The Name Game…

Pink Floyd’s name was derived from the given names of two blues musicians that Syd Barrett had in his record collection—Pink Anderson and Floyd Council, Barrett created it on the spur of the moment, when he discovered that another band was using the same name “Tea Set” and were performing at one of their gigs.

Pink Anderson & Floyd Council = Pink Floyd

Marilyn Manson’s stage name was formed from the names of actress Marilyn Monroe and convicted murderer Charles Manson.

Marilyn Monroe & Charles Manson = Marilyn Manson

raul Pink Floyd, Quick Tidbit Marilyn Manson, Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett

Syd Barrett is most remembered as a founding member of psychedelic rock band Pink Floyd, providing major musical and stylistic direction in their early work, although he left the group in 1968 amidst speculations of mental illness as a consequence of, or exacerbated by heavy drug use.

Barrett had one noted reunion with the members of Pink Floyd, which occurred during the recording sessions for Wish You Were Here on 5 June 1975.  The band were in the process of completing a final mix of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” (which happens to be about him), when an overweight man—replete with a shaven head and eyebrows, and clutching a plastic bag—entered the room at Abbey Road.

Roger Waters, who was working in the studio, initially did not recognize him and Richard Wright was also mystified by the identity of the visitor. He presumed that the man was a friend of Waters’ and asked him, but soon realized that it was Syd.  David Gilmour presumed he was an EMI staff member,  Nick Mason also failed to recognize him.

Barrett’s behavior at the session was erratic, and he spent part of the session jumping up and down while brushing his teeth.  Waters was reportedly deeply upset by the sight of his former band-mate, who was asked by a fellow visitor how he had managed to gain so much weight. Barrett said he had a large refrigerator in his kitchen, and that he had been eating lots of pork chops.  He also mentioned that he was ready to avail the band of his services, but on listening to the mix of “Shine On” showed no sign of understanding its relevance to his plight.  Waters finally managed to ask him what he thought of the song, and he simply said he did not like it, and walked out of the studio. This would be the last time any member of Pink Floyd would ever see him as none of the band members saw him from that day to his death in 2006.

raul Pink Floyd Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett

The photo on the cover of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” was taken by Storm Thorgerson who had accompanied the band on their 1974 tour, and had given serious thought to the meaning of the lyrics, eventually deciding that the songs were, in general, concerned with “unfulfilled presence”, rather than Syd Barrett’s illness.

The concept behind the songs “Welcome to the Machine” and “Have a Cigar” suggested the use of a handshake (an often empty gesture).  The album’s cover image was inspired by the idea that people tend to conceal their true feelings, for fear of “getting burned”, and thus two businessmen were pictured shaking hands, one man on fire. “Getting burned” was also a common phrase in the music industry, used often by artists denied royalty payments.

Two stuntmen were used Ronnie Rondell (pictured above) and Danny Rogers.  Rondell (man on fire) was dressed in a fire-retardant suit covered by a business suit. His head was protected by a hood, underneath a wig. Initially the wind was blowing in the wrong direction, and the flames were forced into Rondell’s face, burning his moustache. The two stuntmen changed positions, and the image was later reversed.

The photograph was taken at the Warner Bros. studios lot in Burbank, California.

George Hardie also designed a sticker containing the album’s logo of two mechanical hands engaged in a handshake, to be placed on the opaque sleeve.

The decision to shroud the cover in black plastic was not popular with the band’s US record company, Columbia Records, who insisted that it be changed (they were over-ruled). EMI were however less concerned.  The band were reportedly extremely happy with the end product, and when presented with a pre-production mockup, they accepted it with a spontaneous round of applause.  This is what the album looked like when bought at stores.

raul Pink Floyd Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett

So….what’s wrong with this picture of Pink Floyd? That’s right! There are five members posing here. For a couple of months in early 1968, the band existed as a five-piece before making the transition from Syd Barrett to David Gilmour.

A Saucerful Of Secrets was recorded before, during, and after this brief existence as a five piece and is an interesting snapshot of one Floyd breaking down and another just beginning.

While quite a bit more grounded without a fully functional Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd’s second album manages to keep some of the LSD-drenched Piper-scapes alive while beginning to show hints of what would come.

raul Pink Floyd Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett