Syd Barrett: The most influential single person in modern rock?

[guitarded_chuck]

Now most of you will disagree, that is fine. Most people argue that artists/groups such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were most influential on rock. I disagree.

Now it is known that the Rolling Stones (and blues) were major influences on Pink Floyd's earlier music. If you listen to some unreleased tracks (circa 1965) such as "(I'm A) King Bee" and "Lucy Leave", this influence is obvious.

However, as we all know, music changed greatly for many reasons in the late 60's and early 70's. The rock and roll of the past, which was a little bada** for it's time, know seemed like squeaky clean what with the psychedelic, drug-induced melodies that came from this new era.

Pink Floyd were a major part of this transition. Syd Barrett became the poster boy of the psychedelic underground London scene. He was a magnificent song writer, and was the major composer for the Pink Floyd at the time. Pink Floyd quickly grew in fame throughout London, and then throughout England. EMI snatched up the group, and in 1968 they released they're first album "Pipers at the Gates of Dawn". Syd solely wrote 8, and co-wrote another 1 of the 11 songs on the album, and his style is heard throughout. Ask any Floyd fan, this album remains one of their best works.

Unfortunately, a mixture of too much LSD and being unable to handle the pressures of fame and fortune were too much for Syd. He became increasingly irratic. At times during live performances, he would strum only 2 notes during an entire set, or none at all. PF picked up Gilmour, played a few shows as a group of 5, but eventually simply stopped picking Syd up. He wrote a 3 solo albums which reflected his immense creativity even in such a mental state like he was in. Pink Floyd went on to build on the success that Syd had given them to become one of the critically aclaimed, best selling bands of all time. (Gilmour has been quoted saying that he made sure Syd got his money over the years.) Syd spent the rest of his days as a recluse in Cambridge, keeping to himself and his family. He died of cancer in 2006.

So, to sum up this little preamble on the man, I will argue that he was the reason for Pink Floyd success. He started the band, wrote early material, and worked towards their early success. PATGOD was not just an unpopular, first shot album, it was highly influential to the music scene at the time, and was a best seller even in America. Syd had obvious influences on Pink Floyd's later material, as he plays subject to the concept album "Wish You Were Here", and in part in the later album "The Wall". I need not get into detail of post-Dark Side of the Moon PF, because we all know the music and it's influence, and how timeless it is.

And In this way, I think Syd is the most influential artist of all time. It deeply saddens me as to what happened to him. He left a grand legacy which was simply too much for him to handle.

[ghettoeddo]

Now most of you will disagree, that is fine. Most people argue that artists/groups such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were most influential on rock. I disagree.

Now it is known that the Rolling Stones (and blues) were major influences on Pink Floyd's earlier music. If you listen to some unreleased tracks (circa 1965) such as "(I'm A) King Bee" and "Lucy Leave", this influence is obvious.

However, as we all know, music changed greatly for many reasons in the late 60's and early 70's. The rock and roll of the past, which was a little bada** for it's time, know seemed like squeaky clean what with the psychedelic, drug-induced melodies that came from this new era.

Pink Floyd were a major part of this transition. Syd Barrett became the poster boy of the psychedelic underground London scene. He was a magnificent song writer, and was the major composer for the Pink Floyd at the time. Pink Floyd quickly grew in fame throughout London, and then throughout England. EMI snatched up the group, and in 1968 they released they're first album "Pipers at the Gates of Dawn". Syd solely wrote 8, and co-wrote another 1 of the 11 songs on the album, and his style is heard throughout. Ask any Floyd fan, this album remains one of their best works.

Unfortunately, a mixture of too much LSD and being unable to handle the pressures of fame and fortune were too much for Syd. He became increasingly irratic. At times during live performances, he would strum only 2 notes during an entire set, or none at all. PF picked up Gilmour, played a few shows as a group of 5, but eventually simply stopped picking Syd up. He wrote a 3 solo albums which reflected his immense creativity even in such a mental state like he was in. Pink Floyd went on to build on the success that Syd had given them to become one of the critically aclaimed, best selling bands of all time. (Gilmour has been quoted saying that he made sure Syd got his money over the years.) Syd spent the rest of his days as a recluse in Cambridge, keeping to himself and his family. He died of cancer in 2006.

So, to sum up this little preamble on the man, I will argue that he was the reason for Pink Floyd success. He started the band, wrote early material, and worked towards their early success. PATGOD was not just an unpopular, first shot album, it was highly influential to the music scene at the time, and was a best seller even in America. Syd had obvious influences on Pink Floyd's later material, as he plays subject to the concept album "Wish You Were Here", and in part in the later album "The Wall". I need not get into detail of post-Dark Side of the Moon PF, because we all know the music and it's influence, and how timeless it is.

And In this way, I think Syd is the most influential artist of all time. It deeply saddens me as to what happened to him. He left a grand legacy which was simply too much for him to handle.

go penguins!!!!

[Ventriloquist]

Well I pretty much agree with this! Nice post.

[Det_Nosnip]

Not even close. Even if one accepts that Pink Floyd was the most influential band towards modern rock (they weren't), it is ridiculous to give all of the credit to Syd Barrett. Although Piper... was a solid album, the quinticential PF album is, without a doubt, Dark Side of the Moon, and the music written during the David Gilmour years has easily had further reaching impact and influence.

[Skyler]

he was influential yes, but i'm confused as to how you came to the conclusion that he's "the most influential artist of all time." nothing in your post really backs up that sentiment.

[Moon Flavor]

he was influential yes, but i'm confused as to how you came to the conclusion that he's "the most influential artist of all time." nothing in your post really backs up that sentiment.

This.

Also, I happen to think Pink Floyd is really really boring and some of it's incredibly gay. I'm sick of hearing them on the radio and at my friends houses and I kind of wish they never existed.

[Txus]

wow, what a gay post jcs

[Moon Flavor]

**** that, Floyd is more overrated than any band I can think of except maybe U2 they are boring is ****.

I think PATGOD is okay when I feel like not paying attention to music and being obnoxiously high, but otherwise they suckkkkkk

[EightMilesHigh]

*puts on flame-retardant suit*

[Angmar]

Animals is elite.

[Txus]

Animals is their best, yes.

[The Computer]

**** that, Floyd is more overrated than any band I can think of except maybe U2 they are boring is ****.

I think PATGOD is okay when I feel like not paying attention to music and being obnoxiously high, but otherwise they suckkkkkk

WOAH WOAH WOAH. Pink Floyd is my fav band. The emotion they put into there music is just magnificent. Shine On You Crazy Diamind has got to be one of the greatest songs ever written. When you said "I happen to think Pink Floyd is really really boring " that is just stupid. Maybe you are looking for quick guitar-riffs or catchy singing, but you don't get that with PF. You get emotion which is the BEST thing about music. DO NOT base your knowledge of the band on Money or Another Brick In The Wall. They don't live up to everything else thats not on the radio.

[rasputin]

Pink Floyd are often overrated, but their influence is pretty big and Animals is one of my all time favourite albums. Ever.

[Jacaranda]

atom heart mother yo. syd barrett meh.

[Aaron]

Pink Floyd may have been influential, but it doesn't change the fact it's a big musician wank-off.

[MBS]

meddle

edit - although this was a ballsy post to make and a great effort to introduce actual discussion in r&m. if i could rep, i would.

[Aaron]

WOAH WOAH WOAH. Pink Floyd is my fav band. The emotion they put into there music is just magnificent. Shine On You Crazy Diamind has got to be one of the greatest songs ever written. When you said "I happen to think Pink Floyd is really really boring " that is just stupid. Maybe you are looking for quick guitar-riffs or catchy singing, but you don't get that with PF. You get emotion which is the BEST thing about music. DO NOT base your knowledge of the band on Money or Another Brick In The Wall. They don't live up to everything else thats not on the radio.
I've been exposed to Pink Floyd on a regular basis for twenty something years. I can say sincerely that they bore me to tears. There are better bands from that era, from before and from after.

[iarescientists]

lol

[guitarded_chuck]

meddle

edit - although this was a ballsy post to make and a great effort to introduce actual discussion in r&m. if i could rep, i would.

worth a try eh

Not many have actually responded argumentatively as to why they disagree... I'm kind of disappointed.

[McP3000]

edit - although this was a ballsy post to make and a great effort to introduce actual discussion in r&m. if i could rep, i would.
i lol'd

[Moon Flavor]

I've been exposed to Pink Floyd on a regular basis for twenty something years. I can say sincerely that they bore me to tears. There are better bands from that era, from before and from after.

this

[The Computer]

I've been exposed to Pink Floyd on a regular basis for twenty something years. I can say sincerely that they bore me to tears. There are better bands from that era, from before and from after.

I can see why you say there are better bands. I can also see why they bore you. They bored ME(believe it or not) back when I was an idiotic, metal loving, bad-attitude, punk kid. Now I AM NOT saying you are either of those, nor am I saying I now dislike metal(I still love it, but not as much), I am saying I have been there. It took me many listens to get into the band, but once I actually grew up I started loving them and i realized there is a world beyond bad lyrics, angst, high cranked guitars, and repetitive songs. Boring music is music that repeats its chorus like 5 times(talking to you Linkin Park) and washes out its instrumentation and can't change the tempo. Many of the songs I like are extermely long, I'm talking 30-minutes sometimes, and/or, I guess are "boring." Now I do not know what your defintition of boring is, but I assume that boring to you(looking at your music prefrence) involves no headbanging(headbanging is fun though).

[Aaron]

Boring for me is music that doesn't evoke any emotional response beyond the initial impact. It's music that is self-indulgent and unnecessary. There are literally thousands of pop songs out there that are short, don't change tempo or sound dramatically, but they're still good. 1979 by the Smashing Pumpkins is the perfect example; it's simple and doesn't change, but it leaves more of an impact than most Pink Floyd to me. I think most of Pink Floyd's music would not stand up so well if it was released by some unknown band, and that shows how weak it is. If a song has no intergrity on it's own irrespective of who wrote it, then there's something wrong.

Now I do not know what your defintition of boring is, but I assume that boring to you(looking at your music prefrence) involves no headbanging(headbanging is fun though).
Stupid assumption is stupid.

[Ventriloquist]

Boring for me is music that doesn't evoke any emotional response beyond the initial impact. It's music that is self-indulgent and unnecessary. There are literally thousands of pop songs out there that are short, don't change tempo or sound dramatically, but they're still good. 1979 by the Smashing Pumpkins is the perfect example; it's simple and doesn't change, but it leaves more of an impact than most Pink Floyd to me. I think most of Pink Floyd's music would not stand up so well if it was released by some unknown band, and that shows how weak it is. If a song has no intergrity on it's own irrespective of who wrote it, then there's something wrong.


Stupid assumption is stupid.

No offense but there's something wrong with you if Pink Floyd doesn't effect you emotionally.

[Aaron]

Set the controls for the heart of the sun and burn to death on the dark side of the moon, obscured by clouds and animals. I don't wish you were here.

[elmntrs]

No offense but there's something wrong with you if Pink Floyd doesn't effect you emotionally.

lol

[Mr. Ron]

hahahahaha

[Aaron]

I thought boredom was an emotion?

[Mr. Ron]

PF is just retarded

[iarescientists]

i think the funniest part is taht Pinky5050404 is assuming we all listen to linkin park and that none of us used to be pink floyd fanboys

[bringonthebreakdown]

i think the funniest part is taht Pinky5050404 is assuming we all listen to linkin park and that none of us used to be pink floyd fanboys

this.
also i think that Frank Zappa pushed the boundaries of music a lot more than Syd Barrett. But that might just be me.

[horseypie]

but syd played slide with a zippo lighter!

[JohnXDoe]

i'm afraid not...i'm afraid not

[The Feeding]

i'm sick of everyone trying to cram this classic rock crap down my throat....kinda lame

[guitarded_chuck]

Boring for me is music that doesn't evoke any emotional response beyond the initial impact. It's music that is self-indulgent and unnecessary. There are literally thousands of pop songs out there that are short, don't change tempo or sound dramatically, but they're still good. 1979 by the Smashing Pumpkins is the perfect example; it's simple and doesn't change, but it leaves more of an impact than most Pink Floyd to me. I think most of Pink Floyd's music would not stand up so well if it was released by some unknown band, and that shows how weak it is. If a song has no intergrity on it's own irrespective of who wrote it, then there's something wrong.
[/COLOR]

I see where your coming from, except for this point. If DSOTM or Animals were released today, never heard of before, they would be huge, at least in musical-enthusiast circles like us here at MX. They wouldn't have been so commercially successful, but they would be known and great albums nonetheless.

Whether or not one enjoys music which evokes a more concise "emotional" (or whatever you want to call it) impact on the listener, or music that should be listened to as a whole (meaning the whole album at a time) is purely a matter of opinion and one's taste.

You may find PF boring, as many would, but many others still find listening to their work as a sort of like a conceptual musical "experiment", and all the self-indulgence and attention to detail appeals to them.

It's a matter of taste.

[The Computer]

Boring for me is music that doesn't evoke any emotional response beyond the initial impact. It's music that is self-indulgent and unnecessary. There are literally thousands of pop songs out there that are short, don't change tempo or sound dramatically, but they're still good. 1979 by the Smashing Pumpkins is the perfect example; it's simple and doesn't change, but it leaves more of an impact than most Pink Floyd to me. I think most of Pink Floyd's music would not stand up so well if it was released by some unknown band, and that shows how weak it is. If a song has no intergrity on it's own irrespective of who wrote it, then there's something wrong.


Stupid assumption is stupid.


My assumption on your definition of boring is based on past experiences from when I was a metal only fan. Your profile only says metal on preference, if you like Smashing Pumpkins so much you would add alternative. Now when you said Pink Floyd's music wouldn't stand off so well, you are wrong. Refer to Guitared Chuck's post

i think the funniest part is taht Pinky5050404 is assuming we all listen to linkin park and that none of us used to be pink floyd fanboys

Tell me when I have ever assumed you all listen to linkin park. That reference was towards their single "Bleed It Out." All the song does is repeat, repeat, and repeat. Every instrument and the vocals just repeat the same tune over and over and over again causing the song to reach close to the most extreme level of boredom. And I know some of you were once fanboys, but I wasn't talking to all of you, just one of you and that is Aaron. It wouldn't hurt to read every now and then.

[The Computer]

Oops, my mistake lol. It says "Favorite Musical Genre" instead of "Preferences". I guess you can't add anything.

[Det_Nosnip]

Animals is their best, yes.

Yes, indeed.

And their least influential. :p

[Aaron]

My assumption on your definition of boring is based on past experiences from when I was a metal only fan.
Congratulations on not being exposed to much music. Metal and class rock. *golf clap*

Your profile only says metal on preference, if you like Smashing Pumpkins so much you would add alternative.
My profile is also nearly five years old and not updated. If you actually took the time to read a few of my posts you'd realise I have a far more varied taste in music than you.

Now when you said Pink Floyd's music wouldn't stand off so well, you are wrong. Refer to Guitared Chuck's post.
I am not wrong, I am right. I am always right. - if you don't understand the concept of subjective opinions then I will speak in absolutes as you do.

Tell me when I have ever assumed you all listen to linkin park. That reference was towards their single "Bleed It Out." All the song does is repeat, repeat, and repeat. Every instrument and the vocals just repeat the same tune over and over and over again causing the song to reach close to the most extreme level of boredom.
So does lots of music. It's not a bad thing. Look at motown, baroque, dance, pop etc. for examples. It's the nature of the genre.

And I know some of you were once fanboys, but I wasn't talking to all of you, just one of you and that is Aaron. It wouldn't hurt to read every now and then.

Where the hell do you get this idea I am or was a Linkin Park fanboy? lol. I despise them. Stop making assumptions. Stop throwing your opinions around as fact. You're the one with the name Pinky going on and on about Pink Floyd so stop using the term fanboy also.

In conclusion, you listen to the same music as my fifty year old father.

[Jacaranda]

[Verse 1]
Yeah, here we go for the hundredth time
Hand grenade pins in every line
Throw 'em up and let something shine
Going out of my ****ing mind
Filthy mouth, no excuse
Find a new place to hang this noose
String me up from atop these roofs
Knot it tight so I won't get loose
Truth is, you can stop and stare
Bled myself out and no one cares
Dug the trench out, laid down there
With the shovel up out of reach somewhere
Yeah, someone pour it in
Make it a dirt dance floor again
Say your prayers and stomp it out,
When they bring that chorus in

[Chorus]
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
Just to throw it away
Just to throw it away

I bleed it out!

[Verse 2]
Go, stop this show
Choppy words in that sloppy flow
Shotgun opera, Lock and Load
**** it back and then watch it go
Mama help me, I've been cursed.
Death is rolling in every verse
Candy paint on his brand new hearse
Can't contain him, he knows he works
****, this hurts. I won't lie
Doesn't matter how hard I try
Half the words don't mean a thing
And I know that I won't be satisfied
So why, try ignoring him?
Make it a dirt dance floor again
Say your prayers and stomp it out
When I bring that chorus in.

[Chorus]
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
Just to throw it away
Just to throw it away

I bleed it out!

[Bridge]
I've opened up these scars!
I'll make you face this!
I've pulled myself so far!
I'll make you face this, now!

[Chorus]
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
Just to throw it away
Just to throw it away

I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
Just to throw it away
Just to throw it away

I bleed it out
I bleed it out
I bleed it out...

[guitarded_chuck]

the **** is that

[Aaron]

Lincoln Park

[Det_Nosnip]

So does lots of music. It's not a bad thing. Look at motown, baroque, dance, pop etc. for examples. It's the nature of the genre.
What? Baroque music often uses similar harmonic formulas, but it is usually characterized as having multiple non-repeating melodic lines. I would hardly call it "repetitive," at least as you are describing it.

[The Computer]

Congratulations on not being exposed to much music. Metal and class rock. *golf clap*

Actually it is more like Metal, Prog Rock, Post Rock, and Classical music and that is all I do cause I dislike everything else... some Alt, like Radiohead, is great. golf is an awesome sport.


My profile is also nearly five years old and not updated. If you actually took the time to read a few of my posts you'd realise I have a far more varied taste in music than you.

Why would I do that? I ain't gonna stalk.


I am not wrong, I am right. I am always right. - if you don't understand the concept of subjective opinions then I will speak in absolutes as you do.

You got me there, I'll admit that.


So does lots of music. It's not a bad thing. Look at motown, baroque, dance, pop etc. for examples. It's the nature of the genre.


I do not really like any of that...

Where the hell do you get this idea I am or was a Linkin Park fanboy? lol. I despise them. Stop making assumptions. Stop throwing your opinions around as fact. You're the one with the name Pinky going on and on about Pink Floyd so stop using the term fanboy also.

"I understand that some of you were once [Pink Floyd] fanboys..." does that help? I wasn't talking about LP. I was saying that you weren't a Pink Floyd fanboy

...and that none of us used to be pink floyd fanboys

I was responding to that. Never accused anyone of being a fanboy of anything. iarescientists was talking like I was talking to everybody.

In conclusion, you listen to the same music as my fifty year old father.

And mine too.

[HighandDriving]

No it's Bono.

[Aaron]

What? Baroque music often uses similar harmonic formulas, but it is usually characterized as having multiple non-repeating melodic lines. I would hardly call it "repetitive," at least as you are describing it.
Well I'm a violist originally, so at my end it's fairly repetitive playing.