PINK FLOYD Members Appear At Syd Barrett Tribute
 

Billboard has issued the following report from Lars Brandle:

The surviving members of PINK FLOYD took part in a tribute concert last night (May 10th) to pay respects to their former frontman, Roger "Syd" Barrett.

Guitarist David Gilmour, bassist Roger Waters, drummer Nick Mason and keyboardist Rick Wright all appeared on stage at the "Syd Barrett -- Madcap's Last Laugh" gig, held at the London Barbican venue.

But it would appear the long-feuding Gilmour and Waters have yet to bury the hatchet. The pair appeared separately, the BBC reports, and were not photographed together.

Gilmour, Mason and Wright performed 'Arnold Layne', the group's first hit and one of Barrett's best-known works. Waters performed a solo version of his own track, 'Flickering Flame'.

The concert was held to pay homage to Barrett, who died on July 7, 2006, at the age of 60, following complications from diabetes. The artist had spent the better part of the past 30 years living in seclusion in Cambridge, England, after being forced out of the band due to deteriorating mental health issues.

Other performers on the night included BLUR and GORILLAZ frontman Damon Albarn, THE PRETENDERS' Chrissie Hynde and SOFT BOYS singer Robyn Hitchcock.

They then took part in an all-star finale of one of Barrett's best-known compositions, the psychedelic track 'Bike' taken from the band's debut 1967 album, The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn. Waters, however, did not join in.

The Barrett concert is part of the Barbican's Only Connect series of events, which offers a podium for unusual collaborations and cross-arts experimentation. Contemporary composer PHILLIP GLASS and punk-era artist PATTI SMITH will take part in a performance of piano and poetry on October 19th, under the Only Connect banner.

I'm a big fan of the Gilmours-Waters era, though don't know much of the band history, but I think Gilmour entered the band after Barrett left, right?

I saw Waters 2 months ago, the concert was extraordinary. Sad to read they still don't want to reunite.

No, David was "eased in" while Syd was still in the band - he was brought in to cover for Syd on stage. There only a few photos around of the 5-man Floyd, the most famous has Syd sort of at the back out of focus.

(Ah, that photo is the 3rd one down on this page, although the article is mainly about a post-Syd gig:
http://www.pinkfloydz.com/PF_5.htm).

Both David and Syd are on the 2nd album.

It's probably worth mentioning Syd and David were friends prior to Pink Floyd - that's how the band knew him. I don't think David and Roger were all that friendly, although they all came from Cambridge.