The Crazy Diamond Isn't Shining Anymore

I was doing my exercises in Talsiman yesterday and in a short break, grabbed an issue of Time. There’s always a page at the beginning called Milestones which says about what happens to people: arrests, deaths, retirements, etc. What caught my eyes was the death of Syd Barrett, the founder of Pink Floyd. He died in Cambridge, England at the age of 60. Barrett left the band 3 years later because of mental instability which had been caused by using LSD. He wrote most of the early noble songs of the band.

Another interesting and also sad thing I learnt today is Pink Floyd actually sang songs Wish You Were Here and Shine On You Crazy Diamond for their former member and buddy, the brilliant Syd.

It’s not known why his death is just disclosed while he died in July.07 or 11 . He just released two solo albums after he left the band and withdrew music industry and lived a simple life which barely confronted the fans and journalists. Pink Floyd made sure he receives the royalties from his work with them.

Here’s part of what they say about the crazy diamond (I'm listening to it at the moment):

Remember when you were young,

you shone like the sun.

Shine on you crazy diamond.

Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky.

Shine on you crazy diamond.

You were caught on the crossfire of childhood and stardom, blown on the steel breeze.

Come on you target for faraway laughter, come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!

Pink Floyd has always been my favorite band and I don't like any other better than that. The first CD album I bought here shortly after my arrival was their incredible and untouchable The Dark Side of The Moon, one of the all time best albums in the history of music.

Thanks Syd and thanks Pink Floyd. You gave (and still give, off and on!) me lots of beautiful and pleasant moments of pure excellent music.

(Photo: The early Pink Floyd, formed by Syd Barrett in 1965. From left: Rick Wright, Roger Waters, Syd Barrett and Nick Mason. There are thousands of websites that you can refer to for the root of the band including Wikipedia)