[HyperBully]

What direction do you think the band would have gone in? Would they have been as popular/relevant as they eventually became? Do you think Syd would have eventually left anyway? Would David Gilmour have ever joined the band? Would any of their later classic albums (Meddle, Dark Side of the Moon, etc.) have ever been created? If they were, how different do you think they would be? This is, of course, assuming Syd didn't completely lose his mind as he did. I personally think the band would've released a couple more albums with Syd at the helm, in the same psychedelic/quirky fashion as Piper, to moderate critical and commercial success, before he went on to pursue a solo career after the rest of the band grew tired of his increasingly bizarre styles of music. The rest of the band members may or may not have chosen to continue as Pink Floyd. If they did, I don't think it would be exactly the same, and some of their numbers in tribute to Syd, such as "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," wouldn't have existed (that fact alone almost makes me glad Syd went insane, as bad as that sounds), but I think they would've ended up on a similar path eventually. In any case, I think Roger Waters would've found a venue for his songwriting talents. They were simply too brilliant to remain in the shadows. What do you all think would've happened?

[Bork]

I think I hinted to it in a thread long ago, but I believe Syd Barrett is one of the most overrated, if not THE most overrated, person in popular music. If he would have stayed with Floyd it is very likely they would never have become anything much, and people wouldn't give Piper all it's undeserved glory as it is their later greatness that shines off on that flawed album (it's not a bad one by any means, but it is far from a masterpiece).

[Elston]

This is difficult to discuss because, quite simply, I can't imagine it happening. The thing with Syd Barrett was that he was a unique and original artist who cared about nothing more than his own personal vision. Thus he was particularly bad at compromising with his band mates. Not only that, but he seemed to lack the confidence and entrepreneurship to really grab the reins and lead the band towards his ideal (save for the first album). Add to that the fact that he was more artistically mature than his band mates (at that time), which may have led to alienation and depression (which seemed to play itself out again later in Floyd).

To me the best comparison to Syd Barrett is someone like Captain Beefheart, who needed a troupe of loyal followers to act out his perverted fantasies. Unlike Syd, Von Vliet was a noted egotist and, if reports can be believed, an all around fascist tyrant who forced his will upon his band mates. Thus he was able to properly realize his vision. Syd Barrett's problems seem to revolve around his timidity and over sensitivity, which left him incapable of collaborating with his group. I also somewhat agree with Bork that the myth of Barrett has given him a somewhat inflated stature. Still, if you listen listen to his pop albums (Madcap + Barrett) you see there is a wealth of potential. He wrote weird, tricky chord progressions with cryptic yet fitting lyrics; and I think it's safe to say this is the direction the band would have headed in (ie more pop-y).

I think if there's a lesson to be learned from Syd Barrett, it's that being creative is not enough. You have to have ambition. You have to be an ass-kicker to get things done. See Frank Zappa for a further example of this.

[Polythene Pam]

Well If you have heard the Flaming Lips version of DSOTM that is probably the direction the band would have taken

[Romanelli]

I think the easier question is this:

If David Gilmour had never joined Pink Floyd....

[kingofwine]

Totally agree with Bork. I can't listen to anything Floyd did with Barrett. Too much acid equals shit music!

[maxperenchio]

The question is really what would the Floyd sound like if Syd never turned into a bat-shit lunatic... I mean, if history stayed the same, he still went crazy, but just never got kicked out, and the greatness of Waters and gang was relegated to playing songs like "Maisie" and "Octopus", well I guess they would have just become another 60s-cult-band-with-token-misunderstood-genius like Love.

If he didn't burn out and kept his head on straight, who knows what he would have done. I'm not afraid to be the lone wolf and stick up for the Sydster here, I think he was a true psychedelic pioneer. I mean if you got Lennon in '68 writing you psuedo-tribute songs ("What's the New Mary Jane") you have to be doing something right. The dude had a vibe.

[SquishypuffDave]

I think he certainly would have grown as a musician and Pink Floyd would have grown as a band. Syd would have inevitably come out with some damn good songs.

[cooperman]

In my opinion Syd managed to produce what I see as the holy grail in pop music, that is the three minute pop song that is ground breaking, melodic, catchy and cool. This is most demonstrated with Arnold Layne and See Emily Play. I'm sure Joe Boyd's production had a lot to do with it, but to me those songs rank with the best of the Kinks, Stones, Who, Faces etc in the pop music singles stakes.

Pink Floyd without Syd never were really able to achieve that again. So how would the band have been if Syd hadn't left (or hadn't had to leave because of health)? Hopefully there would have been a few more singles, strong melodies. I think there are a few class potential singles on his solo albums too, Who fancies doing 'No Good Trying'?
Cheers All