13th Floor Elevators Psychedelic Rock Nightbeat

Looking for a psychedelic rock fix? Then head on down to Nightbeat on 13th Floor Elevators night. This is the place to be if you want to hear some of the best psychedelic rock around.

Introduction

The 13th Floor Elevators were an American rock band from Austin, Texas, formed in 1965. The band was led by Roky Erickson and featured a rotating cast of members throughout its history. The band was one of the first to popularize the use of psychedelic drugs in music and is considered by many to be one of the pioneers of psychedelic rock.

The band released four studio albums and one live album before disbanding in 1969. They reformed briefly in 1975 and released two more studio albums before disbanding again in 1996. In 2005, the band was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame.

The 13th Floor Elevators are credited with launching the career of Roky Erickson, who went on to become a successful solo artist. The band’s different lineup changes throughout its history meant that they never achieved widespread commercial success, but they remain an influential force in psychedelic rock music.

The 13th Floor Elevators

The 13th Floor Elevators were an American psychedelic rock band from Austin, Texas, formed in late 1965 by Roky Erickson, Tommy Hall, and Stacy Sutherland. The band was also known for their pioneering use of the first ever psychedelic rock song, ” You’re Gonna Miss Me.” The band had a significant impact on the development of psychedelic rock, and were later cited as an influence by groups such as the Stooges, the New York Dolls, Patti Smith, Television, the Grateful Dead, and R.E.M.

The Early Years

The 13th Floor Elevators were an American psychedelic rock band, formed in Austin, Texas, in late 1965. The band was led by lead singer and guitarist Roky Erickson, and included bassist Ronnie Leatherman, drummer John Ike Walton, electric jug player Tommy Hall, and guitarist Stacy Sutherland.

The band released their first album, The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators, in 1966. The album featured their most well-known song, “You’re Gonna Miss Me”, which was later covered by fellow Texas musicians ZZ Top. The album was a moderate success, reaching number 128 on the Billboard 200 chart.

The band’s follow-up album, Easter Everywhere, was released in 1967 and reached number 95 on the Billboard 200. The album featured the singles “Fire Engine” and “Slide Machine”. Easter Everywhere is considered to be one of the most important psychedelic rock albums of all time, and helped to cement the 13th Floor Elevators’ reputation as one of the premier psychedelic rock bands of the 1960s.

The band’s third and final studio album, Bull of the Woods, was released in 1968 and failed to chart. Following its release, the band began to experience internal struggles that led to its dissolution in early 1969. Roky Erickson continued to record and perform as a solo artist until his death in 2019.

The Success of Psychedelic Rock

The 13th Floor Elevators created and popularized the genre of psychedelic rock with their debut album, The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators. The album was released in 1966 to critical acclaim and commercial success, reaching #131 on the Billboard 200 chart. The band’s sound was a unique mix of electric blues, garage rock, and R&B that was heavily influenced by the drug culture of the time. The album’s success helped to pave the way for other psychedelic rock bands such as Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, and The Doors.

The Legacy of the 13th Floor Elevators

The 13th Floor Elevators were a psychedelic rock band that was active in the 1960s. The band was influential in the development of psychedelic rock and helped pioneer the Texas psychedelic rock sound. The band’s name comes from the fact that they were based in Austin, Texas, which is known for its high number of high-rise buildings.

The Music

The 13th Floor Elevators were an American rock band from Austin, Texas, formed in late 1965. The band was led by singer Roky Erickson, who wrote most of the band’s material. They are credited as being one of the first psychedelic rock bands. They were the first band to call themselves “psychedelic”.

The 13th Floor Elevators released four studio albums and seven singles. Their 1967 album Easter Everywhere was ranked number 100 in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list in 2003; it was ranked 111 in a 2012 survey of “The Best Psychedelic Albums of All Time” by Tape Op magazine. The album peaked at number 24 in the UK Albums Chart.

The band opened for many visiting performers at the Vulcan Gas Company, a music club located on Guadalupe Street which soon became known for showcasing groundbreaking new artists and bands. The group became an Austinite institution, and influenced many other local bands such as those that would later form the Austin-based Armadillo World Headquarters music scene in the 1970s.

The Influence

The band’s impact was far-reaching. Along with the Beatles’ landmark Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album, the 13th Floor Elevators helped define the psychedelic sound of the late 1960s. The group’s music influenced generations of rock musicians, including Roky Erickson’s solo work, punk rock, acid rock, garage rock, and other genres.

The Reunion

It’s been fifty years since the 13th Floor Elevators released their debut album, Psychedelic Rock, and the band is getting back together for a reunion concert. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see one of the most influential bands of the psychedelic rock era perform live.

The New Album

The Reunion is the new album from 13th Floor Elevators. It’s a collection of psychedelic rock songs that were inspired by the band’s experience playing at a music festival in Japan.

The album was recorded live in the studio, and it features some of the band’s most famous songs, like “You’re Gonna Miss Me” and “Fire Engine.”

The Reunion is available now on CD and vinyl, and it can also be downloaded from iTunes and Amazon.

The Tour

The 13th Floor Elevators were an American psychedelic rock band from Austin, Texas, formed in 1965. The band was also notable for their pioneering use of LSD and other psychedelic drugs, which resulted in changes to the band’s sound and live performances. The band released four studio albums and seven singles before disbanding in 1969.

The band reformed in 2015 for a reunion tour, which took place across the United States and Europe. The tour featured the original line-up of Roky Erickson, Tommy Hall, John Ike Walton, Stacy Sutherland, and Ronnie Leatherman.

Conclusion

It is clear that the 13th Floor Elevators were a hugely influential band in the development of psychedelic rock, and their sound continues to influence music today. They were a band that was ahead of their time, and their music is still relevant today. If you’re a fan of psychedelic rock, or simply want to explore the roots of this genre, then I highly recommend checking out the 13th Floor Elevators.