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Syd Barrett was an art-school student when he founded Pink Floyd, with whom he served as vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter in the original line-up. Famous before his twentieth birthday, Barrett led the charge of psychedelia onstage at London's famed UFO club and his acid-inspired lyrics became a hallmark of London's 1967 Summer of Love.Improvisatory and whimsical, Zen-like and hard-living, Barrett pushed the boundaries of music into new realms of artistic expression while battling his inner-demons. This probing and comprehensive biography, a full ten years in the writing, features a wealth of interviews with Syd's family, intimates, friends and band mates, providing an unvarnished look at Barrett's life and work.Author Julian Palacios authoritatively traces Barrett's swift evolution from precocious youth to psychedelic rock star, examining both his wide-ranging inspirations and his influence on generations of musicians, and presenting an extensive overview of his musical, artistic and literary influences.