STARS: Syd's Final Performance
Terrapin
January 1973
STARS: At Cambridge,
SYD CAME ON, PLAYED HIS SONGS AND THEN
LEFT.
I could end there, but as it was Syd's first stage appearence for four
years, detail becomes sacred necessity. He did versions of 'Octopus' and
'No Man's Land from the Madcap
album: 'Waving my arms in the Air'
and 'Baby Lemonade' from Barrett: and 'Lucifer Sam' from the legendary
first Floyd album.
Twink played drums and Jack Monke played bass until
his amp decided it couldn't cope with Syd's musical journey and went
dead!
The lyrics were, for the most part, inaudible due to the terrible
P.A., and Syd did no talking between the numbers, which were sadly under-
rehearsed. But that was a genius on stage and he did show odd flashes of
brilliance, but after about an hour Syd decided he had had enough, so
he slowly unplugged and went home.
Personally I think the band set Syd
back considerably. I understand he was pushed into it at very short
notice and this was reflected in the music. If Syd is going to do anything
worthwhile it must be done when he is ready: and if we have too wait five
years for an album as good as "The Madcap Laughs" it will be worth it.
Underneath all the mystique bulshit there is an ordinary young English
musician who bleeds real blood when he cuts his finger during the final
number, and smiles a really warm smile when you thank him afterwards. As
he said in the Rolling Stone interview, "You know man, I'm totally
together. I even think I should be."