75 years ago today (1/6/46), Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett was born. Barrett was the lead singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter in its early years and is credited with naming the band. Barrett left Pink Floyd in April 1968 after David Gilmour took over as their new frontman, and was briefly hospitalized amid speculation of mental illness. Barrett began his solo career in 1969 with the single “Octopus” from his first solo album, The Madcap Laughs (1970). Nearly two months after Madcap was released, Barrett began working on his second and final album, Barrett (1970), before he went into self-imposed seclusion until his death in 2006. Watch Pink Floyd perform “Astronomy Domine” from 1967 featuring Barrett on lead vocals.
