Seven ages of rock - a history of rock music over the past 50 years

Syd Barrett leaves Pink Floyd

1967

After the release of 'Piper At The Gates of Dawn' the pressures of fame coupled with an increasing intake of psychedelic drugs began to take its toll on Floyd frontman Barrett. His erratic behaviour included refusing to mime on TV appearances, randomly detuning his guitar at gigs and allegedly locking his girlfriend in a cupboard for three days. Floyd were forced to augment their lineup with second guitarist David Gilmour. At his last rehearsal with the band, Barrett attempted to teach them his new composition "Have You Got It Yet?" which featured apparently random chord changes. Though the band eventually got the joke, they decided simply not to pick Barrett up on their way to a gig in January 1968. His departure was announced three months later.