ANDREW KING :PINK FLOYD'S FIRST MANAGER RECALLS SYD BARRETT'S GENIUS & "DEVASTATING" WITHDRAWAL 

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John, once again, thank you for these interviews. They are a treasure to us Floyd fans. It is so painfully obvious of what Syd meant to everybody and what a huge tragedy this was. I can tell Andrew still feels this pain today.

Definitely the most emotionally intense interview

Thanks for the upload 🙏. Andrew is a great guy, I live in the same town in Scotland as Andrew. He comes into my shop quite regularly. He is a very nice guy who always chats . He did a great Q&A in September at a local venue. Such an interesting life he has had. Hopefully he will publish his autobiography soon.✌️🙏

Andrew's was my favourite interview of your series. His care for Syd the person, and respect for him as an artist are palpable.

Of the collection of interviews, I enjoy Andrew King’s insights most.

What a powerful interview--one of the best I've seen from someone who worked closely with Barrett. Thank you Andrew and John.

Thanks for this. I think King comes across very well, and his pain over what happened Syd is clearly so genuine

Great interview, as always, although Andrew does skirt around the elephant in the room, that being Syd’s drug use. It’s well known that Syd was a heavy user of Mandrax - which was widely used at the time. Mandrax is a sedative-hypnotic drug, which would account for his 1,000-yard stare, his cognitive impairment, slurred speech and depression. The sedative and hypnotic effects of methaqualone are greatly increased when it’s mixed with other central nervous system depressants such as alcohol or cannabis. It is also highly addictive and withdrawal symptoms are horrendous. At the time, it was considered a “love drug”, hence, I suppose, its popularity. I ran into many “Mandied” people in London at that time and the symptoms match. In my opinion, for what it’s worth, if you want to find the real key to “what happened to Syd”, look no further.

Very moving interview. A compassionate man.

I am very much enjoying the set of Syd Barret and Pink Floyd interviews. Can anyone shed a light on the time Syd Barret was living at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, London. Prior to, around and beyond Sept 1975 (when the Hilton was bombed) I had a freelance residency playing guitar in a group at the London Hilton. We played half hour relief band spots in the 007 Bar on the mezzanine floor and the restaurant on the 26 floor and spent our 10 minute breaks moving via the elevators from from room to room with our guitars in tow (always via the closest pub 'The Mayfair') and regularly saw Syd in that period mainly in the Mezzanine foyers. We never actually had a conversation with Syd but as time went on and we (more or less at least once a night crossed paths with Syd) there was acknowledgement. (Nodding terms and the occasional good evening Syd). At that time Syd was overweight with close shaved hair and to me seemed a lonely and lost soul. It was a strange period at the London Hilton as every night for months after the bombing was chaotic with bomb scares, lift lock outs and evacuations. I wonder if anyone knows the circumstances of why Syd was living at the hotel during this period.

I've been wondering for years why there's videos with Peter but none with Andrew King. This is amazing!

Very potent example of hindsight in this interview. . The shame and regret about the way Syd was treated is so obvious. So sad.

What an intelligent and thoughtful interview, with an open, honest and very human interviewee. The best so far.

It was lovely to hear Andrew King's memories and thoughtful reflections on Syd's creative talents, and their friendship. A welcome change from the sensationalised manner often encountered when Syd's life is discussed. Thank you for this interview!

Thank for for having interviews with members of my favorite band and one of the best bands in the world the best to me

Thank you so much yet again, John! Pure gold, and even more so. "You can see what happened to Syd in ten different ways, and explain it in ten different ways, and they're all partially true" - perhaps the most valid, perceptive and balanced comment ever uttered on the subject. And so emotional, honest and raw.

Those closing comments about Sid not realising his mature work made me think how many that left us before they really got into the full swing of their creativity. I suppose I should be just grateful that Sid and many others did put their work to wax. Thank you for putting this interview out.

So interesting and special, particularly about the human side. Many thanks John, these are gems to every lover of Syd

Wonderful interview. So refreshing to hear someone who had direct experience with Syd to lift the mythological veil

Excellent interview that gives valuable insights into Syd’s genius and the personal and artistic tragedy of his cataclysmic decline. Thanks for posting.

Absolutely fascinating, John! Great documentary about my favorite Pink Floyd member...Syd. Keep up the great work.

Syd's work was one of the vein from which punk would hail from. So ironic that Pink Floyd itself would become opposite to that "punk" spirit. As he once said, "No rules, no rules."

Excelent and emotional interview thanks for share 👏🏻 syd❤

John, your interviews are the best. I always learn something new every time I watch. Thanks so much for all of your great work!

imho ... the most insightful of these interviews ... critical thinking about culture/s, individual creative expression and the multiplicity of perception

I put this on the other day as I went to bed, pretty sure I got through it all though. I will listen to it once more. Thank you for this. King's point about the solo work being more like non-finalized drafts, seems like a very important piece of all this to me. Yes, I think it shows the inside of the artist's head, where the creative process is still at the mid-point, and the work is still gestating. I would contrast all of the solo work to Piper, wherein there is a real feeling, to me, that the music and lyric have been 'melted down,' from a sort of prior creative enormity. If piper were from the solo album era, it would be far denser with lyrical and musical ideas, and although it would have an important/recognizable spark, it would be unshaven and lacking focus But I think that with the solo work, the aesthetic has to be with just being as content as you can , with just seeing the unformed creative spark. No musical idea or lyrical idea seems left out - it is all unedited, rough, and sometimes gratingly so. I cannot tell how it should have been edited. I just get the sense that something it incomplete And unfortunately, I also get the sense that something is wrong. There seems to be something physically or biologically damaged, to my ear, in regard to the way that poor Syd strummed the guitar and sang, on those solo works. So perhaps, there is something about that which also 'competes' (perhaps not a good word) with the more or less objective fact of the creative incompleteness. It is difficult to understand which factor comes before which, in the whole ontology of it

Best one yet John, thanks for sharing

Amazing, John. I always wondered why Andrew was not in the film. Thank you very much for sharing these with us, sir.

Another treasure you have here John!! Thanks.

Thanks for reposting, John! This is one of my favorites of all your interviews

One of my favourite ones yet John, very personal and touching.

Thank you John for sharing the story. Wonderful and sad.

Thanks for recording and posting this important history.

Wishing you a most enjoyable week!Emotional and another viewpoint on what happened with Syd.

Outstanding interview, very moving.

AMM guitarist is Keith Rowe.

I like this person. Great guy.

Thanks a million, John 👏

Great interview. Great interviewee!

Andrew , thank you so much for your commentary about Syd Barrett . I indeed think Syd was a genius with his music and song writing and lyrics . I have followed the Pink Floyd Band all the way through starting with Syd and moving through with David Gilmours exceptional guitar work and Roger Waters exceptional participation to make the band continue to flow!

We ALL need to upload more interviews! Libraries will digitize old reels/tapes for free!

this is a superb series which gives a 360 degree view of the band in its syd and post syd incarnations. I agree with Nick Kent’s assessment of the actual music but the story of Syd is symbolic of the sixties in so many ways. Its not surprising that Nick Mason has gone on the road with a syd-based version of the floyd - whilst Roger Waters has careened off the cliff at high speed. A set of different responses to the question of authorship and inspiration which this series raises throughout.

Keith Rowe. Used to play the guitar with a transistor radio.

Particularly candid interview here. No doubt, King felt responsible in some small way.

This is excellent. Thanks for uploading John. As I recall, none of this footage featuring Andrew found it’s way into the “Syd Barrett Story” Documentary. Why was that John?

They (the Band / Management) had more than enough of Syd songs, which they could have included on 'Saucerful'. This would made it the classic album, it should have been.

Clearly moved at 20:00.

Interesting that when Syd went off the rails, Blackhill dropped Floyd and managed Barrett as a solo act. Jenner got bitten on the arse when he tried to get him to record. It wasn’t happening

Thank you very much ,never heard this guy

I think these guys (the band & King; not Jenner) were afraid of Syd: -of his creativity -of his capacity in execution -of his good looks -of his control (even the interview starts with King slipping the comment that "Syd was pretty dominant, then" 2:40 ) All this, being 2 years younger than the rest of the band.. And they let others destroy him (in a way they wouldn't have let a real friend) in that famous Cromwell Road appartment. There are accounts of what some others did to him in that famous appartment (Storm Thorgerson included). In the following videoclip (of Vegetable Man) there is a violent sequence between Syd Barrett and Roger Waters: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9-flYjakTS8.html it was apparently recorded in december 1967. Duggie Fields says "he saw nothing" [but admits that chain spiking LSD in the tea was done to other people], and says it with a weird smile. Again, the band did not intervene [it was impossible that they didn't know of that]. Then, they record a song about a "Crazy Diamond". I think the word "Crazy" does not fit in the real picture. "Dominating Diamond", if you like. "Weird Diamond", could be.. find the word that rhymes better. But not "crazy".

Keith Rowe was the AMM guitar player.

Make an interview about Kevin Ayers

just my 2 cents. Is it possible that Syd Barret was gaslighted and ostracized by his bandmates and his and their associates ? Maybe stemming from jealousy and insecurities of Syd.

I used to know a guy who was the life of the party and then he did a bunch of purple double barrel acid one night and it must have cooked his mind because he was a totally different after - he didn't smile anymore and was always deadly serious after - it was actually pritty freaky how he turned into another person from one day to the next.

Thank you Lets channel some new syd compositions😅

Im reading the big Julian p Dark globe syd barrett and pink floyd story book for the 3rd time (as I do with books about important and good music of rock stars like 13 floor Elevators, small faces Steve Marriott, )as I've read Rob Chapman s syd barrett s book 3 x) Julians lost in the woods book -my 1st syd barrett book which use the same photos as dark globe but hasn't as many photos ,it writes about Jenner more that I've forgot about king until this

What year was this done ?

He's right that those albums should have been finished properly

Huzzah. God this man needs to tell everything he knows in a book. He cared for Syd. The true story I believe is really fucked up. And not cool. Sad. Great job. Johnny w philly

Roger Waters attitude towards Syd after he got an electric shock to the face which ruined the rest of the U.S tour was disgusting,Waters declared "Syds mental decline was clear on that tour",well yeah he'd been zapped in the face and in severe shock so Waters twists it into "mental illness" then gets the poor guy kicked out and labelled a whacko.

Umm.....

Wow, Scream Thy Last Scream isn't on an actual release? Like, I know Moonhead and Embryo aren't on anything proper. Point me at the Sky. But for some reason I thought Scream Thy Last Scream was.

Umm, where does one go to buy ones self into the charts?

Who is the "Pip" to whom Andrew King referred?

I thought I'd missed this one but I guess it was just up. In fairness, you'd have to be an idiot at the time to think of NOT trying to push Rick to join Syd and off they go. From what I"ve heard Roger has been Roger since day one, so I"m imagining Roger with no songwriting, lyric writing or bass playing ability and I don't think anybody would want to work with him. The guy wrote some of the most brilliant lyrics, but seems like the last guy to want to 'manage'. THAT may be what he doesn't want to say. I haven't seen the girlfriend or sister videos yet, but this was the closest to somebody telling stories about Syd without a 'wall' coming up between the interviewer and interviewee. Its like the other guys don't want to get emotional, which is understandable. But hearing him talk about his ex or late wife blaming the music business, well, I always tend to give a lot of credibility to the women around who usually don't get much attention in these matters. THe music industry really did damage both to artists AND music AND the audience. I was listening to some no name band nobody has heard of the other week and it was just brilliant. THese stories are interesting, but its not the case that 'very few people were doing the important music'. We just never HEARD of them. And it kind of makes you forget that these are 'just guys'. How interesting would it have been if Syd had been one of the guitarists to show up and replace Anthony Phillips in Genesis:)

God the interviewer voice sounds a lot like David Guilmour's voice haha

Syd Barrett is one of, maybe the most, interesting, influential, innovative, original and at the same time tragic stories of the mid to late sixties music business. Syd had everything:- great looking bloke, hugely charismatic, naturally charming, brilliant guitar player, genuinely original song writer, and artist. Fried his Brain with too much LSD. The arguments will go on about did he permanently destroy an already naturally faulty and damaged Brain🤷🏽‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️

And wasn’t Joe Boyd the first manager of Pink Floyd? Or at least, producer…

The problem with diagnosing schizophrenia is that, at a young age, the person may not exhibit strong indications of schizophrenia or even that their strange behaviour is just put down to kids doing odd things. It manifests itself at a later age. Syd clearly had signs early on and his demand avoidance seems to have been a thing all along. None of them could have stopped his schizophrenia, it's not possible. "I've been looking all over the place for a place for me, But it ain't anywhere, it just ain't anywhere Vegetable man, vegetable man, He's the kind of person, you just gonna see him if you can, Vegetable man"

in a way this sort of oral history is priceless... especially as we only get further out from these events... but it is a frustrating interview as the interviewer is so timid and avoids pressing for more details and clarity at key moments... if I had a question it would be do you remember the moment Syd's personality changed and in what way... this is obviously hinted at but left unexpressed by King as he isn't prompted to share the memory...

Dear John, - Fascinating interviews, from the point of view as a documentation on the mindset, culture and mentality in those times in how people coped and understood mental breakdown and effects of drugs, which people didn't know much of then ( rather than a Pink Floyd story ). It is interesting that there is also a kind of mantra from the band members, regards some specific anecdotes. People around get criticised when one of them has severe mental breakdown, or even guilt, when it is beyond their control. Andrew seems to portray that, the long confusion and stress it causes and 'powerlessness'. Andrew seems to have been really traumatised by it - and not much advice or support in those days. Credit to Andrew King for how thoughtful about the legacy and the human being at the same time.

By crikey - nomination for the "Dullest Figure in Psychedelia". But well done for persevering, and thanks, anyway.

They thought that without Syd, the PF wouldn't go far. And the choice was wrong, but he doesn't admit it.

They were very young! Syd was 20, 21. The rest perhaps a few years older. The interviewer has too much hindsight.

An abolutely essential perspective! This interview is fantastic. Since 20 years have passed by perhaps Mr. King may be more inclined to divulge those sensitive details?

This interview is gold. There's so much garbage information going around Pink Floyd, but John Edginton gets substantial, no-nonsense information from the horse's mouth. It's nice to hear someone point out that Barrett's use of a cigarette lighter as a guitar slide was inspired by Keith Rowe's guitar work in AMM.

andrew king is a really charming gent.

I think Dark Globe is a completed work as is Here I Go, Dominoes, Terrapin and many others. A song doesn't need to be polished and shiny to be a great recording as he suggests.

Thanks for all your documentaries, John. They are all absolutely amazing. So glad I came across your channel.

I think Andrew is being a bit hard on himself regarding the flyer

Syd was the real deal.

I'll write my 3 points here: Disclaimer: The only purpose of this comment is to address properly the stigmatization that, sometimes, acquaintances do to someone (by labeling them "with mental issues" or "crazy"), when, in fact, there has probably been disappointment and depression. End of Disclaimer A) Waters labelled Barrett "Crazy" (when all other interviews, like the ones in this channel, say he wasn't crazy at all; only depressed, mostly; that's Syd's friends and family narrative). So the label seems a bit overdramatized. (Only Waters amatteurly said 'schizophrenic' when there has never been such a medical diagnosis). B) they NEVER approached Syd (nor did they say "sorry"). Not even in the 80s or 90s. That's the kind of distance that grow between old band mates who had friction/competition between them (like in many bands from the 60s, 70s). That's not the kind of distance with "a friend who is depressed" (I'm siding with the friends' n family, not the official narrative, here). C) for the cause of Syds "depression", when analyzing the pre-1968 era, everything fits into place if you add the "there was strain in the band with Syd's one-person success" hypothesis. If that strain had been related to the demand of the industry, then it might have been manifested in "not giving enough support to Syd" (or even worse, taking the opportunity to pressure him to go; particularly Waters, who - I think - wanted to 'Set the Controls For the Heart of the Band', to convey more attention towards the rest of the band, not only to Barrett. I, personally like Waters' music; I just think it is more fair for Syd [and for all of the Syds in the world] if Waters made that point clear). This ego-battle happen in many bands, but in this case, it is a little different: Syd went uncommunicative (unwilling to defend himself from friends stabbing in the back) and Waters put out his narrative, without appearing any answer by Syd. I say Syd was disappointed with his band mates, also lost his major achievement and lost all of his friends (and father), and was so depressed, he went into a not fighting back state.

39:29 20 years passed away. Let King talk about Syd leaving Pink Floyd :D

ooooo awesome i've been waiting for this one! really good and humanizing interview - i love what he said about how many different, all partially true, ways there are to interpret what happened. it's quite interesting just how many people in this series say something to that effect regarding the nuance of it all, compared to the steadfast "he was crazy" narrative that so many other parties, including other band members, have really pushed into public opinion. super curious about the statement at 39:12 lol... can't help but feel it is related to that exact aforementioned discrepancy - i can imagine the band, or at least Waters, having been quite callous about it all at the time

I always wondered why Jenner's testimony was always present and King was completely absent. I thought it was a production's big mistake not to have the testimony of both. What a nice surprise and also how strange that they have never used this testimony. He's a pillar of this wonderful story. Thanks, John. greetings from Argentina.

Great interview, Andrew King obviously still cares about Syd and is very affected by what happened. Never seen an interview with Andrew before. Thank you for sharing this.

@32:57 very touching and incredibly sad. A poetic memory which this gentleman has kept quite keen in his mind's eye over the years, the vision of Syd, the hint of madness, the aullusion os his having been touched by the grace of something more. One gets a sense of the gravity of Syd's leaving by his emotional response and how big the ripple appears to have been in the lives of the ancillary characters.

Syd is often compared to English Romantic poets such as Keats, but to me he has always seemed more like a rock n roll Rimbaud, since the French poet walked away from his sensational early success. King's testimony provides an important perspective here. I did find, however, that he became less articulate after he puffed on that joint.

Would be cool if they would release the "Roger Barrett" labeled Bo Diddley record for us fans.

Is PIP still alive let's get his side of the story

Amazing piece of history here told by someone who was actually there! Thanks for the video.

Wow, thank you so much. This is very precious.

12:47 same technique was rife in the 90s also .

A truly amazing insight and interview

"I remember very well the night mixing Chapter 11 - I remember very very well" Um... Chapter 11?? 🤣

Another great interview!

Best one. John did you ever find out who lived at Earls court or interviewed someone who lived there with Syd?

Thanks, John. I really enjoyed this one. Great interview. :)

£200 spent to hype Arnold Layne into the charts? So where are those 600 copies of the single? That is someone's pension if you don't flood the market.