Russian Psychedelic Rock from the 1960’s

This blog is dedicated to exploring the forgotten history of Russian Psychedelic Rock from the 1960’s.

Introduction

Russian psychedelic rock is a genre of rock music that evolved in the Soviet Union and Russian SFSR in the late 1960s and reached its peak of mainstream popularity in the 1970s. It concerts with elements of garage rock, hard rock, blues rock, and, to a lesser extent, acid rock. Hardly anything was known about Russian psychedelic music outside the Soviet Union until the mid-2000s, when Westerners began to become interested in it after finding recordings on various websites.

History

Psychedelic rock, also referred to as “psychedelia”, is a diverse style of rock music that originated in the mid-1960s. Psychedelic rock grew out of the early British R&B and dance-club scenes of the mid-’60s. The genre is generally characterized by a heavy use of electric guitars, drum kits, and bass guitars, as well as borrowing from other genres such as acid rock, blues-rock, and folk-rock.

The Soviet Union

Russia, Psychedelic Rock and the 1960’s might not seem like they go together, but trust us – they do! Born out of a need to express themselves during one of the most creative and politically tumultuous periods in history, Russian psychedelic rockers were onto something big.

The Soviet Union was a country in political and social turmoil during the late 60’s and early 70’s. With its rigid policies and censorship laws, the USSR was not an easy place for artist to express themselves freely. However, in spite of these restrictions, a small group of musicians began experimenting with Western psychedelic rock music and found ways to infuse it with their own Eastern influences. The results were truly unique and refreshing, giving birth to a new genre of music.

Sadly, due to the political climate of the time, Russian psychedelic rock was largely unknown outside of the country and many of these bands only ever released a handful of songs before disappearing into obscurity. But thanks to the internet, their music is finally beginning to gain some well-deserved attention from Western audiences. If you’re looking for something different and mind-bending, give Russian psychedelic rock a try – you won’t be disappointed!

The 1960’s

In the 1960’s, a subgenre of rock music called psychedelic rock began to emerge. This type of music was characterized by its trippy, mind-altering soundscapes, which were often achieved through the use of drugs like LSD. Russian bands such as Theodor Bikel and Aquarium were at the forefront of this new genre, creating some of the most memorable and influential psychedelic music of the time. While Bikel’s music was more laid-back and mellow, Aquarium’s was much more chaotic and wild. Both bands would go on to influence many subsequent generations of Russian musicians.

Russian Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock, also referred to as garage rock, is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States and United Kingdom during the mid-1960s. The style is typified by a preoccupation with mood and atmosphere, distorted guitars, amplified feedback, and prolonged jams. Its popularity grew during the 1970s before starting a long decline. Reaching a commercial peak in 1967–68, psychedelic rock declined thereafter in favor of heavier genres.

Psychedelic rocks generally feature extended instrumentation, especially keyboards such as the Mellotron and electric piano; some also featured non-Western instrumentation such as sitars. Psychedelic rock groups often made use of light shows and LSD. The genre was initially associated with underground and countercultural music scenes in London and Los Angeles. Early landmark recordings included Pink Floyd’s “See Emily Play” (1967) and The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows” (1966), both of which were included on their respective albums, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967) and Revolver (1966).

The Music

Russian Psychedelic Rock from the 1960’s was a time where musicians experimented with drugs and produced some of the most innovative music of the time. The Beatles were one of the first groups to popularize psychedelic rock and their influence can be heard in the music of the time.

The Sound

The sound of Russian Psychedelic Rock from the 1960’s is characterized by a heavy, driving rhythm section, often with a strong bassline that provides the foundation forintertwining guitars or keyboards. The sound is often augmented by sitar or other eastern instrumentation. The vocals are typically trippy andirregular, and may be spoken, chanted, or sung in a code.

The Lyrics

Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that emerged in the 1960s and was influenced by psychedelic culture. The lyrics of psychedelic rock songs often explore themes of alienation, drug use, and love. Psychedelic rock songs often contain extended improvisations and use unconventional instruments, such as sitars, Mellotrons, and Moogs.

The Lyrics is a Russian psychedelic rock band from the 1960s. The band’s music is characterized by its use of extended improvisations and unconventional instruments. The lyrics of the band’s songs often explore themes of alienation, drug use, and love.

The Legacy

Any discussion of Russian psychedelic rock has to start with the band Gosha and their 1966 album Bum. Gosha was the first Russian band to fully embrace the psychedelic sound and did so with style. Their album Bum is a wild, mind-bending ride that features some of the most innovative and mind-bending psychedelic rock ever recorded.

The Influence

Psychedelic rock, or simply psychedelic music, is a style of rock that was popular in the 1960s and 1970s. It typically contains elements of electronic and experimental music, and sometimes incorporates traditional rock instrumentation. The style is often characterized by extended improvisation, unusual time signatures, and altered states of consciousness.

Psychedelic music was often used to enhance the effects of mind-altering drugs such as LSD and Cannabis. The genre was strongly influenced by the countercultural movements of the time, including the hippie movement and the psychedelic subculture.

Psychedelic rock reached its peak popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with bands such as Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Santana, Jefferson Airplane, The Doors, and Led Zeppelin all releasing highly successful albums. However, by the mid-1970s, the style began to fall out of fashion; manypsychedelic groups disbanded or returned to more conventional styles of music.

The End of an Era

Following the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, many of the restrictions on creativity that had been in place for decades were lifted, and a new era of Russian rock music began. While some groups continued to perform and record in the same vein as they had before, others took the opportunity to experiment with new styles and sounds.

One group that emerged during this period was The Legacy, a psychedelic rock band that formed in Moscow in 1992. The Legacy was heavily influenced by the music of the 1960s, and their sound was a mix of Russian folk music, blues, and early rock n’ roll.

The group released their debut album, “The Legacy,” in 1994, and it was an instant hit with Russian audiences. The album’s success led to a nationwide tour, and The Legacy quickly became one of the most popular rock bands in the country.

The Legacy continued to release successful albums throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, but tragedy struck in 2006 when lead singer Vladimir Konstantinov died suddenly from a heart attack. The band decided to carry on without him, and released their fifth album, “The Sound of Russia,” in 2007.

Since Konstantinov’s death, The Legacy has remained one of the most popular rock bands in Russia, and continues to touring throughout the country.