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Publication Date: 3 July 2003 | ISBN-10: 190409550X | ISBN-13: 978-1904095507 | Edition: New edition
This text traces the history of rock's lost genius, through exclusive access to those closest to Syd throughout his life, and brings his crazy, illuminating story up to the present day.
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Yet another book about Syd Barrett,but this time its more about the man/person than the Pink Floyd genius.Like the other books its tells the story from the 50s until the early 70s."Madcap" goes a little deeper.More interwievs with people that actually knew Roger"Syd"Barrett and more interesting pictures from his childhood and up until 2001.In the book you find out more about what happened after he left Pink Floyd and what happened after the last recording sessions in 1974.You get a whole picture of a man with deep psychological problems.You can always argue if the drugs did it or if it was something that whould happen anyway.If you read this book together with Parker's Random Precision i think we can get a look into the mind of a true genius.
Willis is caught in his own web of the Barrett story becoming myth becoming legend. If you haven't read any of the other numerous books about Syd than this is as good a place to start but if you know something of the history you won't find the book offers much that is new. By far the most memorable part of the book to me was the excellent collection of photographs. Syd was a great songwriter and the catalyst behind one of the greatest rock acts of all time - let's leave it at that.
What with all the new information about Syd that has surfaced over the last 5 years, Tim Willis had a golden opportunity to write from a far more knowlegable starting point than the previous two books came from.There are some interesting unpublished photo's and one or two interesting new interviews, but sadly, it comes down to the usual old cliche of 'Nutty old Syd'.As previously mentioned, the 'Interview' with Syd is a fabrication.There isn't one, the claiming of which is frankly pathetic.
Tim Willis' promised the world and delievered an abortion. Tim claimed to have interviewed Syd in Cambridge, but in reality he simply slipped a note through the mail slot. What a load of utter rubish. Nothing original from Tim, infact, the book collects a lot of stories that are published on the web, etc.
Stay clear of this book, unless you like expensive firewoord with a few old pictures.
Very poorly written book how this guy makes money I do not know - nothing new about Syd emerges in this book and it took me a long time to read as many of its subjective murmurings really were quite banal the only good thing are the pictures. He also takes time to slag off all other books about Barrett which I suspect is where most of his material came from in the first place. Don't waste your money and avoid anything by Tim Willis in future.
Whether you are new to the legend that is Syd Barrett, or have read all the other available books, this one for me was the most definitive, cutting through all the tabloid myth & hype your left with a very real account of the Syd Barrett story, the only dissapointment for me is how the authour, level headed & objective throughout the whole book gets caught up in the last chapter with his own encounter with Barrett, and starts trying to read meanings into a 30 second conversation that simply are not there, still the best Barrett book, forget the rest buy... this one
This is without doubt the best book I have ever read about Syd Barrett - and the strange world of the psychedelic sixties. It is well-written with great pictures, and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to know more about this weirdly enigmatic man and his contribution to pop culture.
This is without doubt the best book on Syd Barrett - the man and the myth - I have ever come across. It's well-written, packed full of fascinating facts and has loads of great pics. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in Syd Barrett and the world he helped to create.