Distilled from the Wikipedia entry located here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syd_Barrett Syd Barrett, one of the founding members of Pink Floyd, left the band in 1968 after being in a declining state of mental health. Barrett's mental health problems had a profound effect on on fellow band member Roger Waters' songwriting. The theme of mental illness would permeate Pink Floyd's later albums, particularly 1973's Dark Side of the Moon and 1975's Wish You Were Here. Wish You Were Here was an affectionate tribute to Barrett - the songs Shine On You Crazy Diamond and Wish You Were Here were both specifically about him. Barrett had one notable reunion with the members of the Pink Floyd, and it was seven years after he left it. Barrett had not been in contact with members of Pink Floyd during that time. The year was 1975 and the band was recording the album Wish You Were Here. Barrett walked into the session unannounced and watched the band record Shine On You Crazy Diamond. Barrett had become quite overweight, and had shaved off all of his hair, including his eyebrows. His ex-bandmates did not at first recognize him. If you saw the movie Pink Floyd The Wall (1982), you may recall the scene where the character 'Pink' shaves off his eyebrows and body hair after succumbing to the pressures of life and fame. In a BBC interview in 2001, Rick Write tells the story in full: "One thing that really stands out in my mind, and I'll never forget it. I went in the studio and I saw this guy sitting at the back. I didn't recognize him. I said, 'Who's that guy behind you?' Someone replied, 'That's Syd.' "I couldn't believe it... he had shaven all his hair off... I mean, his eyebrows, everything... it was awful. Roger and I were both in tears. It was very shocking... seven years of no contact and then to walk in while we're actually recording Shine On You Crazy Diamond. I don't know – coincidence, karma, fate, who knows? But it was very powerful."
| 
