A self-portrait by former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett has been stolen from the Idea Generation Gallery in Shoreditch in East 
London where it was on display. It was painted in the 1960’s before he joined the group, which was founded in 1965. Pink Floyd first became popular playing in London’s underground music scene in the late 1960s. Under Syd Barrett’s leadership and tutelage they released two charting singles, the sublimely psychedelic “Arnold Layne” and “See Emily Play”, along with a successful debut album, the incomparable “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn” (1967). Barrett had been studying at Camberwell College of Art prior to forming Pink Floyd with Roger Waters, a childhood friend.
The “Syd Barrett – Art and Letters” Exhibition at The Idea Generation Gallery, which closed on Sunday, provided a rare insight into a less well known dimension of the original Pink Floyd frontman’s inspiration and creativity – his work with a paintbrush on canvas. The work also included a series of previously unseen photographs ranging from intimate images from Syd Barrett’s childhood holidays through to the psychedelic hothouse of 1960s progressive rock, as well as personal love notes written during the early days of Pink Floyd. The exhibition not only provided a chronicle of the life and times of Syd Barrett, but also featured a series of completely unseen photographs of early Pink Floyd. These included the first ever images of the band playing live in Denmark and photographs by the legendary rock music photographer, the aptly named Mick Rock!!
The whole unfortunate episode last weekend, which saw his most intimate of paintings, a self portrait, stolen is somehow a metaphor for the way we were all robbed of his talent through mental illness in the late 1960s!! Although we were not totally robbed, as we had 
intermittent hints and glimpses of his genius through his solo work ( See Discography below ). Ironically his departure from the group inspired the remaining members of Pink Floyd to create arguably their best album in 1975, “Wish you were here”. This tribute to the greatly missed former front man included two of their finest and most personal tracks “Shine on you Crazy Diamond” and the title track “Wish you were here”. It is alleged that Syd Barrett turned up one day at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios during one of Pink Floyd’s recording sessions for “Wish you were here”, which seemed very fitting since the album was a tribute to him, and portrayed and conveyed the sense of raw grief still felt by the other members of the band seven years after his premature departure!!
The lyrics of Pink Floyd’s “Shine on you Crazy Diamond” sum up best the tortured genius and soul of Syd Barrett……..
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!
You reached for the secret too soon,
You cried for the moon.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Threatened by shadows at night,
And exposed in the light.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Well you wore out your welcome
With random precision,
Rode on the steel breeze.
Come on you raver, you seer of visions,
Come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!
Syd Barrett RIP
So why not mark Syd Barrett’s place in your heart and rock history for posterity as a souvenir?…………Get your favourite Syd Barrett vinyl records or compact discs ( singles or albums ), framed and mounted, by clicking on….. http://www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/
Alternatively you can buy a Syd Barrett “Song Souvenir” for a family member, or friend……this would make a unique present or original gift for a special celebration ie a 40th, 50th or 60th Birthday, a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Mother’s or Father’s Day or Valentine’s Day!! THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!
MyFirstRecord.co.uk have most of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd’s albums and singles available in their original vinyl record format, on the EMI Label. Select from this full list –
SYD BARRETT
Singles with Pink Floyd
* “Arnold Layne”/”Candy and a Currant Bun” (1967) (#20 UK)
* “See Emily Play”/”The Scarecrow” (1967) (#6 UK, #134 U.S.)
* “Apples and Oranges”/”Paint Box” (1967) (Richard Wright)
* “Flaming”/”The Gnome”(1967)[US Only]
Albums with Pink Floyd
* The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (5 August 1967) #6 UK, #131 U.S.
* A Saucerful of Secrets (29 June 1968) #9 UK
* London 1966/1967 2005
Compilations with Pink Floyd (featuring his work)
* The Best of the Pink Floyd (1970)
* Relics (14 May 1971) #34 UK, #152 U.S.
* A Nice Pair (1974)
* Masters of Rock (1974, Europe)
* Works (1983)
* Shine On (1992)
* Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd (5 November 2001) #2 UK, #2 U.S.
* Oh, by the Way (2007)
Solo single
* “Octopus”/”Golden Hair” (15 November 1969)
Solo albums
* The Madcap Laughs – (3 January 1970) #40 UK[57]
* Barrett – (14 November 1970)
Solo compilations
* Syd Barrett (November 1974) #163 U.S.: The Madcap Laughs and Barrett packaged together
* Opel – (17 October 1988)
* Octopus: The Best of Syd Barrett (29 May 1992): Greatest hits album issued on the Cleopatra label.
* Crazy Diamond (April 1993): Boxed set with all three studio albums with bonus tracks
* The Best of Syd Barrett: Wouldn’t You Miss Me? (16 April 2001): Contains one previously unreleased track (“Bob Dylan Blues”)
* An Introduction to Syd Barrett (October 2010): A collection of Barrett tracks including Pink Floyd and his solo work (2010 remixes) – #104 UK
PINK FLOYD
Albums
* The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)
* A Saucerful of Secrets (1968)
* Soundtrack from the Film More (1969)
* Ummagumma (1969)
* Atom Heart Mother (1970)
* Meddle (1971)
* Obscured by Clouds (1972)
* The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
* Wish You Were Here (1975)
* Animals (1977)
* The Wall (1979)
* The Final Cut (1983)
* A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987)
* The Division Bell (1994)
For other Syd Barrett merchandise and memorabilia…. http://www.sydbarrett.com/home.htm
For the latest news on Pink Floyd, plus merchandise and memorabilia, click on… http://www.pinkfloyd.com/ and http://www.davidgilmour.com/
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