Syd Barrett's sister (Rosemary Breen) interviewed at her brothers art exhibition (London, 2011) 

"He couldn't cope with talking...and he couldn't cope with society, really." Tell me about it.

More contented in the 80's and 90's - now that's very refreshing to hear and contrasts the cult of the tragic figure.

wonderful sister...God bless her

This man deserves a movie made of him

I liked Pink Floyd but I didn't become a fan until I heard an album called Relics that had many of the early songs with Syd Barrett. A totally different sound.

when Rosemary said he didn't feel there was anything special about himself,he thought he was like everybody else it made me want to cry.The biz certainly eats its young.

Syd was nothing short of a gift from God. To have that level of musical ability, to blaze trails into completely new styles of music then to also be such an incredible artist... so much talent in one human being. That art he drew of the family in the coliseum is absolutely jaw dropping. It's haunting after you see it once. Thank God he shared his gifts with the world before he had to pull back.

Syd Barrett was a genius - not to mention the incredible music he wrote, but he played over 200 concerts with Pink Floyd in 1967 (and each show was totally different from the others - long improvisations that changed nightly) - I think that is an amazing achievement in itself - thanks for all of the beautiful music Mr. Barrett - R.I.P.

His recovery and happiness, I'm guessing, is largely down to this amazing lady.

His Sister had said what i've always thought. He was an Artist not a rock star.

He was Pink Floyd🌈 David was brought in as a replacement for him.

RIP Syd, we love you. And total respect for Syd's sister for telling us home truths. One time I could not understand Syd, but I get it now.

Painting was his true passion. He didn't play music his entire life. He painted until the end.

The most rational picture of Syd Barrett

Our modern day Van Gogh Rip you crazy diamond

It’s nice to hear that he was at least content. Most people aren’t. He sounded like he was someone who just wanted to be left alone and work on his hobbies. That sounds like a pretty peaceful life. Fame wasn’t for him.

The way the world is these days & society in general also makes me want to be a recluse and not speak to most people I understand completely where he was coming from...

Thank you Syd for everything!!!

The madcap genius.

My best compliments for Rosemary Breen, that wants to remember her brother: musician, writer and painter. Syd was a genial mind and his sister has a very big heart. Good job to put on a Museum. That' s an amazing and funny thing! R. I. P. Syd, genial mind.

He was perfectly sane . How should one react to an insane society?

Syd Barrett was a very talented and beautiful man.

There is a photo of him later on in life, I think in the 80's, where he looks like he is with family. I think that's about the period she was talking about, when he picked up painting again he "seemed more contented". And in that photo he's kinda smiling a bit and in his eyes I could still see the same spark was still there. Or that it was coming back to him.

If I had had a brother like him, I would have been so proud……each of his songs inspired a new musical genre. So Talented guy…you were so lucky to know him in his daily life. Cheers from Sicily Rosemary! Federico

''couldn't cope with society'' We all know how he feels. Thats what home is for.

Soon after dark, Emily cries . . .

It really annoys me when people say he was a tragic figure. He dealt with what life threw at him in his own way. People who are geniuses are going to struggle to fit in with the mundane. Their hearts and minds aren't designed for futility.

His life is just a mystery. What did he do all day when cooped up in Chelsea Cloisters and other places . As an Aspergers I've had to live a solitary life and at times this has caused me immense grief.

Basically he was the Van Gough of that time if you will.

I heard when Syd was in pink Floyd the band members (Roger waters) finally got Syd to see a shrink, psychiatrist. During the visit, after all was said and done. Syd says to the shrink, "You do know of course, that this is 'Syds problem?? LMAO! Syd referring himself as totally different person.

Quote by ROGER KEITH "SYD" BARRETT ~ "Well, I'm a painter, I was trained as a painter...I seem to have spent a little less time painting than I might've done...But it didn't transcend the feeling of playing UFO and those sort of places with the lights and that, the fact that the group was getting bigger".

Rosemary sets the record straight and she was very close to him his entire life. The pathos and preferred tragic story needs to be wiped as he ultimately wanted an ordinary life gardening and painting instead of celebrity. People just can’t understand that unless they had to endure the facade of celebrity life. Only tragedy is he didn’t take his insulin when he should’ve. He’d probably be with us today if he took better care. He wanted to live in his own pace and not be told when to create by non artistic record executives.

Could spend hours with this !!!! hopefully this exhibit makes its way around the globe very talented artist !!!! And Roger you dear man my gosh you were and are STILL not alone in your astonishment at this crazy world we live in !!! Extraordinary collection of work " I'm only a person " ......

I bet she made plenty out the situation

I know Syd. I know him - I know that guy. I'm a painter too. Those guys in Pink Floyd had no idea what he was probably going through under all that pressure and alienation. I know what it's like to stop working for ten years because your environment is so bad you can't stand it. The people around you can make everything hell, and it takes time for enough changes to happen in you and in the world to grow out of it and reclaim enough dignity to draw again. I'm there now - purgatory. I can't work at all, its the last thing I want to do, but I've prepared for a big move. It's all so I can paint again. Anyone who gets up at 4am and paints all day, and cranks it out like it's a business is not anyone I'd want to know. That, to me, is completely fake. I don't care what anyone says. That's not what art is about - it's not there so you can be a big shot and throw your weight around. Real art done with intimacy, love, care, and celebration, is much more valuable and fragile than that. You don't ever force it. It happens, and in the right time and place around the right people it can be the best thing in the world.

Bless her. I like the fact she mentions laughter, because the guy could be funny as hell. 1973 Pete Brown onstage referring to Syd, saying: "He's here in Cambridge, and he's one of the best songwriters in the country" Syd, from out in the audience: "No, I'm not"

I've got a bike, Syd can ride it if he likes. It's got a basket, a bell and things to make it look good...

Forever remembered Roger RIP and yes as her sister she did an amazing job to preserve his own favourite visions and expressions.

Well. For someone who didn't seek celebrity, he sure did pose for lots of photos of himself! This was back in the 1960s when we were all admonished in our communities for being very narcissistic if we took "too many photos of ourselves", unlike today's current generation. His sister said he was an artist. Given my old recollections of Syd, I'd say that Syd, himself, was a human, living, breathing, art.

True genius don’t see themselves as someone special. If they did the genie would be out of the bottle and the window

Syd was an extraordinary artist. His pieces could go up to maybe $1,000,000.00. Some, atleast 6 figures, easily. I know he destroyed much if not most of his art works. He should have kept them. He was brilliant.

Mister roger barret had many talents....his sister is right

To me syd was a genius not an agressive mad man. Its really sad what happened to him, he was one of a kind and his songs are beautiful

On one hand I understand why he'd feel that way because people change. They often have their own priorities even their own fans could never understand. In the case of Syd, he saw his paintings as more of a success than his work both in Pink Floyd and his Solo acts, because it was something he's wanted to do his whole life. On the other hand, it does perplex those that love his work in Pink Floyd, because while he probably didn't see it that way, he helped open a door to greater things for the band. Not to mention if not for him, Pink Floyd wouldn't even have the success they had even after he was kicked out. Without Syd, the band wouldn't have started. Much of their more well known albums post-Syd, were often about him in some way or another. Such as Wish You Were Here and The Wall.

Golden boy RIP

*Nobody really addresses the "DRUG USE" part. Syd Barrett Took a Lot of (Lysergic acid diethylamide)* LSD. In the 60"s LSD was Really STRONG.The acid trips would last for days.Syd would trip and not stop till the Mind doesn't know Reality from Fantasy..Then your mind is lost..BUT it didnt stop them from releasing one of the greatest album to date.."THE WALL" *CATER*

Yes Syd was an ARTIST first & foremost. I think he felt disturbed by the ride of Pink Floyd's driving force to succeed that had no room for his artistry outside music.

He never should have been in the spotlight, clearly the rockstar lifestyle just wasn't for him. I'm imagining a parallel universe where he realised this straight away, left the actual band but stayed on as their album cover artist or something. Would have suited him better.

So sad to hear that Syd was thinking there's nothing special about him. The most wrong thought in the whole universe.

When Syd moved back home, he started remodeling the house. He changed the door handles with toys for door nobs.

Looks like it was no schizophrenia at all - rather a form of autism, asperger syndrome. Wich makes much more sense if you think about it: he could not cope with questions, success, society. We'll never know the truth. RIP and shine on.

good that he had his sister as gatekeeper otherwise he wouldve gone much younger,also the band never forgot him and paid him his dues.not that he cared

His lovely sister may not realise that her brother catalysed English psychedelia.He was one of a handful of the most crucial musical artists of the 60's. I went to the exhibition. Every piece was deeply painterly and utterly beautiful. Syd had genuine genius.

The line between genius and madness is fine indeed.

sidetracked into doing something he didnt want to do, he did it bloody well then, millions of us would love to have done what he done but just didnt have the talent, god really does work in mysterious ways

Didn't know Syd had a sister, she's an English Rose!As a painter I'm afraid Syd doesn't cut it. Lots of expos these days headlined by "outsider art", its gone commercial! But even "outsider art" has to show consistency, its ok to be obsessive/ compulsive in theme or stye, not ok just to look (visually) confused. Van Gogh was also half mad, but never confused. "Piper" is Syd's peak, that was an original path that Syd took, but rest of Rock music ignored, even PF. Possibly because its inimitable.

An interesting insight to miss understood man i think 😢

1:59 Wow. Roger Waters mentioned this piece (with the arches) seen here in an interview. He remembered it many years later. First time i'm actually seeing it...:O

Genius. Similar in personality to Vincent van Gogh.

I'm an artist never a musician and that's why he really got out of the pop game. Mental health or not something was driving him. Captain beefheart Zappa all of them in their own way walked away from the pop world sooner than later,Barrett just beat them to it.

I'd like to know if Rosemary Breen has ever considered taking legal action against Roger Waters for continually diagnosing her brother time and time again in interviews saying - "Syd was schizophrenic", "When Syd went mad", "When Syd went crazy". Waters also mocked Barrett's brief phase involving his cross dressing in an interview! That interview is on RU-vid. Waters is not a psychiatrist! I have a deep respect for Roger Waters and his talent as a musician and composer but he doesn't have the right to make such statements about Syd without backing it up! R.I.P. ROGER KEITH "SYD" BARRETT. Raul.

A great representative for her brother's memory. Hope people (bandmates included) can finally put aside the erroneous image that has grown around the man.

Bless you Rosemary x

What a great sister..an angel really.

I would love to see more interviews with Rosemary, there is so much mythologising of his later years and it sounds like he was relatively happy and sane, if somewhat reclusive and Rosemary is one of the few people that seem to be able to give a first person account of those years.

RIP Syd what a legend

wish more paintings from the '80s onward survived and if they did survive, hope we'll be given opportunity to see them.

Mapcap Laughs is the greatest album of the 60's.

I remember I met him and Rosemary in December 1991, in Cambridge,in front of his house. I came all the way from Italy just with the hope to meet and see him, and after a girl downtown told me where his address was, I simply went there. And after few minutes a car appeared with Roger and Rosemary inside. I think she still remembers that... I still think having Roger in front of me like one of the deepest emotions of my whole life.

More popular after death than they were in life. Same as Hendrix, Moon etc. I think this only happens when you die younger than the average person. I suppose it's the thought of what could have been if they'd only lived longer.

Yeah this confirms my belief. Syd saw how commercial his music became and he checked out. The music industry has a way of sucking the life from true artists.

Rosemary is a lovely looking woman!!.She must've been beautiful when she was a young bird

I think he didn't crave celebrity. However, I believe that music was more than a hobby. Happy birthday wherever you are.

Lovely sister. ,,👍❤️

her view while charmingly innocent but a bit naive, I think he was indeed a little bit mad, and did enjoy being in the music scene at the time,and evidently so he was just as much a musician as a painter in terms of passion -- however seems he could not handle criticism & rejection in music where in painting was not a factor . but I think he had an all around understanding of things, that's what made him who he was. to say syd's entire identity was a painter who made a pit stop in music and went back to painting , is lacking some sight .

Turn down the mic while she's talking, and turn it up for ambient noise. Interesting strategy.

Syd was "an artist who dabbled in pop music." His music career was not meant to last.

I wonder if she got to ride Syd's bike when she was a kid. You know the Bike which had a basket in front and some things that made it look good.

She seemed like a great sister who took good care of her brother.

is syds sister still alive?

the pink floyd bummed him completely out of existence.

Un vero genio

Yippie you can't see me!!! But I can you. - Syd

Ohhhh my favorite person !!

Nice to put a face to the name, she seems lovely. Syd was lucky to have her.

The picture at 1:45 looks like Roger waters.

TE AMO SYD BARRET HASTA TODOS LOS UNIVERSOS TU ERES FUISTE Y SERAS EL MEJOR EL REY DE LA SICODELIA SIN TI PINK FLOY NO EXITIRIA ASI DE SIMPLE

Its nice to hear this perspective from someone close to Roger

Everything his sister said were the answers

syd had lots of girlfriends. a incel with a normal mind cant even get one girlfriend. im not bashing syd just speaking facts.

To this day See Emily Play is mesmerizing and fascinating to me.

Couldn't help but notice a picture of a Terrapin over Rosemary's shoulder..also the first track on "The Madcap Laughs" by Syd. Shine on.

What a lovely lady

I loved the painting of the bugs that was the cover to Barrett.

Yeah a movie for Syd.

I'm really high strung, I don't know if I could even survive one single acid trip. I did mushrooms once and I was reading a magazine and the letters started moving and jumping out of the page. I don't know but I could see acid really burning a brain out.

God said: "and in the earth there are signs for those who are certain, and within your psyches, don't you see ???!!!!" This man has died since ages and still what was in his heart exists in the minds of his fans, what an incredible human beings we (humans) are.

he was beautiful

Love you Roger Barrett. Thank you for all you did. R.I.P.!

I will always love and thank you dear Roger