Tickets on sale for tribute to Floyd's Syd
stephen.exley@cambridge-news.co.uk (http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=328687)Published: 07/07/2008 07:29:12
TODAY marks the second anniversary of the death of Syd Barrett, founder of Pink Floyd - and the date tickets for tribute events in Cambridge go on sale.
The City Wakes, which runs from October 22 to November 2, will include performances of Syd's songs and exhibitions of his paintings.
Other events include displays of memorabilia from his colourful musical career, guided tours of Cambridge sites from Pink Floyd's history, and images by photographer Storm Thorgerson.
To mark the anniversary, the News can reveal an exclusive photo of Syd as a fresh-faced 16-year-old in the city.
Syd's sister, Rosemary Breen, said she was excited about the event - but thought her brother would have found an event about him amusing.
She said: "He would have found the idea of a tribute really funny and he would have just laughed. I can picture him sitting in his armchair reading the paper and giggling. He would drop the paper on the floor and laugh.
"The prospect of The City Wakes really excites me. I'm looking forward to all of his old friends getting together, having a good laugh and a lot of fun while raising money for the mental health charity Escape Artists who are absolutely wonderful."
Syd died at the age of 60 in July 2006 at his home in St Margaret's Square.
Rosemary also said she believed art - and not music - was Syd's real calling in life.
She said: "For him music always went alongside art and if anything he was probably moved off a more obvious path by music. He always considered himself an artist not a musician.
"The music came to the fore because of Pink Floyd, but without that he would have carried on the art and I think would have had a much more fulfilling life.
"He would see and hear things no-one else ever did. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he had a condition like synaesthesia because he would say that a sound was a colour to him."
Tickets can be bought at www.thecitywakes.org.uk
.jpg)
