Top 10 Psychedelic Rock Bands of 2015

A list of the top 10 psychedelic rock bands of 2015, including The Black Angels, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and The Growlers.

The Doors

The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. The band consisted of lead singer Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger. They were one of the most controversial and influential rock bands of the 1960s because of Morrison’s wild, poetic lyrics and charismatic but unpredictable stage persona. The Doors achieved national prominence with their self-titled debut album in 1967 which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart and produced their most successful single, “Light My Fire”.

The Grateful Dead

The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in San Francisco. The band is known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of country, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, rock, improvisational jazz, and space rock. They are considered one of the pioneers of the psychedelic rock genre.

Jefferson Airplane

Formed in 1965, Jefferson Airplane was a pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement. The band’s signature sound was a melding of folk, rock, blues, and pop, with occasional forays into harder-edged psychedelic and garage rock. Jefferson Airplane’s groundbreaking 1967 album Surrealistic Pillow featured the band’s most popular song, “Somebody to Love,” and remains one of the defining documents of the psychedelic era. The group continued to score hits throughout the late ’60s and early ’70s with songs like “White Rabbit” and “Miracles,” before disbanding in 1972. Jefferson Airplane was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

1. The Jimi Hendrix Experience
-Are You Experienced (1967)
-Axis: Bold as Love (1967)
-Electric Ladyland (1968)

2. Pink Floyd
-The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)
-A Saucerful of Secrets (1968)
-More (1969)
-Ummagumma (1969)
-Atom Heart Mother (1970)

3. The Doors
-The Doors (1967)
-Strange Days (1967)
-Waiting for the Sun (1968)
-The Soft Parade (1969)
-Morrison Hotel/Hard Rock Cafe (1970)

4. Grateful Dead

-The Grateful Dead (1967)
-Anthem of the Sun (1968)
-Aoxomoxoa (1969)

5. Cream

-Fresh Cream (1966)*
-Disraeli Gears 1967)*

6. The Velvet Underground

-The Velvet Underground & Nico 1967)*

7. Jefferson Airplane

8. Hawkwind

9. Atomic Rooster

10. Nektar

Pink Floyd

1. Pink Floyd – One of the most commercially and critically successful bands of all time, Pink Floyd’s influence cannot be understated. Forming in 1965, the band immediately began to break new ground with their melding of blues and jazz influences with extended improvisation and experimental soundscapes. Over the course of their career they released 15 studio albums, with The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall both topping international charts and becoming two of the best-selling albums of all time. After the departure of key members Roger Waters and David Gilmour in the 1980s and ’90s respectively, Pink Floyd continued to tour and release new music, albeit to more mixed reviews. Nevertheless, the band’s place in rock history is secure, and their work continues to inspire new generations of musicians.

2. The Beatles – Few bands have had as much impact on music as The Beatles. Emerging from Liverpool in 1960, the band quickly rose to global fame with their infectious blend of pop hooks and clever songwriting. Over the course of their short but eventful career they released 12 studio albums, including such classics as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Abbey Road, and The White Album. Though they disbanded in 1970, The Beatles remain one of the most popular and influential bands of all time, selling over 600 million records worldwide.

3. Led Zeppelin – One of the first truly stadium-filling rock bands, Led Zeppelin redefined what was possible in rock music both musically and commercially. Formed in 1968, the band quickly rose to prominence with their self-titled debut album, which featured such classics as “Dazed and Confused” and “Communication Breakdown.” They would go on to release eight more studio albums over the next decade, including such classics as Physical Graffiti, Houses of the Holy, and In Through the Out Door. Though they disbanded following drummer John Bonham’s death in 1980, Led Zeppelin remain one of rock’s most enduring legends.

4. Nirvana – One of the most important bands of the 1990s alternative music boom, Nirvana brought grunge and punk aesthetics to mainstream attention with their 1991 album Nevermind. Led by singer/songwriter Kurt Cobain, Nirvana blended heavy guitar riffs with pop hooks and Cobain’s distinctive vocal style to create a sound that was both accessible and deeply personal. Though Cobain died by suicide in 1994 at just 27 years old, Nirvana left behind a legacy that continues to influence musicians today.

5. Radiohead – Since emerging from Oxfordshire, England in 1992 with their debut album Pablo Honey Radiohead have been one of alternative rock’s most innovative and acclaimed bands. Their early work was heavily influenced by grunge and Britpop but they soon began experimenting with electronics and found their own unique voice. Over the course of eight studio albums they have pushed musical boundaries again and again, creating some of the most ambitious and accomplished music ever recorded along the way. With a devoted fanbase that spans generations, Radiohead are one of rock’s most iconic bands today.

6 .The Beach Boys – One of America’s earliest pop sensations , The Beach Boys formed in 1961and shot to fame wit hits like “Surfin’ U.”raw” Their sunny California image masked personal turmoil within he group , however , an dthe y struggled totranslate t heir massive commercial success into critical acclaim .Nevertheless ,The Beach Boysremained hugely popular throughout their career , releasing such classica ls as Pet Sounds an dSMi lebefore ultimately being inducted into t he Rock an d Roll Hallof Famein 2001 .

7 .The Doors- Hailed as on eof th emostinfluenti alrock ba ndsofall timeThe Doorsformed i Los Angeles i n1965 .Led bysinger Jim Morrison th eyquickly found successwith hits like “Light My Fire”and “Break On Through(To th e Other Side)”before releasing th eir self titled debut album i n1967 . Throug houtth e restoftheircareerThe Do ors would explore a wide range o f genres includin gpsychedelicrock bluese xperimental an dpo prock .Morrison died unexpectedly i n1971 at just27 years old butThe Door scontinuedto tourand releasenew musict hough th ey neverquite recaptured th emagic o fthose early years . Intheir native Unit edStatesthey we re postumously inducted intothe Ro llofFam ei 1993 while manyo fth eir songslik e “Riders Onthe Storm”have become bona fide classicsofrock radio .8 8 R oyAL BLOOD

Santana

1. Santana- This band is a psychedlic rock band that was formed in 1966 in San Francisco. The band’s sound is a mix of Latin rock, blues, jazz, and African rhythms.

2. The Doors- This band was formed in 1965 in Los Angeles and was one of the most influential bands of the psychedlic rock era. The band’s sound is a mix of blues, rock, and jazz with a touch of psychedlia.

3. Pink Floyd- This band was formed in 1965 in London and is one of the most successful and influential bands of all time. The band’s sound is a mix of rock, blues, and psychedlia with elements of classical music.

4. Jimi Hendrix Experience- This band was formed in 1966 in New York City and is considered one of the most influential musicians of all time. The band’s sound is a mix of blues, rock, and funk with elements of psychedlia.

5. Grateful Dead- This band was formed in 1965 in San Francisco and was one of the most successful touring bands ever. The band’s sound is a mix of folk, country, bluegrass, and rock with elements of psychedlia.

6. Cream- This band was formed in 1966 in London and was one of the first supergroups. The band’s sound is a mix of blues, rock, and pop with elements of psychedlia.

The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground was one of the most influential and innovative psychedelic rock bands of the late 1960s. Formed in New York City in 1964, the group was initially fronted by Hungarian-born singer Nico. The band’s debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, is considered one of the most important and influential rock albums ever made. With its mix of avant-garde noise, pop melodies, and drug-influenced lyrics, the album helped pioneer the ’60s underground music scene and laid the foundation for what would later be known as punk rock.

After Nico left the band in 1967, Lou Reed took over as lead singer and songwriter. The band’s third album, White Light/White Heat, is considered one of their most experimental works. It featured a rawer sound and more abstract lyrics that were inspired by drugs such as LSD. The band’s fourth and final album, 1969’s The Velvet Underground, is often cited as one of the greatest rock albums ever made. Despite its commercial failure at the time, it has since been recognized as one of the most influential records of all time.

The Velvet Underground disbanded in 1970, but their influence can still be heard in today’s music. Many modern bands have cited them as an influence, including R.E.M., Sonic Youth, Nirvana, and Radiohead.

The Who

The Who is an English rock band formed in 1964. The group has sold over 100 million records worldwide. They are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century. The Who is known for their hits “My Generation,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” and “Baba O’Riley.”

Creedence Clearwater Revival

1) Creedence Clearwater Revival – This American rock band was formed in 1967 and rose to prominence in the 1968-1969 period with their hit singles “Proud Mary” and “Bad Moon Rising”. The band achieved more success in the 1970s with hits such as “Looking Out My Back Door” and “Have You Ever Seen the Rain”. The band’s musical style encompasses a range of genres including country, folk, blues, and Jailhouse Rock.

2) The Doors – One of the most influential and controversial American rock bands of the 1960s, The Doors were formed in Los Angeles in 1965 by singer/songwriter Jim Morrison and keyboardist Ray Manzarek. The band’s sound was a unique blend of psychedelic rock, blues, and jazz that was fueled by Morrison’s dark and poetic lyrics. The group became one of the biggest pop culture phenomenon of their time with hits like “Light My Fire”, “Touch Me”, and “People Are Strange”.

3) Pink Floyd – Formed in London in 1965, Pink Floyd is one of the most commercially successful and internationally acclaimed Psychedelic Rock bands of all time. The group’s signature sound is characterized by sweeping sonic landscapes, extended Instrumental passages, and imaginative lyrics that often touch on themes of alienation, socialism, conflict, drugs, and mental illness. Pink Floyd achieved global success with their 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon which spent 741 weeks on the Billboard 200 album chart.

4) Led Zeppelin – One of the most successful rock bands of all time, Led Zeppelin was formed in London in 1968 by guitarist Jimmy Page and singer Robert Plant. The group’s musical style blended elements of blues, folk, and hard rock to create a sound that was both commercially appealing and artistically innovative. Led Zeppelin achieved massive success with hits like “Stairway to Heaven”, “Whole Lotta Love”, and “Kashmir” becoming one of the bestselling bands in history with over 200 million records sold worldwide.

5) Jefferson Airplane – Formed in San Francisco in 1965, Jefferson Airplane was one of the leading figures in the counterculture psychedelic music scene of the 1960s. The band’s music combined elements of folk, rock, jazz, psychedelia, and Eastern influences to create a unique sound that was both experimental yet commercially viable. Jefferson Airplane had a string of hits including “Somebody to Love”, “White Rabbit” “We Can Be Together” “Volunteers” which helped defined an entire generation.

6) Grateful Dead – Formed in San Francisco in 1965, Grateful Dead was an American rock band that is credited as being one of the main architects of the psychedelic music genre. The band’s music often featured extended improvisational jams as well as elements from a varietyof genres including folk, bluegrass, country-western, blues ,and jazz . Grateful Dead remained active for over 30 years until frontman Jerry Garcia passed away 1995 after which the group decided to disband.

7) Jimi Hendrix Experience – OnePsychedelic Rock ‘s most influential guitarist , jimi hendrix experienceAre You Experienced? In 1967 , Electric Ladyland 1968 , before his untimely death at age 27 . His experimental approach to songwriting and guitar playing pioneered a new form Psychedelic Rock that would come to be known as Hendrixian . Hits include : “Purple Haze” , “Fire” , “The Wind Cries Mary” , “All Along Watchtower” posthumously inducted intothe US intothe US intothe USinto USinto USinto USinto US National Recording Registry . His legacy continues to inspire artists across all genres .
Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychedelic_rock#cite_note-AllMusic-1

Led Zeppelin

When it comes to psychedelic rock, there are few bands who can match the sheer impact and influence of Led Zeppelin. The English rockers were responsible for some of the most timeless and groundbreaking music of the genre, with hits like “Stairway to Heaven” and “Whole Lotta Love” becoming etched into the annals of rock history.