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."