Is Syd Barrett Dead or Still Alive? Syd Barrett Birthday and Date of Death

Syd Barrett Death

Syd passed away on July 7, 2006 at the age of 60 in Cambridge, England. Syd's cause of death was pancreatic cancer.

Syd Barrett Birthday and Date of Death

Syd Barrett was born on January 6, 1946 and died on July 7, 2006. Syd was 60 years old at the time of death.

Birthday: January 6, 1946
Date of Death: July 7, 2006
Age at Death: 60

Syd Barrett - Biography

Guitarist Syd Barrett helped found the psychedelic rock band Pink Floyd. After a mental break forced his departure, he spent 30 years as a painter and recluse.
Born in Cambridge, England in 1946, Syd Barrett took to music at an early age. While in London for college, he joined the band that would become Pink Floyd as the guitarist, and wrote many of their early songs. He soon became erratic and was forced to leave the band. After a brief solo career, he quit music and moved in with his mother where he painted and seldom spoke to others. He died in 2006.

After suffering from diabetes for several years, Barrett died at home in Cambridge on 7 July 2006, aged 60. The cause of death was pancreatic cancer. The occupation on his death certificate was "retired musician". He was cremated, with his ashes given to a family member or friend. In 2006, his home in St. Margaret's Square, Cambridge, was put on the market and reportedly attracted considerable interest. After over 100 showings, many to fans, it was sold to a French couple who bought it simply because they liked it; reportedly they knew nothing about Barrett. On 28 November 2006, Barrett's other possessions were sold at an auction at Cheffins auction house in Cambridge, raising £120,000 for charity. Items sold included paintings, scrapbooks and everyday items that Barrett had decorated. NME produced a tribute issue to Barrett a week later with a photo of him on the cover. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Barrett's sister revealed that he had written a book:
"He read very deeply about the history of art and actually wrote an unpublished book about it. But he found his own mind so absorbing that he didn't want to be distracted."
In response to the news of Barrett's death, fellow Pink Floyd bandmate David Gilmour said:
"We are very sad to say that Roger Keith Barrett – Syd – has passed away. Do find time to play some of Syd’s songs and to remember him as the madcap genius who made us all smile with his wonderfully eccentric songs about bikes, gnomes and scarecrows. His career was painfully short, yet he touched more people than he could ever know."
According to local newspapers, Barrett left approximately £1.7 million to his two brothers and two sisters. This sum was apparently largely acquired from royalties from Pink Floyd compilations and live recordings featuring songs he had written while with the band. A tribute concert called "Madcap's Last Laugh" was held at the Barbican Centre, London on 10 May 2007 with Robyn Hitchcock, Captain Sensible, Damon Albarn, Chrissie Hynde, Kevin Ayers and his Pink Floyd bandmates performing. A series of events called The City Wakes was held in Cambridge in October 2008 to celebrate Barrett's life, art and music. Barrett's sister, Rosemary Breen, supported this, the first-ever series of official events in memory of her brother. After the festival's success, arts charity Escape Artists announced plans to create a centre in Cambridge, using art to help people suffering from mental health problems. A memorial bench has been placed in the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge and a more prominent tribute is planned in the city.