Syd Barrett, troubled talent of Pink Floyd, dies at 60

London – Syd Barrett, the troubled talent who co-founded Pink Floyd but spent his last years in reclusive anonymity, has died, a spokeswoman for the band said Tuesday. He was 60.

His cause of death was not disclosed. Barrett had suffered from diabetes for many years.

Barrett co-founded Pink Floyd in 1965 with Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Rick Wright, and wrote many of the band’s early songs. The group’s jazz-infused rock and drug-laced, multimedia “happenings” made them darlings of the London psychedelic scene. The 1967 album “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn” – largely written by Barrett, who also played guitar – was a commercial and critical hit.

But Barrett suffered from mental instability, exacerbated by his use of LSD. His behavior grew increasingly erratic, and he left the group in 1968 – five years before the release of Pink Floyd’s most popular album, “Dark Side of the Moon.” He was replaced by David Gilmour.

Despite his brief career, Barrett’s fragile, wistful songs influenced many musicians, from David Bowie – who covered the Barrett track “See Emily Play” – to the other members of Pink Floyd, who recorded the album “Wish You Were Here” as a tribute to their troubled bandmate.

It contained the song “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” – “Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun.” The band also dwelt on themes of mental illness on the albums “Dark Side of the Moon” and “The Wall.”

A band spokeswoman said a small, private funeral would be held.

Cruise-Holmes baby still hidden 3 months after birth

New York – Almost three months after the birth of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ daughter, the Shroud of Suri has yet to be lifted.

Suri Cruise has yet to be seen in public, either in person or photographically, since entering the world April 18.

The secrecy is in stark contrast to the couple’s radically public courtship. Cruise, 44, and Holmes, 27, spared no photo-op during their whirlwind romance. They are now engaged, though there has been no word on wedding plans.

The top Invisible Baby theory involves Cruise’s Scientology beliefs. The religion’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard, was very specific about how infants should be treated, and taught that birth should occur in a silent environment.

When Cruse and Nicole Kidman were married, their two adopted children weren’t photographed until 1996, when son Conor Anthony was a year old and daughter Isabella Jane was 3.

Happy as a soccer mom

New York – Pamela Anderson may have a stripper pole in her bedroom, but she’s a soccer mom at heart.

“I go to every game!” says the 39-year-old actress, discussing her young sons’ sports schedules in an interview in the August issue of House & Garden magazine.

Anderson has two children, Brandon, 10, and Dylan, 8, from her marriage to now ex-husband Tommy Lee.

Her Malibu, Calif., home is featured in the magazine, which describes Anderson’s cozy bungalow as “hippie-chick-meets-Miss Havisham.” The former “Baywatch” star would not let House & Garden show her bedroom, which has a stripper pole.

Anderson, photographed in a white oxford shirt and shorts, remains true to her beach-bunny image.

“I’m obsessed with living on the beach,” she says. “I love being outdoors, and think a tan is very sexy. I’ll lie out on white towels strewn with pillows. I don’t like to hide under hats!”

Jessica Simpson to co-host Teen Choice awards

New York – Jessica Simpson’s schedule is getting even busier now that she’s co-hosting the Teen Choice awards.

The eighth annual special will air live Aug. 20 on Fox (7 p.m.). Her co-host will be announced at a later date, Fox said Tuesday. At “Teen Choice 2006,” Simpson is nominated for choice movie breakout performance for her role as Daisy Duke in “The Dukes of Hazzard,” choice red carpet fashion icon and choice hottie.

In the youth-centric ceremony, teen-friendly stars of film, television, music, sports and fashion win surfboard awards.

Voters can cast their ballots until Aug. 11 on the Web sites Teenpeople.com, MySpace.com, Ign.com and Fox.com.

Simpson, 26, stars in the comedy “Employee of the Month,” which opens Sept. 15. Her new album, “A Public Affair,” debuts Aug. 29.

She and Nick Lachey, who co-starred in the MTV reality show “Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica,” recently divorced after three years of marriage.