4 stars out of 5
When I was in college, I became a massive Robyn Hitchcock fan. But soon after, when I began listening to the work of Syd Barrett (I think because R.E.M. covered “Dark Globe”), it was one of those shocking moments — seemed like Mr. Hitchcock had absorbed quite a lot of influence from Barrett. I was very drawn to the cracked beauty of his solo songs and intrigued about his connection to Pink Floyd, which wasn’t a band that ever meant very much to me. Sure, we kids loved “Another Brick in the Wall” and it seemed naughty when they played “Money” on the radio and the lyrics said “bullshit.” But let’s just say I was never someone who played Dark Side of the Moon while watching The Wizard of Oz with the sound off. And now I aligned myself only with Syd-era Floyd.
And yet, I never knew that much about him. He blew his mind out in a car or some such and became a recluse. There was that great Television Personalities’ song “I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives.” He was spotted by photgraphers, bald and husky. He died. And that was that. So I was excited to see this definitive documentary, Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd. The credits list two directors. Storm Thorgerson is not a Nordic TV weatherman; he was the legendary graphic designer for not only Pink Floyd album covers but Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, ELO, etc. etc. Ah, but in 2013 he passed away and had passed the directing torch to Roddy Bogawa, who has been working on the project ever since.
Because Thorgerson was such a good friend of the band, he was easily able to interview surviving Floyd members Roger Waters, David Gilmour, and Nick Mason, as well as Syd’s sister and many of Syd’s old friends, girlfriends, record industry associates, and notable fans including Pete Townshend, (now sadly deceased) legendary photographer Mick Rock, Tom Stoppard, and Noel “Mighty Boosh” Fielding. Bogawa, who had been recruited by Thorgerson and was involved in the documentary project since its inception, now had to take all these pieces and form a cohesive narrative.
Which he totally does. It stays chronological, as we meet schoolboy Roger Keith Barrett, naturally talented artist who gains the nickname Syd as his interests shift to music. (Jason “Lucius Malfoy” Isaacs provides helpful narration.) It seems like the psychedelic era was both the breeding ground for his genius but ultimately his undoing, as narcotics loosened Syd’s grip on reality. This didn’t mesh well with whatever mental health issues he was dealing with, or not dealing with. And simultaneously, the grind of the band’s success further wore him down. Syd’s joyous spark vanishes — made sadly clear in the many vintage photos seen in the film. (Bogawa also includes much wonderful early performance footage of the band.) The following reclusive years — decades, really — are given context and are de-sensationalized.
Syd was an early example of the “mad genius” musician who ends up broken — a club that includes Brian Wilson, Roky Erickson, and Daniel Johnston; Cobain and Elliott Smith might be in some sub-chapter. It’s up to the viewer here to decide if this all adds up to Syd Barrett being a tragic figure. But beyond that, this is a story of creativity, self-discovery, commerce, well-being, regret, and ultimately about friendships, those we lose and those that hang on.
Browse: Home / movie reviews / Movie Review: Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd
Movie Review: Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd
By Jack Silbert on August 15, 2023
Posted in movie reviews | Tagged 20s movies, Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett
Jack Silbert, curator