The Top 5 Hard Psychedelic Rock Bands
Looking for some new hard psychedelic rock to add to your collection? Check out our top 5 picks for the best hard psychedelic rock bands out there!
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin was an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. The band’s heavy, guitar-driven sound has led them to be cited as one of the progenitors of heavy metal. Their style drew from a wide variety of influences, including blues, psychedelia, and folk music.
The band’s debut album, Led Zeppelin (1969), was a commercial and critical success. They achieved greater popularity with their next two albums, Led Zeppelin II (1969) and Led Zeppelin III (1970). In 1973, the fourth album, Houses of the Holy, and its accompanying tour furthered their critical reputation.
By 1975, Led Zeppelin was one of the most commercially successful rock bands in the world. They had eight chart topping albums in the United States and United Kingdom during the 1970s as well as earning six Grammy Awards.
Led Zeppelin disbanded following Bonham’s death from alcohol-related asphyxia in 1980.
Pink Floyd
One of the most well-known and influential bands of all time, Pink Floyd is often cited as pioneers of psychedelic rock. Formed in London in 1965, the band originally consisted of Syd Barrett on guitar and lead vocals, Nick Mason on drums, Roger Waters on bass guitar and lead vocals, and Richard Wright on keyboards.
Barrett’s drug use began to adversely affect his performance and mental state, leading to his eventual departure from the band in 1968. He was replaced by guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour, who remained with the band for the rest of their career.
Under Gilmour’s leadership, Pink Floyd released a string of successful albums, including “The Dark Side of the Moon” (1973), “Wish You Were Here” (1975), “Animals” (1977), “The Wall” (1979), and “The Final Cut” (1983).
In 1985, Waters attempted to dissolve the band, leading to a legal battle that was ultimately resolved in their favor. However, Waters did not return to the band, and Gilmour continued on as Pink Floyd’s primary creative force.
Pink Floyd released two more studio albums – “A Momentary Lapse of Reason” (1987) and “The Division Bell” (1994) – before Wright passed away in 2008. The band officially disbanded in 2014 after 49 years together.
The Who
The Who is an English rock band formed in 1964. The 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 first album was My Generation (1965). It includes the singles “I Can’t Explain” and “My Generation”. Their second album, A Quick One (1966), includes the single “Happy Jack”. The Who’s third album, Sell Out (1967), includes the singles “I Can See for Miles” and “Pictures of Lily”. The fourth album, Quadrophenia (1973), is a double album and their best-selling studio album. It includes the singles “I Can See for Miles”, “Love Reign O’er Me”, and “5:15”. The fifth album, Who Are You (1978), is their last album with Moon. It includes the single “Who Are You”.
Deep Purple
Deep Purple, also known as Deep Purple III, is the third studio album by the English rock band Deep Purple, released in June 1969 on Tetragrammaton Records in the United States and on Harvest Records in the United Kingdom.
It was the band’s first album to feature singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover, who replaced Rod Evans and Nick Simper respectively. Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, however, was dissatisfied with this line-up and soon after its release he left Deep Purple, to be replaced by Lou Reed of The Velvet Underground.
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Jimi Hendrix is widely considered to be the greatest guitar player of all time, and his band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience was one of the premier psychedelic rock bands of the late 1960s. With songs like “Purple Haze,” “Fire,” and “Foxey Lady,” The Jimi Hendrix Experience defined what psychedelic rock was supposed to be.
