Syd Barrett’s Last Show and the Making of *A Saucerful of Secrets*

The most alarming part of Syd Barrett’s decline wasn’t just the spaced-out stares on stage—it was how useless he became in the studio. During the sessions for A Saucerful of Secrets (recorded between June 1967 and early 1968), Barrett would show up, play one chord for forty minutes, or stare at the wall. The band had already hired David Gilmour as a second guitarist in December 1967 to cover Syd’s parts live. By early 1968, Syd was only contributing one proper song to the album—“Jugband Blues”—and even that took multiple takes because he kept losing focus or tuning his guitar randomly.

His last full performance with Pink Floyd happened on January 20, 1968, at the Hastings Pier ballroom. The show was a disaster: Syd came on stage with his guitar detuned, played a single note repeatedly, then stood motionless with his arms at his sides. At one point he just walked off. The band finished the set without him