Discovering Foreign Psychedelic Rock

Discovering Foreign Psychedelic Rock is a blog dedicated to unearthing the best in psychedelic rock music from around the world.

Psychedelic Rock in the 60s

Psychedelic rock is a type of rock music that is inspired by or attempts to replicate the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. The music is intended to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs, most notably LSD.Psychedelic rock emerged in the mid-1960s with the release of the album The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators.

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. With members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential music band in history. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later experimented with several genres, ranging from pop ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock, often incorporating classical elements in innovative ways. In 1963, their enormous popularity first emerged as “Beatlemania”; as the group’s music grew in sophistication, led by primary songwriters Lennon and McCartney, they came to be perceived as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the counterculture of the 1960s.

Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s with the goal of expanding consciousness and creating musical experiences that were supplier of mind-altering drugs… The Beatles were at the forefront of this new genre with their use of feedback, electronic sound effects, sitars and reversed tape recordings on songs like “Tomorrow Never Knows”, “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “I Am The Walrus”.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones were one of the most popular and influential bands of the 1960s. They were known for their raw, blues-influenced sound and their rebellious attitude. The Rolling Stones were also one of the first British bands to experiment with psychedelic sounds. Their 1967 album, Their Satanic Majesties Request, is considered to be one of the first psychedelic rock albums.

Jimi Hendrix

James Marshall “Jimi” Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes him as “arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music”.

Born in Seattle, Washington, Hendrix began playing guitar at the age of 15. In 1961, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and trained as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division; he was granted an honorable discharge the following year. Soon afterward, he moved to Clarksville, Tennessee, and began playing gigs on the chitlin’ circuit, earning a place in the Isley Brothers’ backing band and later with Little Richard. He achieved fame in 1966 following his performance at the Monterey Pop Festival and breakthrough album are You Experienced? His 1967 third album Axis: Bold as Love was also a commercial success; powered by his main single “Purple Haze”, it reached number five on the Billboard 200 chart.

Hendrix’s mainstream career was marked by a series of record-breaking live performances; including his appearance at Woodstock in 1969 and his concert at the Fillmore East on New York’s Lower East Side that year—considered historical milestones for their artistic note perfect renditions of lengthy improvised solos which set new standards for technical ability owing to their extreme level of difficulty which many other guitarists have yet to surpass. After Initial success in Europe with his band The Jimi Hendrix Experience containing bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell touring across England gaining a large fanbase culminating with their headlining appearance at The Monterey international pop music festival this resulted with them being signed to Elektra records upon returning home afterward they achieved massive chart success with Are You Experienced? This immediate chart success upon returning home led Elektra Records to hastily release Experience’s follow-up album Axis: Bold As Love while they were still touring behind Are You Experienced this albums commercial performance did not match its predecessor reaching #5 rather than #1 on Billboard magazine despite it being full of fan favorites such as “Up from The Skies”, “Little Miss Lover”, “Bold As Love”,If 6 Was 9″ among others .

Psychedelic Rock in the 70s

Psychedelic rock emerged in the late 1960s among rock bands who used psychedelic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, mescaline and DMT to experience visual and auditory hallucinations, synesthesia and altered states of consciousness. Psychedelic rock bands sought to replicate the experience of psychedelic drugs by creating music that was often long, repetitive and drone-like.

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd was an English rock band formed in London in 1965. They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music. Pink Floyd’s work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. One of rock music’s most commercially successful acts, the group sold over 250 million records worldwide. By 2013, they had earned five Grammy Awards, including a lifetime achievement award.

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.

Psychedelic rock reached its apogee in the last years of the decade. Big hits included “A Whiter Shade of Pale” (Procol Harum), “Somebody to Love” (Jefferson Airplane), “All You Need Is Love” (The Beatles), “Light My Fire” (The Doors), and “Sunshine Of Your Love” (Cream). Concept albums such as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (The Beatles), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (Pink Floyd), Days of Future Passed (The Moody Blues), Are You Experienced? (The Jimi Hendrix Experience) and Surrealistic Pillow (Jefferson Airplane) took listeners on voyages into imaginary mental landscapes where soundscapes were ever-changing and mind-altering drugs were implied if not directly mentioned in the lyrics.”

The Who

The Who is an English rock band that was formed in 1964. They are considered to be one of the most influential rock bands of all time, having sold over 100 million records worldwide. The band is known for their energetic live performances and for their use of powerful feedback-laden guitars. The Who was a major inspiration for the punk rock movement that emerged in the late 1970s.

Psychedelic Rock in the 80s and 90s

Psychedelic rock, also called acid rock, is a style of music that was popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The music is characterized by its use of feedback, distorted guitars, and heavy use of reverb. Psychedelic rock began in the United Kingdom with bands such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and The Rolling Stones.

The Doors

The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most controversial and influential rock acts of the 1960s, mostly because of Morrison’s lyrics and charismatic but unpredictable stage persona. After Morrison’s death at age 27 in 1971, the remaining members continued as a trio until disintegrating in 1973. Despite this, The Doors have sold over 100 million records worldwide. The Doors were the first American band to accumulate eight consecutive gold and platinum LPs.

In the summer of 1965, the group signed with Elektra Records, which was started by Jac Holzman with money from his family. The band’s self-titled debut album was released in early 1967 and featured their breakthrough single “Light My Fire”. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling over three million copies in the US alone. The band followed this up with their second album Strange Days later that year, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and generated the Top 30 hit single “People Are Strange”.

The Grateful Dead

Psychedelic rock, often called simply psychedelic rock or psych rock for short, is a style of rock music that drew its inspiration from hallucinogenic drugs, particularly LSD. The style is characterized by distorted guitars, lyrics about drug use and social commentary, and crashing drums. Psychedelic rock reached the peak of its popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with bands like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix leading the way.

The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in San Francisco. The band was known for their long jams, which sometimes lasted for hours. They were also one of the most influential bands of the psychedelic era. The Grateful Dead’s music had a significant impact on society and popular culture, particularly in the hippie subculture of the 1960s and 1970s.

Nirvana

Nirvana was an American rock band formed in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987. Nirvana went through a succession of drummers, the longest-lasting and best-known .

With the lead single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” from the band’s second album Nevermind (1991), Nirvana broke into the mainstream, which was unprecedented for an alternative rock band at the time. Nevermind was a critical and commercial success that became one of the best-selling albums of all time, with over 30 million copies sold worldwide. In response, the band signed to Geffen Records in order to wide release its albums.

Nirvana found success with their next two albums, In Utero (1993) and MTV Unplugged in New York (1994). During their promote tours for these albums, Cobain and Novoselic increasingly cited punk rock acts such as The Stooges as major influences, while maintaining love for artists like The Beatles and Sonic Youth. As Nirvana’s mainstream success continued, elements of grunge – primarily its Dirtier sound and downplayed production – became increasingly more evident in their music.

The band’s final studio album In Utero would prove to be their most abrasive and challenging work yet; it received mixed reviews upon release but has retroactively been hailed as one of the greatest albums of all time.

Psychedelic Rock Today

Psychedelic rock, also known as “acid rock”, is a style of music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The sound is characterized by distorted guitars, mind-altering lyrics, and mind-bending sound effects. The style is often associated with the use of drugs, particularly LSD. Psychedelic rock reached the height of its popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Tame Impala

Hailing from Australia, Tame Impala is a psychedelic rock band that has been making waves in the music scene since their debut album in 2010. With their dreamy, ethereal soundscapes and catchy hooks, it’s no wonder they’re one of the most popular bands in the genre today.

While they may be newcomers to the scene, Tame Impala has already made a name for themselves with their innovative approach to songwriting and production. Their music is heavily influenced by classic psychedelic rock bands like Pink Floyd and The Doors, but they also infuse elements of pop and R&B into their sound. This unique blend of styles has helped them create a sound that is truly their own.

If you’re looking for a band that embodies the best of what psychedelic rock has to offer, then you need to check out Tame Impala!

The Black Keys

The Black Keys are an American rock band formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. The group consists of Dan Auerbach (guitar, vocals) and Patrick Carney (drums). Their raw blues rock sound draws heavily from Auerbach’s blues influences, including Junior Kimbrough and Howlin’ Wolf, and Carney’s punk rock background.

The Black Keys have released eight studio albums, all of which have received highly positive reviews. The band’s eighth album “Turn Blue”, was released on May 13, 2014. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 164,000 copies in its first week. “Turn Blue” received mostly positive reviews from contemporary music critics.

The Strokes

Psychedelic rock, also referred to as psychedelia, is a diverse style of rock music that was inspired by the mind-altering experiences of psychoactive drugs such as LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, mescaline, and DMT. The music is intended to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of these drugs. Psychedelic rock often makes use of new and unconventional musical elements, such as feedback, electronic effects, sitars, and organ tones. It came to prominence in the mid-1960s with bands such as the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Grateful Dead. The genre reached the height of its popularity in the late 1960s with bands such as Cream, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Sly & the Family Stone. Psychedelic rock declined in popularity in the early 1970s but experienced a resurgence in the 1990s with bands such as Mazzy Star, Primal Scream, and Spacemen 3.