Product: The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story
Rating: 5.0
What exactly is a dream?
For those of us in America, this was the original documentary chopped up into the version shown on VH1. This documentary is infinitely superior to the US for a few key reasons. Mostly because it is more detailed about the later history of Syd's life and music and because it allows for the possibility that Syd wasn't just an acid casualty, but something more interesting. Perhaps he deliberately used his "breakdown" as an excuse. If so, his continued silence has probably gotten him more than if he'd broken it. As a Syd Barrett fan, it is important that something about the man should appear, beyond the rip-offs like "Syd's First Trip".The story is told in chronological order with interesting interviews with every member of the band, apart from Syd, of course. Roger "Syd" Barrett has basically turned his back on the world of music for 30 years, despite the underground cult he seems to feed by doing so. It is ironic that his absence should be the cause of his continued fascination. No doubt if he turned up on an interview, now a much older man (as are the rest of Pink Floyd) it would be a pin in the balloon.This documentary is really both for fans and non-fans alike. It glosses over periods, while expounds on others. The music is inter-cut throughout, with some nice emphasis on the later solo work. The major inaccuracy that seems to occur because of editing, is the one that comes up all the time. It's a question of timeline. Syd was ousted from the band in 1968, though they did record a few of his songs (some are still unreleased, one appeared on the 1968 Saucerful of Secrets album.) Syd's solo recordings began in 1968 and were carried into 1969. Much of the first solo LP was recorded in that period, but wasn't released until 1970. The second solo album was recorded quickly in 1970 and released at the end of that same year. It was then, and only then, that Syd really stopped.The documentary is good. I recommend it. For the fan, its essential. For the casual watcher, its really interesting stuff. It certainly gives perspective on everything Pink Floyd did afterward.