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      Roger Keith (Syd) Barrett was born in Cambridge, England on January 6, 1946.  He always seemed to have an interest in the arts.  He studied painting in school, and had an interest in music, both at an early age.  He started playing the guitar at age 12.  When he was 15 years old he was in his first group, Geoff Mott and the Mottoes.
A few years later he decided to go to London where he met Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Richard Wright, and they formed a band.  After various names, they decided to name their band, Pink Floyd.  The band was named after two R&B artists that Syd admired (Pink Anderson and Floyd Council).  At this time Syd was also friends with David Gilmour, who he went to college with, and David taught him quite a few things about playing the guitar.
      Syd Barrett was Pink Floyd.  Syd wrote most of their early songs and gave them their ideas and influenced the band greatly.  Syd was also lead guitarist and lead singer.  

Their first album was The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, which was dominated by Syd Barrett’s songs.  Many people say that this was possibly the greatest British psychedelic album, other than Sgt. Pepper’s, of all time.                                                                                    
      After the success of this album Syd began to show signs of mental instability. His friend David Gilmour joined the band to try and take some of the pressure off of Syd.  Syd contributed to the second album, but still had a mental breakdown and he left the band completely.  Some people think that his breakdown was a result of his experimenting with drugs during these years.  Syd is still alive today, living in Cambridge England.  He wants nothing to do with his Pink Floyd fame, he goes by his birth name of Roger Barrett, and he avoids the public as much as possible.