Man 1975 on Wolfgang's Vault

[Rob the Organ]

Hey! I'm really in no mood to take prisoners today! Could be fun!

Okay then, you're on..


Syd Barrett and Skip Spence...

Two troubled geniuses (popular opinion) or two over-rated pain-in-the-arse attention seeking dickheads with little more than a handful of good tunes to contribute before self-destructing? Discuss.

[Ron S]

Hey! I'm really in no mood to take prisoners today! Could be fun!

Okay then, you're on..


Syd Barrett and Skip Spence...

Two troubled geniuses (popular opinion) or two over-rated pain-in-the-arse attention seeking dickheads with little more than a handful of good tunes to contribute before self-destructing? Discuss.

I saw Skippy Spence play drums for Jefferson Airplane. Amazing. He wrote a few great songs with them, before the did the business with Maybe Grope. Blues From An Airplane and My Best Friend, nothing wrong with those two classics, is there? And Syd, well if it weren't for him, no Pink Floyd. Who cares is they were a bright spark and then burn out... a lot of people who survived, only made one good record, and then tortured us for years afterward with useless stuff.

By the time I saw Moby Grape, Skip was gone, and Bob Moseley wasn't looking that well. Skips solo album has some great moments. I had a pal, who was a great guy, great taste in music, but sadly a taste for the whiskey. Him and Spence used to walk around downtown San Jose, getting outta their minds, often losing the car... I never had the pleasure, but I'm sure it was not fun for anyone else.

I won't join in a game of knocking real talents, due to "personal" problems. All I'm concerned about is the music. Now, if one of these guys had moved into my house, eaten all my food, smoked up all my stash, and sold my guitars, then I might have a problem. There are a lot of musicians who are probably just fine human beans, but their music is gawdawful. I could string 'em up like a pinata, and see who'd be the first with the stick... but nah, I just ignore 'em. Unless some idiot gets in my face and tries to tell me the Grand Funk version of Gimmie Shelter was better than the Stones.... then I will speak ill of the talentless.

 

[Rob the Organ]

I saw Skippy Spence play drums for Jefferson Airplane. Amazing. He wrote a few great songs with them, before the did the business with Maybe Grope. Blues From An Airplane and My Best Friend, nothing wrong with those two classics, is there? And Syd, well if it weren't for him, no Pink Floyd. Who cares is they were a bright spark and then burn out... a lot of people who survived, only made one good record, and then tortured us for years afterward with useless stuff.

By the time I saw Moby Grape, Skip was gone, and Bob Moseley wasn't looking that well. Skips solo album has some great moments. I had a pal, who was a great guy, great taste in music, but sadly a taste for the whiskey. Him and Spence used to walk around downtown San Jose, getting outta their minds, often losing the car... I never had the pleasure, but I'm sure it was not fun for anyone else.

I won't join in a game of knocking real talents, due to "personal" problems. All I'm concerned about is the music. Now, if one of these guys had moved into my house, eaten all my food, smoked up all my stash, and sold my guitars, then I might have a problem. There are a lot of musicians who are probably just fine human beans, but their music is gawdawful. I could string 'em up like a pinata, and see who'd be the first with the stick... but nah, I just ignore 'em. Unless some idiot gets in my face and tries to tell me the Grand Funk version of Gimmie Shelter was better than the Stones.... then I will speak ill of the talentless.

Ron,

Don't think that I necessarily subscribe to the cold and harsh contra-opinion scenario that I laid out for discussion. I probably hover somewhere in between. Your points are all good, especially Grand Funk. Could they do anything better than somebody else? I doubt it.

Now I love Moby Grape but a while back I finally got a copy of "Oar" and hated every second of it. Whereas I hold Moby Grape 69 up as one of my favourites, despite only one Spence original that the others finished off, so understandably did wonder how "essential" Skippy really was. As for JA, "J.P.P. McStep B. Blues" is my favourite Skip moment.

Syd Barrett? Yes, no Floyd without him. But I'll take "More" as my favourite Floyd LP any day of the week. I do have a soft spot for "See Emily Play" but have no more opinion on Syd, which is why I ask the question...

[Nick Nation]

Maybe Grope.

Oops, I've been triggered. Nothing can stop me now. I am past the point of inevitability....

The Dreadful Gate.

Next......

[Mark Davies]

Allmans did use the format better, as you say, but still I'd go further than that though - did the Allmans need two drummers? Does anybody?

For me, yes they did. The fact that there was always so much going with the rhythm section was a big piece of the Allman's sound.

[mikes]

It did work with the Doobie Brothers as well.

By the way: Who's hanging 'round musicians all the time? - Drummers. 

[Rob the Organ]

I did always enjoy the mix of Sam Clayton's percussion with Richie Haywards full kit in Little Feat - maybe some different percussion to complement one main drummer gives it an edge.

But yes - both Doobies and Allmans used two drummers far more effectively than the Dead, who simply became the Mickey Hart show.

[Rob the Organ]

Maybe Grope.

Oops, I've been triggered. Nothing can stop me now. I am past the point of inevitability....

The Dreadful Gate.

Next......

Best not to attempt Country Joe & the Fish.....

[Ron S]

Syd Barrett? Yes, no Floyd without him. But I'll take "More" as my favourite Floyd LP any day of the week. I do have a soft spot for "See Emily Play" but have no more opinion on Syd, which is why I ask the question...

Piper and the related singles are different enough to be considered a separate band. I agree, More is a wonderful record, and along with Obscured By Clouds at the top of my Floyd play list. These are the only other PF records besides Piper (and to a certain extent Saucer) which are not dominated by a concept, leaving just a nice collection of songs. The songs on Piper are very special to me, and they clearly were a major influence on every UK psych type band for the next couple of years.

[Davey]

yes syd was a serious dude. he wasn't phoning it in(not in the traditional meaning).you

know,listening to the man at winterland 75 intro of c'mon,you hear the balls of man getting over(i.e.and

carrying the torch)playing stuff(man was also on the ground floor in this regard) that got syd pegged as a

nut job(although apparently the crowds in san fran were digging it when he was doing that).because of

the nature of the music business,i don't believe syd barrett got a fair shake.that's my opinion and i'm

sticking to it.peace to the rest of floyd and everything...good night for now,just on the tip of the ice berg

as it were-love and peace-davey