Syd Barret is regarded as the “somewhat bizarre” genius of Pink Floyd, who left the band after the early phase.
A new documentary film with the beautiful (working) title “Have You Got It Yet?” will now tell his story. During the research and interview phase, old bandmates Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Nick Mason were on hand with donkeys and insider opinions.
The US entertainment specialist platform “Deadline” reports that Mercury Studios has almost completed work on the documentary about the Cambridge legend.
Barret famously attended high school with Roger Waters, together they formed Pink Floyd and wrote their first two singles, Arnold Layne (about an underwear fetishist) and See Emily Play, both released in 1967.
Barret left the band the following year because his bandmates were increasingly unable to cope with his unpredictable behavior, the often confused turns and his heavy use of psychedelic drugs.
“Barrett left music – and returned to Cambridge for the last 30 years of his life, where he devoted himself to his first love, painting,” reads the production company’s first PR statement.
“Some of Pink Floyd’s biggest albums, ‘Dark Side of the Moon’, ‘Wish You Were Here’ or ‘The Wall’, deal with themes of madness and stardom in a poignant way. “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” and “Wish You Were Here” were written as tribute songs to Barrett,” according to the promo release.
Have You Got It Yet? was directed by Rodney Bogawa and the late Storm Thorgerson, co-founder of Hipgnosis. The legendary design studio was responsible for the artwork of “The Dark Side of the Moon”, “Wish You Were Here” or the flying giant pig from “Animals” as well as the covers of Barrett’s solo albums “The Madcap Laughs” (1969) and “Barrett” (1970).
Along with Barrett’s former bandmates, The Who’s Pete Townshend and Blur’s Graham Coxon are among those sharing their thoughts on the musician who passed away on July 7, 2006.
The soundtrack is said to contain over 50 Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett songs. However, we still have to wait for a definitive release date for the film. Nothing more than a “soon to come” can be elicited from those responsible.