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I have a policy of not being a fan of someone who fries his brains out by taking mass quantities of drugs.

Before he incinerated his brain, Syd Barrett was a very talented person.  But he CHOSE to get into drugs big-time and as a result made himself quite insane.  That qualifies him for the title of "loser"....
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Why so harsh, LyricsBoy?  It's bad mojo to call people "losers."
Anyway, LSD was brand new on the recreational drug scene in the 1960s.  I don't think the other members of Pink Floyd understood how dangerous it was to "dose" a person like Syd Barrett.  Syd was close to the edge as it was.  A lot of the acid Syd took was slipped to him unawares in his drinks.  Not much of a CHOICE there.
Another thing to bear in mind, Syd was still very young.  Schizophrenia usually precipitates between the ages of 15 and 25.  Not sure if Syd is diagnosed schizophrenic, but if that's the case, he would have been disabled soon enough.

I do enjoy the early Pink Floyd songs, and some of Syd's solo material.  I've never been a Sydhead though.  I appreciate him most for the inspiration he gave to MY favorite songwriter, Edward Ka Spel of The Legendary Pink Dots.

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Why so harsh, LyricsBoy?  It's bad mojo to call people "losers."
Anyway, LSD was brand new on the recreational drug scene in the 1960s.  I don't think the other members of Pink Floyd understood how dangerous it was to "dose" a person like Syd Barrett.  Syd was close to the edge as it was.  A lot of the acid Syd took was slipped to him unawares in his drinks.  Not much of a CHOICE there.
Another thing to bear in mind, Syd was still very young.  Schizophrenia usually precipitates between the ages of 15 and 25.  Not sure if Syd is diagnosed schizophrenic, but if that's the case, he would have been disabled soon enough.

I do enjoy the early Pink Floyd songs, and some of Syd's solo material.  I've never been a Sydhead though.  I appreciate him most for the inspiration he gave to MY favorite songwriter, Edward Ka Spel of The Legendary Pink Dots.
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Sorry, I will not be part of the fandom that glorifies talented people who waste their talent, at their own hands, with drug, smoke, or drink.

Barrett, Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, Moon, Bonham, Hoon, Cobain, and a host of other self-destructive people taught, through their examples, how to throw away talent and how to destroy yourself.  People with enormous talent who destroyed it all.  Yeah, I'd call that being a "loser".

Give me somebody who was born with little talent and who worked hard and made something of themselves (no matter on how small a scale) and I'd call that being a "winner".

To those who are given much, much is expected.

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Sorry, I will not be part of the fandom that glorifies talented people who waste their talent, at their own hands, with drug, smoke, or drink.

Barrett, Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, Moon, Bonham, Hoon, Cobain, and a host of other self-destructive people taught, through their examples, how to throw away talent and how to destroy yourself.  People with enormous talent who destroyed it all.  Yeah, I'd call that being a "loser".

Give me somebody who was born with little talent and who worked hard and made something of themselves (no matter on how small a scale) and I'd call that being a "winner".

To those who are given much, much is expected.
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Is Rush Limbaugh a loser?  OK, maybe that's too inflammatory, and it relates to current events.  What about the Beatles?  They did tons of drugs AND created great music, some of it inspired by drug-induced psychedelic experiences.  They also had considerable innate talent.  Which camp do they fall into?
I'm not pro-drug myself, my beef is with the black-and-white judgment and narrow-mindedness inherent in calling people "winners" and "losers."  Life is not a football game.
As to your last point, many people did not ask to be given to, and most people who do all this expecting ought to mind their own darn business!

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Is Rush Limbaugh a loser?  OK, maybe that's too inflammatory, and it relates to current events.  What about the Beatles?  They did tons of drugs AND created great music, some of it inspired by drug-induced psychedelic experiences.  They also had considerable innate talent.  Which camp do they fall into?
I'm not pro-drug myself, my beef is with the black-and-white judgment and narrow-mindedness inherent in calling people "winners" and "losers."  Life is not a football game.
As to your last point, many people did not ask to be given to, and most people who do all this expecting ought to mind their own darn business!
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Of course Rush is a loser.  Now mind you, I ten to be a republican, but Rush ahs exposed himself as a LOSER.  How?  When Clinton or liberals are in legal trouble, he harangues and attempts to get all the details investigated.  Complains about the ACLU.  Now that HE is in trouble, let the obfuscation begin.

As for the others?  Let me repeat myself.  Anyone who wastes thir talent and their gifts by killing themselves with druge, booze, and so on are LOSERS.  LOSERS  Not sure where the Beatles fit in, because they did their drugs in moderation, it seems, since none of them died of drugs or were known as major addicts.

Show me somebody who has little talent, who grew up in poverty, who made something of themselves and their little talent, and I'll show you a WINNER.

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I may be wrong but wasn't John Lennon a heroin addict?
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Yes, John Lennon was a junkie, but he didn't get hooked until the early '70s.  The song "Cold Turkey" is a harrowing story of kicking the habit.

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As for the others?  Let me repeat myself.  Anyone who wastes thir talent and their gifts by killing themselves with druge, booze, and so on are LOSERS.  LOSERS  End Quote

Err, Syd Barrett isn't dead.

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Err, Syd Barrett isn't dead.
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Yes, but he's not at all a well Syd, is he? :D

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Give me somebody who was born with little talent and who worked hard and made something of themselves (no matter on how small a scale) and I'd call that being a "winner".

To those who are given much, much is expected.
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Adam Ant is completely against drugs, he even had it written into contracts of band members that if they were found doing drugs, they were out of the Ants. I think he should be given more credit for his music and his ideas, no matter what he has gone through. Its entertainers like him that kids should look up to. He is one of the world's few natural performers, he was born for music. Thats just my little opinion. I can't really appreciate why an artist would want to ruin their talent by doing drugs, I really just don't get it.

However, there are some musicians, like the members of Duran Duran, some who have had substance abuse problems in the past and have now straightened themselves out, artists like that deserve their props too. Every one deserves a second chance and it is never too late to change your ways if you realize your mistakes in time. Even if you are on the brink of death.


Rio

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Adam Ant is completely against drugs, he even had it written into contracts of band members that if they were found doing drugs, they were out of the Ants. I think he should be given more credit for his music and his ideas, no matter what he has gone throughEnd Quote

I've heard this about Adam Ant.  He certainly has had his share of problems, such as the incident with the gun in the bar.  You know, though, it is admirable for any entertainer who attained Ant's level of success in the '80s to abstain from drugs.  I'm sure Ant was surrounded by people more than happy to share their pot, coke, dope, and speed with him.  Just look at what happened to a contemporary without Ant's resolve-- Boy George.
Was Goody Two Shoes (don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do?) about Ant himself?

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I've heard this about Adam Ant.  He certainly has had his share of problems, such as the incident with the gun in the bar.  You know, though, it is admirable for any entertainer who attained Ant's level of success in the '80s to abstain from drugs.  I'm sure Ant was surrounded by people more than happy to share their pot, coke, dope, and speed with him.  Just look at what happened to a contemporary without Ant's resolve-- Boy George.
Was Goody Two Shoes (don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do?) about Ant himself?

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Yeah, Goody Two Shoes was basically Adam Ant making fun of himself. I think it was kind of a way to point out to everyone in the media world that he knew what was said about him being a "goody two shoes" and him not really caring about it.  I admire him so much for always abstaining from drugs, even now.

The incident with the gun at the bar, in case anyone is interested, was brought on by his mental illness. I am sure that alcohol did play a part but it was mainly him having another nervous breakdown, he was under stress and having problems in his life.

Anything that is stressful enough can cause some one with manic depression to be triggered into the swing of the hypermania to the depressed state.

I hope that Adam is well, I am praying that he can overcome this and my thoughts are with him and my heart goes out to him and his family.

Rio

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The incident with the gun at the bar, in case anyone is interested, was brought on by his mental illness. I am sure that alcohol did play a part but it was mainly him having another nervous breakdown, he was under stress and having problems in his life.

Anything that is stressful enough can cause some one with manic depression to be triggered into the swing of the hypermania to the depressed state.

I hope that Adam is well, I am praying that he can overcome this and my thoughts are with him and my heart goes out to him and his family.

Rio
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Manic depression is usually called "bipolar disorder" nowadays.  A person with bipolar needs a close support network.  Sufferers are still susceptible to episodes, even with medication.  At both poles there are risks of dangerous, impulsive behavior, and possibly suicide.  That's why they need people close by who can recognize symptoms.  
I didn't know Mr. Ant had bipolar disorder.  I hope he's getting the help he needs.
We've gone from Syd Barrett to Adam Ant on this thread, but so be it!

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Syd was a very bizzare song writer.  Kinda reminds me of whar Queen and Oingo Boingo did a decade or so later.

He was not all that bad of an addict, he just got a little to wet walking in the Lysergic Acid Rain.   :P
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Again, I think he was pretty close to the edge to start with.  Prolonged use of acid will permanently alter one's mind, but it won't make you dysfunctional for decades as will an organic brain disease such as schizophrenia.

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Syd wrote strange songs and acted strange anyways because he was a paranoid schizophrenic.Acid cant cause that.It can make it much much worse and excasterbate the condition.He lives in Cambridge still with his sister and the last pic I've seen that was taken in ?92? he was walking down the street,so hes better than he was thankfully.Dave Gilmour knew him before the band,way before if I remember,and Dave has always gone to see him.Even when Syd didnt want anything to do with music,he would talk with Dave.Ive heard as of later years,Roger,Nick and Rick also visit now and again.Syd's full name is Roger Keith Barret:)
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So Syd was actually diagnosed schizophrenic?  No surprise.  Even without the LSD, it was a question of time before the symptoms made his career unmanageable.  I gather the band has helped him out financially.

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Yes, but he's not at all a well Syd, is he? :D
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Actually, Syd Barrett is quite well. He may not like to socialize much, but he's reportedly more content that at any point in his life. He has written a book (but nor for publishing) and painted and got on with his life. Maybe he deserves a bit of credit for making lemonade out of lemons.

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So Syd was actually diagnosed schizophrenic?  No surprise.  Even without the LSD, it was a question of time before the symptoms made his career unmanageable.  I gather the band has helped him out financially.
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Syd has never formally been diagnosed with any mental illness. I personally think he was more borderline personality disorder myself.

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There's gotta be some Syd Barrett fans in here.

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I wouldn't say I'm a big fan of his, but he was ok.  :-/ :-/