1930 Bands That Were Successful Spinoffs from a Psychedelic Rock Band
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Check out this list of successful bands from the 1930s that started as a spinoff from a psychedelic rock band. You’ll be surprised at how many big names are on the list!
The Doors
One of the most influential and controversial bands of the 1960s, the Doors were founded in Los Angeles in 1965 by UCLA film students Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison. The band’s sound was a fusion of rock, blues, jazz, and classical music, and their lyrics were often surreal, poetic, and suggestive of drug use and sexual activity. The Doors were one of the first American bands to achieve widespread success with a psychedelic rock sound, and their live shows were often wild and chaotic. The band’s portrayal of Morrison as a charismatic, shaman-like figure made them a popular target for criticism, and their music was banned from many radio stations.
The Doors of the 21st Century
The Doors of the 21st Century (also known as The XX or D21C) is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 2001. The band consists of Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger, John Densmore, and Ian Astbury.
The band is a continuation of The Doors following the death of lead singer Jim Morrison in 1971. They have released two albums, celebration and Live in New York City, and have toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe.
The Doors of the 21st Century were originally formed to honor the 40th anniversary of The Doors’ self-titled debut album. The band’s first public performance was at the House of Blues in Las Vegas on February 12, 2002.
The band has been praised for their live performances, with critics often citing Manzarek’s keyboard work and Astbury’s vocals as highlights.
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which blended elements of folk, blues, country, jazz, and rock. The Dead were one of the most successful psychedelic bands of their time. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
The Other Ones
The Other Ones was a 1998 spin-off from the Grateful Dead formed by Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, and Mickey Hart. The band also included Bruce Hornsby on piano, Mark Karan on guitar, and Steve Kimock on lead guitar. The group toured in 1998 and 2000, and released one live album, The Strange Remain, in 1999.
The Dead
The Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in San Francisco. The band was originally composed of Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, Bill Kreutzmann, and Phil Lesh. The band’s music blended elements of psychedelic rock, country, folk, bluegrass, and blues. They are also known for their improvisational jams and extended musical solos.
The Dead rose to prominence in the counterculture movement of the 1960s and ’70s. They were one of the most popular live acts of their era and were known for their devoted fan base, known as “Deadheads.” The band toured extensively throughout their career and released a number of live albums as well as studio albums. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
Jefferson Airplane
One of the most popular Psychedelic San Francisco bands from the ’60s was the Jefferson Airplane. They were influential in the development of the counterculture of the ’60s. The Airplane was successful in creating a new style of rock music that was based on their own unique blend of folk, blues, and rock.
Hot Tuna
Hot Tuna is an American blues rock band formed in 1969 by Jefferson Airplane bassist Jack Casady and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen. Although originally formed as a side project from Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna would go on to release thirteen studio albums and achieve critical and commercial success in their own right.
Hot Tuna’s self-titled debut album was released in 1970 and reached number thirty-six on the Billboard 200 chart. The album featured a mix of original songs and blues covers, and laid the foundation for the band’s sound. Hot Tuna’s second album, First Pull Up, Then Pull Down, was released in 1971 and reached number forty-eight on the Billboard 200. The album further cemented the band’s sound, with a mix of original songs, traditional blues covers, and psychedelic jams.
Hot Tuna would go on to release a string of successful albums throughout the 1970s, including Burgers (1972), The Phosphorescent Rat (1973), Jefferson Starship – Blows Against the Empire (1973), and Engineers (1975). In addition to their studio work, Hot Tuna were also prolific live performers, documented on such live albums as Live at Sweetwater (1972) and Double Dose (1998).
Hot Tuna continue to tour and release new music today, with their most recent studio album being 2005’s Steady as She Goes. Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen are the only two original members remaining in the band, but Hot Tuna’s current lineup features some of the most accomplished musicians in modern blues rock.
The Byrds
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young is a spinoff band that was successful in the 1970s. The group was made up of four members: David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, and Neil Young. The four were all previously members of the psychedelic rock band The Byrds.
