my mind was a very early film clip of them space jamming , and Roger goes over to the gong and quickly brings its volume up and over everything else that's happening. 😅
Roger wrote and sang Grantchester Meadows, solo. On of Pink Floyd’s masterpieces.
While Roger has certainly had many intentionally bombastic moments musically, I would certainly describe "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" and "Grantchester Meadows" as subtle.
I think Joe is a amazing guy thanks
Thanks so much for uploading this wonderful, fascinating interview. Joe Boyd has always struck me as a lovely guy: so warm, articulate and perceptive. It must have been a pleasure to interview him.
Beautiful. Thanks.
Your interviews are always so well done and so informative...thanks very much for posting them, John!!
Thanks Stephen. You’re comment is much appreciated!
@@JOHNEDGINTONDOCUMENTARIES You are quite welcome, John. I never get enough of watching these interviews.
By listening/reading to several accounts of what Syd was really like during those infamous years (like the diary of Malcolm Jones during the recording of The Madcap Laughs, that interview with his flatmate Duggie Fields, etc.), it became more and more plausible to me that Syd simply faked going mad because he absolutely despised the music industry, hated lip-synching at Top of the Pops, was exhausted of touring non-stop, and just didn't want to do the whole famous Rock Star thing. He found the easiest way out: Faking insanity. Being a famous Rock Star is not for everyone, especially if you're a painter, a quiet nature-loving soul, and a sensible poet that's just discovered reality-altering hallucinogens. He WAS counterculture.
Kind of agree
That's an understandable take that I've heard before. And yet, virtually everyone who really knew him (his band mates, his sister, etc.) do not buy that. No doubt he hated some aspects of the music business, but he also very clearly had a mental breakdown or illness of some kind, one that lingered for the rest of his life in some fashion. Inherent/incipient schizophrenia triggered by his (by many accounts quite excessive) LSD use seems the most likely culprit.
As Hemingway wrote at the conclusion of The Sun Also Rises, “Isn’t it pretty to think so.”
Joe's book, "White Bicycles," offers an important glimpse into music making during the sixties. Intelligence of this caliber in the musical/industrial complex is a rarity.
Syd is remembered as the quintessential acid casualty, but my guess is that someone gave him STP or DMT or Angel Dust or rhinoceros tranquilizer.
Probably stp. Nick mason also thinks that possible
I concur, acid and Shrooms only resets my mind and I feel much better.
@@shivaunt71 I concur
It was mandrax, same thing that Brian Jones was prescribed
Boyd is wonderful
Man I’ve been a Floyd fan for about 32 yrs i use to read everything about them i knew of Syd and when i heard their early stuff it blew me away . Great artist Syd Barret
You can tell from Syd’s songs that his roots were in English Folk music and the Blues.
Wow this was a real story the bottom of it all a subjective observation by this Floyd Producer I think it had a deep effect and a true understanding abaught Syd...
I just love the alternate versions of piper at the gates of dawn they are amazing versions syd was well ahead with his guitar style
Alternate versions!?
@@shivaunt71 yes they are on you tube just type the song and add alternative ie matilda mother alternative 👍
At that time, probably only Jimi Hendrix had done something as hauntingly original as what Syd did on "Interstellar Overdrive". Man, that's like a painter playing guitar, he was first and foremost an artist.
Must listen to Relics A-S-A-P now...
Surprised that someone around when Syd was in Pink Floyd would look much older
This is 11 years ago
Thanks!
Thank you so much ! 😊
You bet, mate.
There are 3 Pink Floyds. "Trippy Floyd"( Syd)."Hippy Floyd"(The jam-band years)."Lippy Floyd"( When Roger Waters won't shut the f**k up).
🤣
Pink Floyd #4 is "Gyppy Floyd" (post-Waters): "I bought this album cuz it said 'Pink Floyd' but it sure ain't a Pink Floyd album, man I got gypped".
Though let's be honest, 'The Final Cut' belongs to both the "Lippy Floyd" and "Gyppy Floyd" categories.
Thank you so much for doing this.
I don't know if it would have prevented Syd's downfall, but it's one of the great losses that Joe Boyd (contractual reasons) was not able to be in the producer's chair for anything more than "Arnold Layne."
It almost certainly would have made it less stressful on Syd if Joe had been there for the early singles, "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" and "Saucerful of Secrets" instead of Norman Smith.
You have collected, made, sooo many documentaries about Syd, enables us all, to kind of imagine a little who he could of evolved in... Does tht make sense? ❤
Could have evolved into the greatest songwriter of the era
outside of Lennon.
What's amazing is all the story's or recollections are very diffrent at times.
The closest american corollary was Captain Beefheart. Don Van Vliet wasn't a musician really, but banged out music and 'claims' he played teh instruments. Either way, like Syd he was a painter and talked about music in paint terms. VERY different of course, but like Syd he was a true artist, meaning he was always changing. The idea that Syd would have been preaching world peace is a guess. But Vliet basically laboured in near obscurity all through the seventies, then in early eighties retired quietly to paint.
Thats likely more like what an 'orginal' Syd would do. Artists are rarely 'mainstream'. Peter Green got normal a bit, then came back and just played guitar in clubs and made a modest living.
Hi Captain John! When we did a book launch last month in Manchester for "The Routledge Handbook Of Pink Floyd", any questions that came from the audience I took, the rest of the panel thought it best(?)... one question came in about "good quality audios of the Syd-era live", I did my best job (try the early years box set... etc etc), but I did add that I felt like it would be really good if we could get an audio story of Syd "in his own words", using his voice, because we are so used to his singing voice, it's weird when you find you're actually on the same track as Joe in many ways, allbeit a dozen years later. I was at the Barbican Tribute and sat with Nick Laird-Clowes (he kept disappearing, being the co-producer with Joe) and Kevin Ayers and Hoppy. I got to meet Joe afterwards outside, it must have been such an overwhelming night, definitely the last gathering of some of those key players in the band and Syd's story. Thanks for this video! Big bestest wishes, Bob :)
Hi Bob. Great to hear from you ! Great to know about the PF handbook. Cheers !
And now again but in coherent English?
Why in the world is this book retailing for nearly $300 in the USA? At least that's what Amazon is asking for it. I own the Mortal Remains coffee table book on Floyd
and even that wasn't nearly $300 or anything near it. Anybody know why this is so expensive? Routledge Press books are usually not that expensive.
Hi @@thiscorrosion900 ... unfortunately it's an academic book, the company make their money by selling it to universities and libraries. Even in Floyd-fan-world I've noticed fans buying half a dozen copies (when it was £192.00. I never got paid to do it, and still don't have a copy of it (the person who issues the Gratis copies left, and the publisher said "we are not issuing any until her role is filled..."), I wrote and added a visual element totalling 17 pages out of the 500. It's my... "Atom Heart Mother", an interesting experiment... but a cul-de-sac! ;)
@@bobfollen8262 I see, I should know better since I've written a ton of stuff for people like Greenwood Press and McFarland! All mainly academic titles and reference titles aimed at universities and academia, etc. I didn't realize at first glance that this was that type of book, since Routledge, which I know well enough, also does more mainstream titles as well. That's rather frustrating because I'm not reviewing for anybody regularly as I once was, or I'd request a review copy and bang out a serious review of it, or even on RUclips. It sounds like a book worth checking out though, in any case. Maybe a paperback edition will follow. I'd written a bunch of entries in our Supernatural Lit. of the World encyclopedia in 2005 or so, and that book retails for at least $350 I think, due to being a total reference/academic work and only in hardcover from Greenwood Press.
Yow some good genes thanks for yr "WORK" 👉🙄👍
I remember reading that one of the reasons record companies signed both bands and independant members to the same contracts was because in the sixties bands would get together, get interest from a record company, get an advance, then break up and record all that music as solo artists with the other guys playing, or form new bands with almost all the same guys.
So that was pretty 'machiavellian' on the part of bands, also pretty ingenious but maybe just OBVIOUS once somebody else thinks of it, but that turns the 'evil corporation' on its head.
ANY industry will have bad players. Phil Collins talks about Atlantic and that guy who ran it with real reverence, and Genesis claimed they had no interference. Pink Floyd says that as well, but usually anything 'special' you need, comes from future earnings. Which is a big risk that there will BE future earnings. In PF AND Genesis AND Yes' case, its a BIG assumption that money is going to come out of it. 90125 made big money, but mainly because of new members who weren't prog, had Phil not been in Genesis, they would maybe be as popular as Van Der Graf Generator, meaning not at all.
But I've noticed there seems a big difference depending on managers. Rush had fantastic management almost from day one. Anvil had piss poor management. Both have put out almsot an equal number of albums, both had amazing guitarists and drummers (ok, not neil peart level but metal drummers say he was great). But which of those two canadian bands have you heard of?
What I've noticed with new industries is that at first its chaos, with 'enthusiasts' just dabbing, then it gets business like, THEN it becomes mafia like. The eighties were likely the worst due to corporate ownership. Now for new music I listen to local people and young people who do it just because they love it, while a lot of people on youtube of my age complain there is no more good music. Its just not spoon fed us, as it used to be.
EMI though just seems to have been satan incarnate even more than this Brian Morrissey outfit discussed here.
John! Is there a longer mick rock interview? Would love to see it!
Yes. I’ll get to it soon I hope
@@JOHNEDGINTONDOCUMENTARIES thank you sir!
Joe Boyd,.......the 5th member of the bands first LP.
Joe Boyd was not involved with Piper.
I suspect Syd would have done a bit better with Joe Boyd.
32:30 WHat is the show he's talking about with the german guy where Syd is talking? Is that audio available?
It’s this Bbc interview with Hans Keller talking to Syd and Roger ruclips.net/video/dNeg9UpU-fE/видео.html
@@JOHNEDGINTONDOCUMENTARIES I thought it might be, I was just making sure there wasn't another show I had missed somewhere. Thanks.
I don’t know what he is listening to , but Sid was important to Floyd and I think the rest of the band understands that . They would never have been as creative or successful with him .
How do you know ? They might have been even bigger with Syd. Syd's songs on his solo albums were better than anything Floyd was doing at that same time.
@@robertmartin8565 Seriously? What Pink Floyd albums are you referring to? I love Saucerful of Secrets, More, Atom Heart Mother , Ummagumma , and Meddle. I can't imagine how anyone could possibly have done music any better than those albums. Of course Relics, and Piper At the Gates of Dawn are incredibly good, but Syd was on those albums, yes I know that he did a song on Saucerful of Secrets also. I got to find Syd's solo albums if they are that good
@@godetonter4764 The Madcap Laughs and Barrett both came out in 1970 but were recorded in 1968-69 with Gilmour's help. The songs are fantastic, better than anything on More - Ummugumma or Atom Heart Mother.
@@robertmartin8565 It's not hard to be better than most of the material on More , and Atom Heart Mother ( or at least have a bit more energy) . Even though Ummagumma was pretty experimental, the Live version of Careful With That Axe Eugene was pretty good. I have never been able to find any of the Syd Barrett albums, I definitely regret not being able to obtain them. I am sure that I would really like them. Piper At the Gates of Dawn and Saucerful of Secrets are my favorite Pink Floyd albums. Matilda Mother, Remember a Day , Arnold Lane , See Emily Play, Julia Dream , and Nile Song are my favorite songs . I was a little surprised that to find out that Richard Wright did the Vocals on both Matilda Mother and Remember a Day . I always assumed that it was Syd Barrett
Can’t listen to anything after Piper ❤
But Syd had one brilliant song on 2nd Floyd album, and I think he played on two others.
AND please buy/listen to Syd’s 3 solo albums. Soooooo brilliant!
@@sfender2182 Syd`s solo LPs were even better than floyd w him or w/o
The interviewer sounds like Gilmour .
It’s me. If you watch my interviews with Gilmour I guess you’ll be very confused !
@@JOHNEDGINTONDOCUMENTARIES Thanks John ! I did watch the one with David . Then i had to rule it out ! lol I met Ian Ritchie many years ago , who was in Roger's band . Someone got him interested in my songs and i was due to spend some quality time with him . But it all went pear shaped . It's a long story that i won't go into here . But it was a very significant opportunity for me musically. It could of potentially taken my music to another level .....if the arranged meeting had taken place . It's not easy when your not a proper businessman ...like he is i guess . It was one of those learning curve moments in time . I wrote a song on the keyboard about it all titled ' The Magic of The Brilliant Failure ' . I must get that track to him one day in the near future . I thouroughly enjoyed all your interviews with the Floyd . Much appreciation . Paul
0:31 "Big nose. Big... You know". Wait, what ?
All these many stories about Syd raise more questions then they provide answers. Like "I was walking on Cambridge circle and run into his GF and she pointed at Syd sitting in the gutter - 'he has been tripping for days'. And I thought 'That's bad'". And.... I wonder, what did you do? Kept walking? Or you helped Syd out of the gutter and took some care of him? Or "He was just standing on the stage strumming his guitar and Rick had to fill in". Well, did you talk to Syd? What did he had to say to explain himself? There must have been some interaction like that, no? Or is this the English way? The fella behaves weird, but we would never ask.... just keep on keeping on like nothing is happening?
It is just like all these stories are never complete. Like they observe a person, report their condition but did not interact. A zoo of sorts.
All in all I am never satisfied with these stories and I just think that his songs were the only way of communication that has been left to him. Luckily it is preserved on tape. From the content of these songs I believe that Syd was perfectly aware of his condition and he speaks about it directly in his songs. Seems like a cry in the desert of indifference.
Yeah, weird explanation of someone.
I think his talking about roger tbh
@@saulinvictus9274 Of course, he made a comparison between Syd and Roger. Who else do you imagine on stage when you say big hands, long fingers, big nose, big ears, everything big, but also a great musician.
vic iinvesta..well said..theres definately a lot left out of the syd barrett story that's still to be addressed
@vicinvesta Syd's tripping in the gutter was on a scale of behaviour that wasn't unique to Syd, in sixties London. Lauded talents crashed in Chelsea sitting rooms, not Cambridge Circus pavements, and it was only the tourist setting that sparked Boyd's concern. People were making the 1960s up as they went along, ambition, fame, eccentricity, clinical depression, greed, showmanship emerging from the post-war soup in a way that wasn't clear to those on the inside. He could be barking mad or winging it, and even the band members weren't sure which Syd was.
Hi John, any way we can see the Peter Jenner interview?
Absolutely ! I'll dig it out and do a bit of clipping.. should have it up before Christmas!
@@JOHNEDGINTONDOCUMENTARIES Thanks!
Nick Drake.
God Bless His Tender Soul,Now & Forever:)
Inquiring minds want to know. I cued it up here: ruclips.net/video/HIWa9i6ShsA/видео.html , "Mars Talent Agency."
I respond to inquiring minds (: Bryan Morrison agency.. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Morrison
nice
Tell me about Quad!! Im wantin to write and record for surround sound
Maybe Syd was smarter than everyone.
I don’t think so.
Nope, lost in mental illness hastened by high dosing of LSD.
The winner of the rat race is still a rat.
Or maybe he wasn't....
@@rayhelps5591 It's always smart to speak ill of the dead. Lol
Where can I view the unedited version of this interview? So much is lost in this highly edited version. Boyd's insights here are so keen.
the unedited version is obviously the source. I’m not sure there’s an audience for the whole thing on RUclips. This cut lasts 35 mins
@@JOHNEDGINTONDOCUMENTARIES why wouldn’t there be an audience for it? As it is, the edits frustrate any coherence in the flow of the conversation. If it’s worth putting up at all it’s worth putting the whole thing up, yes? Your video interviews with the members of the band are fascinating, partly because they aren’t edited. Boyd may not be famous, but his insights into the story of Floyd and Barrett are much more interesting than either Mason’s or Wriggt’s. I would argue.
Hmmm… thanks. I may put it up but not just yet as this is getting a lot of interest. Boyd has great insights but i think Mason and Wright have a unique perspective as they lived the experience of being in the band with Syd
I do agree with Joe Boyd that pink floyd should have stayed and recorded more albums with him instead of signing with EMI because of the pressure. I think Joe Boyd and Norman Smith did a much better job at recording and capturing that floyd sound from songs like see emily play, arnold layne, candy and a currant bun which they kept that UK 60s sound which EMI piper album was totally different. I always thought what is joe boyd would have recorded that whole pipers album it would have been totally different and much better I think. Syd barretts solo albums should of sounds like if he would have went back with Joe Boyd instead of having david gilmour produce his solo albums which were awful what gilmour did to those solo albums it needed Joe Boyd to give it that acid laced ice cream truck UK floyd sound.
Alexis Corner remember him the godfather of white man's blues
It's too bad that John's questions were edited out --it's enjoyable to hear his questions/his frame of reference
I may upload the whole much longer interview in time
@@JOHNEDGINTONDOCUMENTARIES please do John! wish you are enjoying yourself... salute
One thing for people to understand, Boyd’s “criticism” of the Morrison agency reflected only his feelings at that moment. He ultimately became good friends with one of the top three guys there. He writes extensively about that and insights about the bare-knuckled English music managers in his memoir, White Bicycles. Also worth considering, many of the freaks/hippies around Hoppy Hopkins ultimately began to see Boyd as a “breadhead.”
Interesting perspective. Thanks !
He's hardly the first guy to say that about the music industry, particularly EMI. Just look at how Nick Kent talks about 'welcome to the machine'. I've listened to a fair number of musicians interviews and by the seventies, bad as it was, it was actually getting BETTER. Particularly black artists in the US, but for women the 'casting couch' was nothing compared to the 'producers couch'. I've read a few academic books researching the inside of the entertainment industry, and its pretty much always been organized crime, not much of a step higher than the porn industry (and maybe now less).
I don't know what a breadhead is, but meeting corporate executives and calling them evil is hardly an out of the park comment. Compared to today thats positively benign, hell Blackrock is funding both the weapons of the Ukraine conflict AND has contracts for the rebuild.
Everybody talks about his sparkly eyes… what color were they? Some few color pictures look like blue
One of his closest friend confirmed, he had dark blue eyes
Its sad this guy missed out on a cares he helped build those first songs were great he was the foot in the door businesses can be ruthless bob close is another that deserve credit oink floyds first lead guitar player
he left before floyd even were famous ppl like you are dodo's
Although they may be nice guys, I would love for someone to press Pete Jenner and the other guy from Blackhill on the following: 1) What was your opinion of these bookings by you and the Morrison Agency that appeared so haphazard and strenuous? They sure don’t look anything like Hendrix’s bookings ahead of AYE. 2) Given Syd’s fragile state in the fall of ‘67, why did you go through with the US tour? If you were going to do that, didn’t you think he would need more babysitting than you provided? He certainly did more of the drugs that had already damaged him there, including perhaps STP. 3) It is said that RW persuaded Barrett to remain in a songwriting/studio but non-performing role, and begged Blackhill not to screw it up. Then they did exactly that immediately. Is that true? If so, why? 4) Given that, did Jenner not feel an absolute duty to get a solo album produced no matter what, something that clearly would not have happened without Malcolm Jones? What were his feelings having enabled the split and then basically abandoning Syd?
The one thing about that I wonder is they wanted Syd to 'just write songs'. THen he DID write two albums of songs while they kind of didn't know what they were doing.
So what I don't get is that he was writing songs AND being produced by them, so what was the deal, did they just not like the songs he was writing?
That haha charade you are always kinda hurts🤕
Shine On that that great of a song??????
Bolderdash!
The healthy Syd Barrett was very creative. He was a talented, gifted young man. Unfortunately, he had the wrong friends. He started taking drugs very early on. The first record with Pink Floyd The Piper...... is a good record. Syd wrote 52 songs. Unfortunately, he took LSD several times a week... That's too much. No brain can handle that!!! He failed as a painter and musician!!! At 22, Syd was a sick person. ... He became lethargic... He was mentally absent... He didn't live in the here and now..... He could no longer play the right scale.... He was no longer productive... He had thinking and speaking disorders..... He wanted to climb walls.... He wanted to become a doctor and get married.... He wanted to start a cult.... He wanted to hit his sister Rosemary on the head with his guitar 🎸... Psychiatry wasn't ready at that time... Syd had dropped out!!!! 🎞️🎥 His whole life should be made into a movie.... I don't know if he ever found redemption or peace for his soul ??? He lived in an inner and outer prison....
He definitely struggled for most of his life, but it sounds as though he somewhat returned to a periodic "normal" toward the very end of his life, late-1990s & 2000s.
@@VanishedPNW Okay, I do think that some of the LSD consumption stuck with him. I think that a lot of things went wrong between the ages of 15 and 18. He smoked joints before his time with Pink Floyd. There is an interview with his sister Rosmary on RUclips from 2023. Unfortunately only in English.
This is great, but so many ads!
Try RUclips premium or an adblocker.. also I'll knock some back
Try AdBlock Plus. I've used it for years; number of ads I've been forced to endure, on this or any other video: zero.
And dark side of moon morbid
26:10 Well maybe Eloy - Ocean might have fooled you (until the vocals enters....) !!!!
Sure, but they were hardly in the charts. Of course the Floyd have their imitators, but I think Joe's referring to successful mainstream artists. I love Eloy, by the way.
Early Eloy sounds the closest to Pink Floyd
Ads every three minutes.
Try an ad blocker or RUclips premium
@@JOHNEDGINTONDOCUMENTARIES Try giving some credit to the Ancient Astronauts for without whom, none of this would even be possible
I thought wall song was to much jaggar
There is another artist in UK sounds like Syd in a way. ..he has a song about a buzzing bee. It's whole album
After this cashed in on melodrama of production number strung out on Syd
You’re comments aren’t making much sense to me
@@JOHNEDGINTONDOCUMENTARIES You either? Lots of gibberish...
Pink Floyd's music was 100% British the true Made in the UK not like the amps made over seas that's has upset me. the best Rock the best musicians but the amps never mind..
Certainly Pink Floyd Mk. II, their chrysalis, if you like, with the crystallisation heard on 'Meddle". But their entire poetic identity was the dangerous light observed in eclipses,, ,the spectre at the gates the heir to the running hare. Drugband bluebroke loose the cool breezes... The UFO house band like a Persian rug 'neath the burgeoning lysergic prince and the piper whose diamonds abruptly rusted,,, piper indeed pied (with no crust!!) Trancers and heavy-lidded eyes glanced forbidden planets. eyes of saucers , on par with Chaucer and the tiger broke down
Yeah. What I'm failing to connect is the image of a young man bombed out of his gourd on LSD and Mandrax while somehow being a 'genius' ....
Beyond his harking back to English Romanticism (something PF continued with in Ummagumma and Obscured by Clouds) complete with watery melodies there was NOTHING else. To suggest Syd could have been something truly great is a long way from actually being great which, if he was, was seemingly overlooked by the British mainstream. Curious.
The Floyd needed at least another 5 years to make a good album in 1973. They were pretty slow learners when put aside their peers. Syd was a very pretty but very quaint guy who would have fitted in well with the Merry Pranksters and Ken Kesey
Well, you have people like David Gilmour, Bob Klose, and Joe Boyd and Nick Kemp all talking about what a genius he was, and I suspect they know a little bit about music and have met a few musicians.
You have Bob Klose who was a trained classical guitarist talking about what a great RHYTHM player Syd was, and as anybody will tell you, the number of great rhythm players at that age are rare.
Then you have dave talking about what an innovative and unrepreproducible LEAD player Syd was, and once again, lead playing playing is an art in itself.
Then you have guys like Jerry Shirley talking about how good Syd was with melody, so much so that "getting Syd to play something SIMILAR twice let alone the same was like pulling teeth". In other words, about NINETY percent of the melodies Syd came up with ended up on the cutting floor.
Then you have tons of writers and performers NOW copying the songs, songs that range from sneaky exposure in adult perversions like Arnold Lang, at a time when the Jimmy Saville's and Johnathan Kings were running amuck.
Then of course there is See Emily Play about the death of a young girl, or chapter 21 based on the I Ching. While he used much romantic imagery, he wasn't writing things like Grantchester Meadows, that was Roger. He was writing pop songs like Bike where Roger talks about their 'english originality'.
Just the idea that Roger claims he got the idea "to not throw away those things that might embarass you because they are so cliche", from a teenager two years YOUNGER than him.
Nick Kemp talks about how 'summer is evoked' when he listens to that Pink Floyd album.
So in short, you have a guy who at a young age is not only great at writing pop tunes, but is "always playing something interesting live". He was known not only as a great rhythm player as well as a great lead player. He could come up with melody so fast that it was impossible to even LEARN one of his songs. And lyrics that went ALL over the place from eastern mysticism to hilare belloc to rhyming ditties about the perverts dotting the english country side.
Now, that sound pretty bloody brilliant to me. Combined with the fact everybody from the Beatles to Pete Townshend would cancel their OWN gigs to hear Syd.
So thats not really even in dispute. About the only other guy that critics like John Peele put in that 'genius' category is somebody like Don Van Vliet or Captain Beefheart.
Everybody else, well, there's an interview here about David Bowie and Frank Zappa fighting over the same guitarist. Most bands have ONE guy who does ONE thing, Syd did it all.
Since we know the CIA and FBI were watching John Lennon once he started his politial activism, we know the 'what could have happened' is an open question. I'm not into conspiracy theories but the establishment was fully aware that these young poeple were active politically and wanting to change the world. They say "imagine" motivated an entire generation, so who is really to say what he would have accomplished, it seems a lot of the political artists ended up dead one way or another.
Sorry thats so long, no time to edit
Why is Roger worth $310 million and Dave only worth $180 million?
It's because after Syd left the band and following the album Dark Side of the Moon, Roger became the principal/sole songwriter. That's where a lot of the royalties (50%) go. They get equal shares of the music sales(albums, singles, videos etc) for being members of the band and for profits from their stage shows. Obviously since the break up both Roger and Pink Floyd went their separate ways and I imagine David has made the most money from music sales since but I don't really know.
Mainly tours
@@alexvernon7456 ~~ that is true - even for the few artists like PF who sold (and still sell) - a LOT of records - tours are where artists make their money and Roger has been hitting the tour circuit hard for many years - much more than Gilmour ..
Only?
Roger wrote most of the songs so he gets a greater share of the royalties.
Joe Boyd was a producer. So what? The man who had the greatest hand in early The Pink Floyd was engineer John Wood.
Uh, really? He is the co-founder of the UFO club, the place where Jenner and the EMI people found them. Difficult to know whether Pink Floyd becomes anything without UFO. This is also where Syd becomes the high priest of the acid freaks, so perhaps a different result for him too. Point is, Boyd was definitely integral to the Pink Floyd story
OMG..... Nothing Barrett did eclipsed later Floyd. If you are having trouble look at unit sales, as they do not have opinions.
Don't like that song
Which ?