I Wish you were here... y el deseo se cumplió!

Wish You Were Here es un álbum semiconceptual de Pink Floyd grabado en 1975 en el que la banda rinde tributo a Syd Barrett, quien había tenido que abandonarla a fines de los años 1960 por sus problemas mentales. A medida que la fama de Pink Floyd crecía, su abuso de drogas psicoactivas (especialmente LSD) fue afectándole cada vez más, llegando a incapacitarlo para actuar en conciertos o asumir cualquier responsabilidad como parte del grupo. Hay una curiosa anécdota que ocurrió durante la grabación de este álbum, tras mucho tiempo sin tener noticias de Barrett, éste apareció en el estudio. Había engordado y se había afeitado todo el pelo, incluso sus cejas. Estaba tan cambiado que ni sus excompañeros lo reconocieron. Fue la primera vez que los miembros de la banda lo vieron en años. La historia la relataron en una entrevista para un documental de la BBC. Os dejo el fragmento de la anécdota tal cual.


"In an interview for the 2001 BBC Omnibus documentary 'Syd Barrett: Crazy Diamond" (later released on DVD as The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story), the story is told in full. Rick Wright spoke about the session, saying: "One thing that really stands out in my mind, that I'll never forget; I was going in to the "Shine On" sessions. I went in the studio and I saw this guy sitting at the back of the studio, he was only as far away as you are from me. And I didn't recognise him. I said, 'Who's that guy behind you?' 'That's Syd.' And I just cracked up, I couldn't believe it... he had shaven all his hair off... I mean, his eyebrows, everything... he was jumping up and down brushing his teeth, it was awful. And, uh, I was in, I mean Roger was in tears, I think I was; we were both in tears. It was very shocking... seven years of no contact and then to walk in while we're actually doing that particular track. I don't know – coincidence, karma, fate, who knows? But it was very, very, very powerful". In the same documentary, Nick Mason stated: "When I think about it, I can still see his eyes, but... it was everything else that was different". In that same interview, Roger Waters has said: "I had no idea who he was for a very long time". David Gilmour stated : "None of us recognised him. Shaved...shaved bald head and very plump". In the 2006 'definitive edition' DVD release of The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story in the UK/Europe the director John Edginton's interviews with Barrett's former Floyd colleagues are included unedited, with far more detail of their feelings and actions during Syd Barrett's tragic breakdown and withdrawal from the band. This 2 dvd set is due for US (Region 1) in September 2007." - Syd Barrett - Wish You Were Here sessions -

So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell,
blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have you found? The same old fears.
Wish you were here.

Paginas de Pink Floyd:
http://www.pinkfloyd.co.uk
http://www.pinkfloyd.com
Disco Wish you were here:
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wish_You_Were_Here
The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story Documental:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368147/

Por mi parte, voy a probar a cantar el "How I Wish you were here... " a ver si el Professor Farsnworth (el colaborador más asocial de este blog) aparece también!
Un saludo :)