The 5 Best Psychedelic Rock Bands from the 1970s

Psychedelic rock was a subgenre of rock music that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This list includes the 5 best psychedelic rock bands from the 1970s.

Introduction

Psychedelic rock, or simply psyrock, is a style of rock music that attempts to replicate the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It was pioneered in the mid-1960s by American and British bands such as the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the 13th Floor Elevators.

The genre reached its peak of popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with bands such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple producing some of the most iconic and influential albums of all time. Psychedelic rock declined in popularity in the late 1970s and 1980s, but experienced something of a renaissance in the 1990s with bands like Spacemen 3, Radiohead, and The Flaming Lips.

In this article, we’ll be counting down our picks for the five best psychedelic rock bands from the 1970s.

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd was an English rock band formed in 1965. They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music. Their achievements include several number-one albums and singles, such as “Another Brick in the Wall”, “Wish You Were Here”, and “Comfortably Numb”. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially successful and influential groups in popular music history.

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin is often cited as one of the greatest and most influential rock bands of all time. Formed in 1968, the group pioneered the use of heavy metal and blues rock, creating a sound that was both unique and influential. Led Zeppelin’s first album, Led Zeppelin (1969), was a commercial success, selling more than eight million copies in the United States. The band’s second album, Led Zeppelin II (1969), was even more successful, selling over 12 million copies in the US. Led Zeppelin’s third album, Led Zeppelin III (1970), was also a commercial success, selling more than five million copies in the US. The band’s fourth album, Led Zeppelin IV (1971), was even more successful, selling over 37 million copies in the US. The band’s fifth album, Houses of the Holy (1973), was also a commercial success, selling over 11 million copies in the US.

The Who

The Who is an English rock band that formed in 1964. The band’s classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century, selling over 100 million records worldwide.

The Who’s rock opera Tommy (1969) was the first album to be denounced by the Catholic church for its “violent content.” The album is about a “deaf, dumb, and blind” boy who becomes a messianic figure. The concept was ahead of its time and influenced numerous other bands, including the Flaming Lips and Green Day.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Ian Stewart (piano), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar), Bill Wyman (bass) and Charlie Watts (drums). Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued to work with the band as a contracted musician until his death in 1985. Jones died less than a month after recording finished for their fifth album, Some Girls, in 1978. Richards’ drug addictions forced him to cede creative control to Jagger and Watts declined to participate in further recording sessions due to poor health.

The Stones have released 30 studio albums, 18 live albums and numerous compilations. Let It Bleed (1969) marked the first of five consecutive No. 1 studio and live albums in the UK. Sticky Fingers (1971) was the first of eight consecutive No. 1 studio albums in the US. In 1989, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and four of their albums ranked on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time; two drops off were Out of Our Heads and Steel Wheels which replaced them with Beggars Banquet and Voodoo Lounge respectively. Exchange between Keith Richards & Mick Jagger after Brian Jones’ Death:

MICK JAGGER: It was very strange when Brian died, because for about a week I didn’t speak to Keith at all because I thought he blamed me for Brian’s death in some way. I think that he felt that it was somehow my fault because I had introduced him to this whole world of drugs and things like that. But we talked about it eventually – not straight away – maybe six months later or something like that – we finally talked about what really happened. And then it was all right again between us…But Keith is a very emotional person too you know, don’t forget that.”