Azure: The 1960’s Underground Psychedelic Rock Band
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Azure was one of the most popular underground psychedelic rock bands of the 1960s. Formed in San Francisco in 1966, the band was known for its powerful live performances and wild stage antics. Azure’s music was heavily influenced by the psychedelic rock scene of the time, and their debut album, ‘The Psychedelic Experience’, is considered a classic of the genre.
Despite their popularity, Azure disbanded in 1968 after just two years together. But their short time together left a lasting
History
Azure was an American psychedelic rock band, formed in 1966 in San Francisco. The band’s music was marked by extended jams, improvised passages, and innovative instrumentation, and they were among the first wave of psychedelic bands to achieve widespread popularity. The band consisted of brothers Marty Balin (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Paul Kantner (guitar, vocals), David Freiberg (bass, vocals, keyboards), Skip Spence (drums, percussion), and drummer Spencer Dryden.
Formed in the late 1960’s
Azure was an American psychedelic rock band that was active in the late 1960s. The band was formed in 1968 by singer and guitarist Doug Ingle, keyboardist Rico Reyes and drummer Danny Weis. They were soon joined by bassist Leon Thomas.
Grew out of the British blues scene
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, a number of British musicians became influenced by American blues music. They started playing in clubs and bars around London, and soon began to develop their own style of music. This new style of music, which came to be known as “British blues,” was a conglomeration of various influences, including Chicago blues, electric blues, and country blues.
The British blues scene was particularly vibrant in the 1960s. A number of famous musicians got their start playing in British blues bands, including Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck. One of the most successful and influential British blues bands was Azure.
Azure was formed in 1967 by keyboardist Tony Briggs and guitarist/singer Mick Taylor. The band quickly gained notoriety for their intense live shows and their innovative blend of various musical genres. In addition to blues, Azure’s music incorporated elements of jazz, psychedelic rock, and Indian classical music.
Azure released three albums during their brief career: Azure (1968), Second Album (1969), and Live at the Marquee (1970). The band’s self-titled debut album is widely considered to be one of the best psychedelic rock albums ever made. Unfortunately, Azure disbanded in 1970 after Mick Taylor left to join the Rolling Stones.
Originally known as The Blues Project
Azure was originally known as The Blues Project. The band was formed in New York City in 1965 by keyboardist Danny Kalb and guitarist Steve Katz. The Blues Project’s first album, Baby, Let Me Kiss You (Verve Folkways, 1965), was a collection of blues and R&B cover songs that featured the vocal talents of Al Kooper.
The group’s second album, Projections (Verve Folkways, 1966), was a more experimental affair that saw the band dabbling in psychedelic rock and avant-garde jazz. It also featured guest appearances from Kalb’s future wife Maria Muldaur and free jazz legend Ornette Coleman.
Azure’s third and final album, Third (Polydor, 1968), was a commercial flop that failed to capture the imagination of the band’s growing fanbase. Disillusioned with the music industry, Azure broke up shortly after its release.
Music
Azure was an American psychedelic rock band that was popular in the late 1960s. The band was formed in 1967 and released their debut album, Azure, in 1968. The album was well-received by critics and helped the band gain a following. Azure’s music was influenced by the psychedelic sound of the time and their live shows were known for their light show and use of fog machines.
Influenced by psychedelic and hard rock
Azure was an American 1960s underground psychedelic rock band,profoundly influenced by psychedelic and hard rock. Based in Detroit, Michigan, Azure’s original lineup consisted of Dave pleth (vocals), Larry Weathersby (bass), Mike Riordan (guitar), and Kevin Curran (drums).
Psychedelic rock, also referred to as psychedelia, is a diverse style of rock music inspired, influenced, or representative of psychedelic culture, which is centered on perception-altering hallucinogenic drugs. The music is intended to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. Psychedelic rock draws on non-Western sources such as the sitar and tabla and incorporates elements of jazz and folk rock.
Hard rock is a loosely defined subgenre of rock music that began in the mid-1960s, with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. It is typified by a heavy use of aggressive vocals, distorted electric guitars, bass guitar, drums, and often accompanied with keyboards.
Known for their improvisational live shows
Azure was an American underground rock band formed in the 1960s. They were known for their improvisational live shows and their eclectic blend of genres, including psychedelic rock, jazz, blues, and country. They were one of the few bands of their era to incorporate slide guitar into their sound.
The band was formed in 1966 by brothers Steve and Rick Marler, along with their friend Bob Cantrell. They began playing shows in the San Francisco Bay Area, and soon gained a following among the city’s hippie population. They released their self-titled debut album in 1967, which was well-received by critics and sold modestly well.
In 1968, the band relocated to Los Angeles, where they began playing shows at popular nightclubs such as the Whisky a Go Go and the Troubadour. They also gained a following among Hollywood celebrities, including Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson. The following year, they released their second album, titled Azure 2. The album was not as successful as their debut, and the band broke up shortly afterwards.
Despite their short career, Azure exerted a significant influence on the development of psychedelic rock music. Their live shows were particularly influential; many subsequent bands would attempt to recreate the improvisational feel of Azure’s performances.
Legacy
Azure was a 1960’s underground psychedelic rock band that was ahead of its time. The band’s sound was a mix of early Pink Floyd and The Doors, and their lyrics were inspired by Eastern philosophy and the writings of William S. Burroughs. The band only released one album, “A Journey to the Center of the Mind”, before splitting up. Azure’s influence can still be heard in today’s psychedelic rock music.
One of the first bands to fuse rock and blues
Azure was one of the first bands to fuse rock and blues, and their sound was very influential in the development of psychedelic rock. The band was formed in 1965 by guitarist Jimi Hendrix, bassist Billy Cox, and drummer Mitch Mitchell. Hendrix and Mitchell had previously played together in the Army, and they were joined by Cox after they were discharged.
The band’s sound was a unique blend of Hendrix’s revolutionary guitar playing, Cox’s funk-influenced bass lines, and Mitchell’s jazz-influenced drums. They were one of the first bands to use feedback, distortion, and other effects to create a new type of rock sound. Azure’s live performances were also notable for their use of lights and projections.
The band released two albums, “Are You Experienced” (1967) and “Axis: Bold as Love” (1968), before Hendrix disbanded the group in 1969. Hendrix went on to have a hugely successful solo career, cementing his status as one of the most influential guitarists of all time. Cox and Mitchell also had successful careers in music; Cox played with numerous bands including the Freedom Band and New Power Generation, while Mitchell toured with Miles Davis and played with Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters.
Credited with helping to pioneer psychedelic rock
Azure is a 1960s psychedelic rock band that is credited with helping to pioneer the genre. The band was formed in1967 in Los Angeles, California, and released its debut album, “A Question of Ethics”, in 1968. The album was met with critical acclaim, and Azure went on to release two more albums, “The Third Eye” (1969) and “iffs & Ends” (1970), before disbanding in 1971.