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Even if you’re not concerned with the significant genetic component that determines human longevity, the emotional and spiritual inheritance we are bequeathed makes it imperative that we choose our parents wisely. Roger Waters, the principal creative songwriter, lyricist and co-lead vocalist of Pink Floyd lost his dad in the Second World War when he was only 5 months old. The fact that he has no personal shared memories with his father hasn’t stopped his absence having a profound effect on Roger’s life and his music and even at 70 himself, the thought of his dad approving of his achievements is enough to reduce him to tears.
It’s not the fear of mortality but the awareness of life not being a dress rehearsal that is behind this sentiment of proving oneself or making things happen in life. Even if it’s clear that life is so finite, it still seems difficult to muster the courage to hang everything and go out and ‘singe the beard of the King of Spain and have his aulde lady to boot’. Usually our conformity and introversion prevent us from knocking a policeman’s helmet off or pushing over a kebab van. There does seem some truth however in the maxim: ‘Be good, be bad but don’t be grey.’
In 1966 Syd Barrett was Pink Floyd’s front-man, guitarist, and songwriter. He wrote or co-wrote all but one track of their debut LP. By late 1967, Barrett’s deteriorating mental health and increasingly erratic behaviour, rendered him “unable or unwilling” to continue being in the band and in early March 1968 the other members of Pink Floyd met with managers to discuss the band’s future. Barrett subsequently agreed to leave Pink Floyd.
‘Genius is flawed’.
It’s not only of Mozart that one can say: ‘Musical perfection. Take one note away and the result is diminished.’
A Monkey in Manhattan 