"Syd Barrett - Shine On You Crazy Diamond" Premium Unisex T-Shirt

"Remember When You Were Young, You Shone Like the Sun."

Syd Barrett founded Pink Floyd. He named the band. He wrote "Arnold Layne" and "See Emily Play" — the singles that made them. He wrote nearly every track on The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, their 1967 debut, one of the most original psychedelic albums ever recorded. He was, by every account, the most naturally gifted of them.

By 1968, he was gone. The combination of an undiagnosed mental illness and the chaos of sudden fame had made it impossible for him to perform reliably. The band quietly brought in David Gilmour — Syd's childhood friend from Cambridge — to cover for him, then to replace him. Syd Barrett was 22 years old.

He went home to Cambridge. He made two solo albums in 1970 — The Madcap Laughs and Barrett — fragile, strange, beautiful records that were largely ignored at the time. Then he withdrew from public life almost entirely and spent the rest of his years painting and gardening. He died in 2006.

In 1975, while Pink Floyd were recording Wish You Were Here at Abbey Road, a heavyset man with a shaved head walked into the studio. Nobody recognized him at first. It was Syd. He had come, apparently, to hear the album. The band was devastated. Roger Waters wept. They played him "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" — the 26-minute, nine-part tribute they had written for him — and he listened.

He left without saying much. It was the last time most of them saw him.

This tee is for people who know that story. For people who understand that The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and The Dark Side of the Moon were made by the same band, and what that distance means.

More from Pink Floyd: Explore our Classic Rock collection or our Prog Rock collection.

Premium Quality

• Bella + Canvas 3001 — Premium unisex tee, true to size
• Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton — Exceptionally soft from the first wear
• Classic unisex fit — Relaxed, versatile, works for everyone
• Tear-away label — Clean comfort, all day

Made to Order

For environmental and quality reasons, this tee is made specifically for you after you order. Please allow approximately one week for production. Tracking information will be sent as soon as it ships.