Barrett, the beautifully dishevelled rock star

Ithink Syd Barrett [above, during the shoot for The Madcap Laughs in 1969] was comfortable with me. He used to pop round, get stoned, listen to a couple of records – he loved John Coltrane – and after an hour or so he’d be: “I think I’m going now.” He wouldn’t necessarily stay long. Syd had a great look – the dishevelled, poetic English rock star, beautiful and burnt out. I got him at that moment in time. He said I took his favourite pictures.’