Imagine it's 1987 again . . . and you're grooving to the new PINK FLOYD single "Learning to Fly".  But instead of DAVID GILMOUR'S guitar solo . . . a beat drops, and David busts out a RAP about flying or something.

Sounds like a HORRIBLE idea right?  Well, it almost happened.

BOB EZRIN co-wrote the song and co-produced the "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" album with David.  He was ALL ABOUT the hip-hop craze that was going on in the mid-'80s, and suggested that they incorporate a rap break into the song.

He tells Spinner.com, quote, "I became fascinated with [rap] in the Afrika Bambaataa days.  I'm an early adopter.  I actually brought some in when we were doing [the album].

"I brought [it] to David Gilmour [saying], 'Boy, I think this stuff with a rock beat would be awesome.'  He said, 'Oh my God, that would be terrible.'  He couldn't believe it.  He hated the idea."

Ezrin seems to acknowledge that it probably wouldn't have worked . . . but he was right.  The rap-rock thing would eventually take off, for better or worse.