The Best Psychedelic Rock Bands of the 60s
A look at some of the best psychedelic rock bands of the 60s, including The Beatles, The Doors, and The Grateful Dead.
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. They became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential music band in history. Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, they later utilised several genres, ranging from pop ballads to psychedelic rock, often incorporating classical and other elements in innovative ways. George Harrison’s sitar on “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” and the string quartet on “Yesterday”, were among the first instances of Western pop music incorporating the sitar and classical strings.
The Beatles’ influence on psychedelic rock
The Beatles were a highly influential band in the development of psychedelic rock. Their use of feedback, unusual sound effects, and altered states of consciousness in their music was extremely influential on subsequent psychedelic rock bands. The Beatles also popularized the use of drugs such as LSD in their music and lifestyle, which further influenced psychedelic rock bands.
The Beatles’ psychedelic rock songs
Even if the Beatles never recorded another note after Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, their place in rock & roll history would be secure. One of the most popular and influential bands of the 20th century, they helped to define the skinhead, mod, and hippie subcultures of the 1960s, while leading the way toward what would become known as arena rock. The Beatles built their reputation playing clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg over a three-year period from 1960, initially as a backing band for singer Tony Sheridan, before achieving their own success in 1962 with their first single, “Love Me Do.” From 1963 onward, they revolutionized pop music with a string of innovative and influential releases that remain widely admired half a century later for both their aesthetic ambition and commercial success. The band also broke new ground in terms of toured extensively around the world throughout their career — no other band had amassed such a global following to that point — which only increased demand for their records at home.
With an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964, the Beatles became an international sensation, sparking what would come to be known as “Beatlemania.” In the wake of this success, they released a series of innovative albums — Please Please Me (1963), With the Beatles (1963), A Hard Day’s Night (1964), Beatles for Sale (1964), Help! (1965), Rubber Soul (1965) Revolver (1966) — that altered perceptions of what pop music could accomplish. These were followed by Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), one of the most important and influential albums ever made; Magical Mystery Tour (1967); The Beatles (“White Album,” 1968); Abbey Road (1969); and Let It Be (1970). Although originally envisioned as Live Peace in Toronto 1969, Lennon’s decision to bring in Phil Spector to complete work on Let It Be resulted in one last studio album from the group.
After completing work on Abbey Road, McCartney announced his departure from the group; although he agreed to honor his commitment to tour Japan with them that fall, he formally left the band following Ringo Starr’s announcement that he was temporarily leaving during sessions for Let It Be. The group continued working together on various projects through 1970 — most notably George Harrison’s acclaimed Concert for Bangladesh — but by early 1971 had dissolved as a recording and touring entity. Over time, each member pursued solo careers; Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman in December 1980; Harrison died of cancer in November 2001; Starr continues to perform and record; McCartney is one of popular music’s most successful solo artists. In 1988, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility; 1994 saw them receive Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards. In 2002 they were ranked number one on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of 100 Greatest Artists Of All Time.
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are one of the best psychedelic rock bands of the 60s. They were known for their hard-hitting, blues-influenced sound, as well as their edgy image. The Stones were one of the first bands to really experiment with drugs and their music reflected that. They also wrote some of the best songs of the 60s, including “Paint It Black” and “Sympathy for the Devil.”
The Rolling Stones’ influence on psychedelic rock
The Rolling Stones were one of the most influential psychedelic rock bands of the 1960s. Their music was a blend of blues, rock, and country that appealed to a wide range of listeners. The band’s live performances were also known for their high energy and onstage antics, which further contributed to their popularity.
The Stones’ 1966 album Aftermath was one of the first to incorporate elements of psychedelic rock, and it is often cited as an influence by subsequent artists in the genre. The band’s 1967 single “Paint It, Black” was another psychedelic landmark, and their 1968 album Beggars Banquet is considered one of the greatest albums of all time. The Rolling Stones’ impact on psychedelic rock was profound and long-lasting, and they remain one of the most iconic and influential bands in history.
The Rolling Stones’ psychedelic rock songs
The Rolling Stones are often considered one of the best psychedelic rock bands of the 1960s. They experimented with LSD and other drugs, and their music reflected this change in consciousness. The following are some of the best psychedelic rock songs by the Rolling Stones:
-Paint It Black
-Lady Jane
-Out of Time
-She’s a Rainbow
-Jumpin’ Jack Flash
-Sympathy for the Devil
The Doors
The Doors were one of the most popular psychedelic rock bands of the 60s. They were known for their unique sound and style, which was a mix of blues, rock, and jazz. The Doors were also known for their live shows, which were often wild and chaotic.
The Doors’ influence on psychedelic rock
The Doors were one of the most influential bands of the 1960s. They were one of the first rock bands to embrace the sound and style of psychedelic rock. The Doors’ music was heavily influenced by the work of psychedelic pioneer Syd Barrett and his band Pink Floyd. Barrett’s influence can be heard in The Doors’ use of feedback, distorted guitars, and extended improvisation. The Doors were also influenced by the work of Indian composer Ravi Shankar. Their song “The End” is based on Shankar’s composition “Raga Bhimpalasi.”
The Doors’ psychedelic rock songs
The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, bassist John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger. The band got its name from the title of Aldous Huxley’s book The Doors of Perception (1954), which itself was a reference to a quote by William Blake.
The band released eight albums in five years, some of which are considered classic rock albums to this day. They were one of the most controversial rock bands of their time, due to Morrison’s wild behavior and ambiguous lyrics. Many of their songs dealt with drugs, sex, and death.
Despite all this, the Doors had a large influence on the development of psychedelic rock, and their music is still popular today. Here are some of their most famous psychedelic rock songs:
– “Light My Fire”
– “Break on Through (To the Other Side)”
– “The End”
– “People Are Strange”
– “Strange Days”
– “When the Music’s Over”
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd’s influence on psychedelic rock
Pink Floyd’s influence on psychedelic rock is undeniable. The band’s groundbreaking use of sound and visual effects, truly unique songwriting, and innovative musicianship helped to define the genre and set them apart from their contemporaries. While they may not have been the first psychedelic band, they were certainly one of the most influential, with their sound and style serving as a template for many subsequent bands.
Pink Floyd’s 1967 debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, is widely considered to be one of the greatest psychedelic albums ever made. Featuring such classics as “Lucifer Sam”, “See Emily Play”, and “The Gnome”, the album displayed all of the band’s strengths, from Syd Barrett’s off-kilter songwriting to their mastery of studio effects. The album was a critical and commercial success, reaching number 6 on the UK charts and earning positive reviews from the likes of Rolling Stone and The New York Times.
Following Barrett’s departure from the band in 1968, Pink Floyd continued to explore new sonic territory on their subsequent albums, including the groundbreaking The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) and Wish You Were Here (1975). These albums saw the band perfecting their use of sonic effects and extended jams to create songs that were both trippy and accessible. They also delved deeper into moreserious subject matter, exploring themes like mental illness, greed, and death. The Dark Side of the Moon in particular would go on to become one of the best-selling albums of all time, further cementing Pink Floyd’s place as one of rock’s most influential bands.
Pink Floyd’s psychedelic rock songs
Pink Floyd was an English rock band formed in London in 1965. They are known for their experimental, psychedelic and progressive rock music. Many of their songs are based on themes of mental illness, social alienation, drug abuse, and politics. Their best-known song, “Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)”, is a criticism of strict teacher-student relationships. It was released as a single in 1979 and topped the charts in several countries.
