I wrote this regarding a trip to visit Syd we made in 1999
Place: Cambridge, England (Home Of Pink Floyd) Time: November 1987
Craig had recently met Alan who'd just released a tribute album to Syd on his own label, Imaginary. Alan had been in contact with Syd's mother and off to Syd's house to see how he was doing, inform of the tribute, and see if he'd be up for doing the album art.
Syd had changed his name back to Roger, in his 40's, shaved head. House EZ to find being only one painted in a Van Gogh green-n-red. A nervous knock and silence....
The door opens and looking a bit like Bob Geldof in the movie "The Wall" Roger answers with a bit of white powder dripping from head, perhaps having interupted a shave?
Beautiful, penetrating eyes that cold easily induce a trance, says "Hello."
Us: Roger Barrett? Syd: Yes. Us: I am Craig, and this is my friend Astrid, and we're from San Francisco. Syd: That's nice (laughing to himself). Us: Do you know Alan Duffy? Syd: I don't know anyone like that. Us: He's in correspondence with your mother and put out a tribute album to you. He sent us by to see if you'd be interested in designing an album coer fo his record label. Syd: No, not really ... no. Girlfriend: .. hope we didn't interupt somthing... [wish she hadn't as this was the excuse Syd was looking for to end convo. His polite manner changed suddenly to nervous.] Syd: Why yes, I am busy. I've gt to go. [slowly starts to shut the door.] Us: We brought gifts for you. Syd: No thank you, thank you... Craig: I've got a tape of my band (Torn Memory) covering a song of yours "Dominoes". Syd: No thank you. [then mumble something to himself about never accepting anything, door shuts further.] Us: Goodbye, take care of yourself. Syd: Bye, thank you, bye.
As the door shuts, we walk away amazed and confused. Overall Syd looked good for a man in his 40's, confortable spending his time gardening and painting. There was, however, a paranoid coldness about him as well as a colorful vibe. He's still receiving royalties from his music, enough to earn a living. But Syd's vision and influences live on. Just listen to Beck's album "Mutations" for an example of this.
Besides being deeply inspired by Syd's music, I was also curious about LSD and creativity and about withdrawing from this "mad" world. Like John Lennon, Syd experimented with LSD for spiritual and creative purposes and exploded with songs and a very original style. "Vegitable Man" was ahead of it's time predating punk by 10 years. There was also the other side of schizophrenia maybe noticed in "Pop Star" days.
The sane side of the coin saw Syd (like Kurt Cobain) was not happy with the rigid demands of pop stardom, primarily constant touring, etc. Like Cobain, Syd's hanger-on-ers tried to milk him for as much as they could. "There's money to be made!" Syd wasn't playing their game, and for that, he was "crazy".
So Syd reinvented himself into Roger Barrett, and like Jack Kerouac, Syd returned to his mother's home to live much like a character from one of his songs.
In 1989, a girl who was obsessed with Syd went to his house and sat on his doorsetop. He came out and said he was going shopping and would she please leave. When he returned a few hours later, she was still there, so he started talking to her. One question she asked was 'Why won't you have an exhibit of your paintings?"
Syd: Because everyone will ask me about Pink Floyd.
Craig Kester, 1999