Watch Pink Floyd’s Syd Barret Trip Out On Acid Back In 1966
An eleven-minute video gives us a unique look at the enigmatic Syd Barrett, co-founder of Pink Floyd and the genius behind classics like “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” and “Wish You Were Here.” Barrett was known for his brilliant influence on music. However, his mental health spiraled tragically due to heavy drug use. By April 1968, he had to leave the band he helped create in 1965, where he was the main songwriter.
The First Psychedelic Journey
The film, titled Syd Barrett’s First Trip, was captured in 1966 by then-student filmmaker Nigel Gordon. In this fascinating short, you can see Barrett and his friends enjoying a psychedelic experience, along with visual designer Storm Thorgerson, famous for his iconic album covers for Pink Floyd and other legendary bands. The first part of the video shows a carefree time, while the second part abruptly shifts to 1967 when Pink Floyd signed their first record deal with EMI at Abbey Road Studios.
Gordon reflects on the spontaneous nature of the film: “It just happened. It is an unselfconscious film. It was not planned,” he said.
A Snapshot of a Creative Scene
In the IMDB description, Gordon shares more about that vibrant time. He mentions living with close friends from Cambridge, including Barrett, who was on his way to becoming a rock star with Pink Floyd. “A few hundred yards down the street at 101 Cromwell Road, our preternaturally cool friend Nigel was running the hipster equivalent of an arty salon,” he wrote.
He adds, “Between our place and his, there passed the cream of London alternative society—poets, painters, filmmakers, charlatans, activists, bores, and self-styled visionaries.” This video captures not just Barrett’s journey, but also the lively creative community that surrounded him, offering a rare glimpse into a fascinating era of music and art.
Watch the video below:
