Pete Townshend regrets friendship with Syd Barrett
The legacy of psychedelic rock is littered with legends, but few relationships carry the weight and complexity of the bond between Pete Townshend and Pink Floyd‘s original visionary, Syd Barrett. In a recent reflection, Townshend offered a candid look at his complicated feelings concerning the fate of his friend, Syd Barrett, as the psychedelic era faded.
When reflecting on the band’s formative years, Townshend admitted that his admiration for the group—and specifically for Barrett—was immense. He recalled their connection fondly, stating that he knew Barrett intimately, noting that his friend was often deeply immersed in his own world, describing him as “nuts” and frequently on LSD.
When pressed on the reasons behind Barrett’s decline, Townshend leaned into the shared understanding that surrounded the era. He concurred with Roger Waters’ assessment that Barrett’s struggle was rooted in mental health, suggesting that the pressures of the time were profound.
Townshend emphasized the brilliance of Barrett’s musical output, praising how intensely psychedelic his work was. He highlighted Barrett’s use of distortion, noting how brilliantly Nick Mason would capture that sound and transform it into a driving power chord. For Townshend, this experimental freedom was undeniably impressive.
The shared experience of the band was deeply interwoven with their lives. Townshend remembered spending time near Barrett, living alongside Storm Thorgerson, and while their interactions weren’t always deep conversations, they shared a common artistic ground as art students. This shared world created a unique, if sometimes fleeting, kinship.
Despite the closeness they shared, Townshend acknowledged the passage of time and the regret that comes with it. He confessed that he wished they had managed to cultivate a deeper friendship and wished he had been able to hold onto Barrett longer.
Looking back, Townshend admitted that this feeling of regret is something many who knew Barrett share. He reflected that while the bond may not have been the closest among them, there was a sense of kindred spirit that existed between them.
The journey through rock history also brought other personal reckonings. Townshend conceded that his earlier harsh opinions regarding Led Zeppelin were partly fueled by competition. Now, revisiting the albums, he admitted that there is genuinely “some fucking great stuff” within that catalogue, recognizing the undeniable genius of those contemporaries.
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