The Psychedelic 60s: Acid Rock and Heavy Metal

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The Psychedelic 60s were a time of great change and upheaval. With the rise of acid rock and heavy metal, the world was never the same.

The Psychedelic 60s

The Psychedelic 60s was a time where music and drugs went hand-in-hand. Psychedelic drugs like LSD, mescaline, and psilocybin mushrooms were used by many people in the music industry, which led to the development of acid rock and heavy metal. The use of these drugs influenced the sound and themes of these genres of music. In this article, we’ll take a look at the history of these two genres of music and how they were influenced by psychedelic drugs.

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group, whose best-known line-up comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, are regarded as the most influential band of all time. They were integral to the development of 1960s counterculture and popular music’s recognition as an art form. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll, their sound incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop in innovative ways; the band later explored music styles ranging from ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock. As pioneers in recording, songwriting and artistic presentation, the group continued to influence musicians decades after their break-up. Between 1962 and 1970, the Beatles released 13 albums (12 UK/1 US), 13 singles (5 UK/8 US) and four films (A Hard Day’s Night [1964], Help! [1965], Magical Mystery Tour [1967] & Let It Be[1970]).

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London, England, in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Ian Stewart (piano), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass) and Charlie Watts (drums). Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued to work with the band as a contracted musician until his death in 1985. The band’s primary songwriters, Jagger and Richards, assumed leadership after Andrew Loog Oldham became the group’s manager. Jones left the band less than a month before his death in 1969, having already been replaced by Mick Taylor, who remained until 1974. After Taylor left the band, Ronnie Wood took his place in 1975 and has been on guitar in tandem with Richards ever since.

Following Wyman’s departure in 1993, Darryl Jones joined as their touring bassist. Other touring keyboardists for the band have been Nicky Hopkins (1967–1982), Ian McLagan (1978–1981), Billy Preston (1971–1981), and Chuck Leavell (1982–present). The Stones have not had an official keyboardist since 1991.

The Rolling Stones were at the forefront of the British Invasion of bands that became popular during 1964 and performed onstage at the recently opened Crawdaddy Club in Richmond, Surrey.[15] They toured the US for the first time later that year with stops including a performance at Carnegie Hall on 4 October,[16] which they considered their “coming out party”.[17][18]

Jimi Hendrix

One of the most influential and controversial musicians of the 20th century, Jimi Hendrix was a rock pioneer who fused American blues and R&B with British Invasion and psychedelic rock to create a sound all his own. Though he burned bright for just four years before his untimely death at the age of 27, Hendrix left a lasting legacy as one of the most gifted guitarists in history. His groundbreaking style and technique – which included using feedback, distortion, sustain, and other innovative techniques – redefined the possibilities of what could be done with an electric guitar. Hendrix’s influence can be heard in the work of countless subsequent rock guitarists, making him one of the most important figures in the development of rock music.

Acid Rock

Acid rock is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The style is defined by its heavy use of distorted guitars, bass, and drums. Acid rock is also known for its unique and often trippy lyrics. The genre is often associated with the counterculture of the 1960s.

The Doors

Formed in Los Angeles in 1965, The Doors were one of the most controversial and influential rock bands of their era. The group was composed of singer Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. They were one of the first American bands to embrace the counterculture and is perhaps best known for their 1967 hit “Light My Fire,” which reached #1 on the Billboard charts.

The band’s sound was a unique blend of blues, rock, and jazz that incorporated elements of psychedelia and Eastern influences. Their lyrics often dealt with dark subjects like death and drug use, which earned them a reputation as a “dark” and “dangerous” band. They were also one of the first groups to experiment with feedback and distortion, which helped to pioneer the development of heavy metal music.

The Doors’ short tenure (they disbanded in 1971 after Morrison’s death) belies their lasting impact on rock music. They have been cited as an influence by numerous artists, including Bilinda Butcher of My Bloody Valentine, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, and Jim James of My Morning Jacket.

Jefferson Airplane

Jefferson Airplane was one of the most popular and influential psychedelic rock bands of the 1960s. They were known for their experimental and exploratory approach to music, as well as their political activism. The band’s signature sound was a combination of folk, rock, and jazz, with elements of Eastern music and psychedelia. Their best-known songs include “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit.”

The Grateful Dead

One of the most prolific and enduring bands of the 60s was the Grateful Dead. The band was formed in 1965 in San Francisco by Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, and Phil Lesh. The band’s eclectic style blended elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, jazz, and country. They were also one of the first bands to experiment with extended jams and improvisation in their live performances.

The Grateful Dead’s music was often associated with the counterculture movement and LSD. The band’s self-titled debut album included the song “Cold Rain and Snow”, which was inspired by an acid trip. The band’s second album, Anthem of the Sun, was even more experimental, incorporating feedback and distortion to create a sonic landscape that was unlike anything else being made at the time.

The Grateful Dead became one of the most popular live acts of the 60s thanks to their energetic stage shows and lengthy jams. They were also one of the first bands to allow fans to tape their live shows and trade tapes, which helped spread their music to a wider audience. The band continued to tour and release new albums throughout the 70s and 80s before disbanding in 1995 following Jerry Garcia’s death.

Heavy Metal

When you think of the 60s, you might think of hippies, free love, and peace signs. But the 60s were also a time when a new kind of music was born: heavy metal. Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that is characterized by its aggressive sound and lyrics.

Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath is often cited as the first heavy metal band. Formed in Birmingham, England, in 1968 by Ozzy Osbourne (lead vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass guitar), and Bill Ward (drums)

Led Zeppelin

Formed in 1968, Led Zeppelin consisted of Robert Plant (vocals), Jimmy Page (guitar), John Paul Jones (bass, keyboards) and John Bonham (drums). The band’s self-titled debut album was released in early 1969. A mixture of original material and reworked blues and folk songs, Led Zeppelin featured the band’s signature song, “Dazed and Confused.” The album was a critical and commercial success, setting the stage for the band’s follow-up release.

Led Zeppelin’s second album, Led Zeppelin II, was released in October of 1969. The album featured the band’s first big hit single, “Whole Lotta Love.” With its driving bass line and drum solo, the song helped to secure Led Zeppelin’s place at the forefront of the burgeoning heavy metal scene. Other standout tracks on Led Zeppelin II include “What Is and What Should Never Be” and “Ramble On.”

Deep Purple

Deep Purple was an English rock band formed in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical approach changed over the years. Originally formed as a psychedelic rock and progressive rock band, they shifted to a heavier sound in 1970. Deep Purple, together with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, have been referred to as the “unholy trinity of British hard rock and heavy metal in the early to mid-seventies”. They were listed in the 1975 Guinness Book of World Records as “the globe’s loudest band” for a 1972 concert at London’s Rainbow Theatre, and have sold over 100 million copies of their albums worldwide.

The band has gone through several lineup changes and an eight-year hiatus (1976–84). The 1968–76 lineup is commonly known as the “Mark I” or “Gillan/Glover” era, named after singers Ian Gillan and Roger Glover; this era’s best-known work is album Fireball (1971), which peaked at No. 1 in several countries including the UK. The 1981–84 lineup—featuring musicians Dave Coverdale (lead vocals), Glenn Hughes (bass, vocals), Jon Lord (keyboards) and Ian Paice (drums)—produced two studio albums: Machine Head (1972) and Who Do We Think We Are (1973), both of which were commercially successful; Machine Head is Deep Purple’s only album to reach number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. The current lineup includes Ian Gillan (lead vocals), Roger Glover (bass), Steve Morse (guitar) Donald ‘Don’ Airey(keyboards) and Ian Paice(drums).

In 1967, former Siegel-Schwall Band members Chris Curtis and Jim Kraft recruited Ritchie Blackmore through an advertisement in Melody Maker magazine. Blackmore asked bassist Nick Simper to join along with drummer Rodriguez Perez who used the pseudonym Aynsley Dunbar; Kraft declining creditor rights to his name so was not included in the new line-up.[1] Singer Rod Evans joined this initial formation of Deep Purple when Kraft returned to Chicago in May 1967.[2][3] Another advertisement was placed in Melody Maker for a lead vocalist; Jon Lord joined Evans and Blackmore from Hendrix backing band The Flower Pot Men.[4]