Syd Barrett co-founded and named Pink Floyd, wrote most of its early songs, anticipated the psychedelic era of the `60s - and then all but disappeared from the British rock scene he helped transform, a victim of drug abuse and mental illness. 

Barrett's death at age 60, announced Tuesday, ended one of the saddest declines in rock annals. A Pink Floyd spokeswoman said Barrett died several days ago, but she did not disclose the cause. He had suffered from diabetes.