Why Syd Barrett's Ghost Haunted the 1975 Wish You Were Here Tour — and the Night Pink Floyd Played 'Shine On' at Boston Garden

The most surreal moment of the Wish You Were Here era happened before the album was even finished. During the sessions at Abbey Road, a heavyset, bald man walked in wearing a raincoat. Nobody recognized him for several minutes — it was Syd Barrett, the band’s lost founder, who had drifted away years earlier due to mental health struggles. He had gained weight and shaved off his hair and eyebrows. When the band finally realized who he was, they were stunned. According to engineer Brian Humphries, Syd stood by the console while the band played him “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” — a song about him — without him understanding it was a tribute. He left shortly after, and