Shine On Crazy Diamond!

The news of the passing of Pink Floyd original front man Syd Barrett has left me with a few philosophical questions.
Why would someone have to suffer to allow others to prosper?
Think about it. If Syd had not "suffered" and became mentally unstable from, according to the official version, pressures of fame and drug use(while members of the group admit he would have had a breakdown regardless of the drug use) would we have the Pink Floyd that came to be.
Would a Syd Barrett led Pink Floyd create a "Dark Side of the Moon"? What then would be the inspiration for "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" or arguably the groups best song "Wish You Were Here"?
One could argue the latter was the result of perseverance of the remaining members, and that you can't cry in your coffee, you must do what you feel is right and move on.
Or you can argue that is was all fate, and that Syd and his "collapse" gave the band the name recognition or stigma the band needed and used it to jump start their careers and they never let you forget that, hence the reason for "Wish You Were Here".
Either way(or neither) one mans suffering in this life in now over, and the rumors will now fly on whether or not the band will get back together(again) in tribute.
While I don't like rumors or phony like tributes, but in this case it maybe necessary.
Pink Floyd's reunion last year was to help in the cause to bring awareness for the plight in Africa. This time they could help bring awareness to the suffering of mental illness and the awareness that without Syd, there probably wasn't a Pink Floyd.

Blondies Induction Gives Me a Super Cramp!

Once a year I get myself all worked up when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame lists their new inductees. It is not so much of who they let in these days, it's who they let in, in comparison to who is not in.
The first few years of inductions it is real hard to argue about any of them. I don't think we are going to have any discussions about whether The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who or if even Pink Floyd should be in. But the last few years some interesting artists and groups of admittingly "good" quality and have been inducted, including the recent (or forthcoming)induction of Blondie (?!?), while other "great" groups like Supertramp and Yes are on the outside looking in.
Granted all of this is mostly a matter of personal taste, but let's go to the map here shall we and compare some of the more recent additions.
Start with Blondie, and then we go with Black Sabbath, ZZ Top, Bob Seger, Jackson Browne(????),Talking Heads, Tom Petty (with his Heartbreakers) and Elvis Costello.
Like I said these are good groups, but are they "Hall of Famers"?
ZZ Top is in, but doesn't that mean The Doobie Brothers should be in.
Black Sabbath and AC/DC being in opens the door for Van Halen (with either lead singer)doesn't it?
Jackson Browne is a great songwriter, but so is Barry Manilow.
A huge insult, Herb Alpert is in, but not as a performer, only as a collaborator with Jerry Moss in creating A&M records.
And does anybody other than music critics really like The Band?
I'm not really interested in debating these issues, just with the comparisons and the evidence presented, next year induct Supertramp into the hall or it will be the "Crime of the Century"!
Have a great weekend!