Bands to Check Out If You Love Psychedelic Rock
If you’re a fan of psychedelic rock, then you’ll definitely want to check out these bands! From classic acts like The Beatles and Pink Floyd to more modern groups like Tame Impala and Thee Oh Sees, there’s something for everyone. So sit back, relax, and enjoy some great music.
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band that became increasingly popular in the United Kingdom and the United States during the early 1960s. With a line-up comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they are regarded as the most influential band of all time. The Beatles are described as pioneering pioneers of psychedelic rock, often incorporating elaborate studio techniques and effects in their music.
Formed in 1960 in Liverpool, England
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, their sound incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop in innovative ways that earned them the status of “the greatest and most influential artists of the rock era”. Their fashion, style, and usage of drugs were often imitated. They popularised the album as a collection of discrete but thematically connected songs with their 1967 record Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which led to masterpieces such as Abbey Road (1969) and Let It Be (1970).
Members: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr
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 and 1950s rock and roll, their sound incorporates 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. During their career, the Beatles released 13 UK chart-topping singles—17 including “Let It Be”—and became cultural icons of the 20th century. In 1988, Rolling Stone magazine ranked them number one on its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”, based on a worldwide poll conducted that year; they had topped the list in previous polls by the magazine in 2004 and 2005. Their influence on popular culture was profound—on fashion, films, literature (including novelisations and comic books), language, home design (including architecture), television, merchandising such as lunch boxes), politics—even sports.
The group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, with all four members being awarded seats as Heroes of Rock & Roll. In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine updated its previous list “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” and again declared them to be The Greatest Artist for having “modified what we listen to over time”. As Digital Spy commented: “[They] pretty much wrote the rule book for pop singer-songwriters.”
Notable Songs: “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “Help!,” “Here Comes the Sun”
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. With a line-up comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they are regarded as the most influential band of all time. The group were integral to the development of 1960s counterculture and popular music’s recognition as an art form.
Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later utilised several genres ranging from pop ballads to psychedelic rock, often incorporating classical elements and unconventional recording techniques 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 by many as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the era’s sociocultural revolutions.
The Beach Boys
Formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California
The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group’s original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine. Distinguished by their vocal harmonies and early surf songs, they are one of the most influential acts of the rock era. The band drew on the music of older pop vocal groups such as the Four Freshmen and Preps as well as African American R&B artists such as the Temptations, who themselves influenced Brian Wilson’s approach to songwriting.
With Brian as producer/songwriter, they produced a string of hits worldwide. Thecore period of Beach Boys activity was from 1962 to 1966 when they regularly released chart-topping albums and singles; their best-known works include “Surfin’ Safari”, “Fun, Fun, Fun”, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”, “God Only Knows”, “California Girls”, and “Good Vibrations”. They ocean-themed concept album Pet Sounds (1966) is often considered their finest artistic achievement; it helped stimulate a major rethinking in popular music concerning arrangements, recordings, and mixing. Its release was followed by Smile (1967), an aborted attempt at bridging the gap between Girls’ pop appeal and Wilson’s increasingly sophisticated songcraft that ultimately resulted in Smile’s shelving due to creative differences within the band.
Following Smile’s abandonment, Brian quickly completed work on the album that would become Smiley Smile (1967). Unlike its predecessor it was structured around conventional pop songs rather than being a suite or concept album – although it still incorporated unorthodox production techniques such as varispeeding. Its commercial reception was lukewarm though it still managed to reach No. 13 on Billboard 200 – with its two singles reaching the Top 40: “Gettin’ Hungry” and “Heroes and Villains”. Despite its lacklustre sales upon release, subsequent reevaluations have been more positive; many music critics now rate Smiley Smile as amongst Wilson’s strongest solo efforts.
Members: Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks
The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group’s original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Distinguished by their vocal harmonies and early surf songs, they are one of the most influential acts of the rock era. The band drew on the music of older pop vocal groups, 1950s rock and roll, and black R&B to create their unique sound.
Brian Wilson’s growing creative ambition led to tensions within the band. Dennis Wilson and Love became interested in the burgeoning counterculture movement (represented by figures such as Timothy Leary) and sought to incorporate psychedelic influences into the band’s music; meanwhile, Johnston quit touring with them after suffering a nervous breakdown. As a result, the Beach Boys released their first album without him: 1968’s Friends. The absence of Johnston revealed new fault lines within the band: Wilson began to assume full creative control and Jardine emerged as his chief musical collaborator; at the same time Love became increasingly marginalised within the band he had helped found.
The Beach Boys’ disbanding came amid acrimony within the group; residents of Los Angeles County placed a legal injunction against them forbidding them from performing together within county limits in 1982. The following year Dennis drowned while swimming off his yacht in Marina del Rey; two years after that Carl died from cancer at age 51. Since Carl’s death in 1998, all surviving members have increasingly toured together for nostalgia purposes with various past members occasionally joining them for selected dates.”
Notable Songs: “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “God Only Knows,” “Good Vibrations”
The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group’s original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine. Distinguished by their vocal harmonies, chamber pop orchestrations, and early surf songs, they are one of the most influential acts of the rock era. The Beach Boys began as a garage band led by Brian Wilson with assistance from his brothers Dennis and Carl. They gained national prominence with a string of hits that highlighted their close vocal harmonies and lyrics reflecting a Southern California youth culture of surfing and romance.
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. They were one of the most controversial and influential rock groups of the 1960s and 1970s, mostly because of Morrison’s wild, poetic lyrics and charismatic but unpredictable stage persona.
Formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California
The Doors were an American rock band that was formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California. The band was composed of singer Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger. The band gained popularity for their unique and experimental sound, which was a mix of rock, blues, jazz, and classical music. The band’s most successful album, “The Doors” (1967), included the hit single “Light My Fire” which reached number one on the Billboard charts. The band’s other successful singles include “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” (1966), “Hello, I Love You” (1968), and “Touch Me” (1969). The band’s final album, “L.A. Woman” (1971), was released after Morrison’s death.
Members: Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore
The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1965. The group was originally composed of lead vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger. They were one of the most controversial and influential rock acts of the 1960s because of Morrison’s suggestive lyrics and on-stage antics, which sometimes included improvisation and audience participation.
After Morrison’s death in 1971 at the age of 27, the remaining members continued as a trio until finally disbanding in 1973. Signing with Elektra Records in 1966, The Doors released eight albums in five years, all of which were commercially successful. By the end of 1971, it was reported that The Doors had sold 4,190,457 albums domestically and 7,750,642 singles. The band had three million-selling singles in the US: “Light My Fire”, “Hello, I Love You”, and “Touch Me”.
Although they were never able to achieve the same level of commercial or critical success without Morrison, The Doors continued to record and release music until 1973. In 2002, Manzarek and Krieger started a new band called Riders on the Storm. Densmore has sporadically worked with them over the years; he reunited with Manzarek and Krieger for a live performance in Los Angeles on December 12, 2007 to celebrate their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Notable Songs: “Light My Fire,” “Break On Through (To the Other Side),” “Riders on the Storm”
The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. The group consisted of vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore. They are considered one of the most influential and controversial rock groups of the 1960s due to Morrison’s wild, poetic lyrics and charismatic but unpredictable stage persona. The Doors’ sound was a fusion of psychedelic rock and hard rock that utilized Manzarek’s jazz training on the Fender Rhodes electric piano as well as Krieger’s blues-based guitar improvisations.
The band acquired a cult following in 1967 after releasing their debut album, The Doors, which became one of the best-selling debut albums of all time. Their second album, Strange Days (1967), peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 chart and produced their signature song, “People Are Strange”. The group achieved mainstream success with their third albumWaiting for the Sun (1968), which reached number one on the Billboard 200. After Morrison’sdeath in 1971 at age 27, fellow member Ray Manzarek assumed vocal duties until 1974 when he was replaced by former lead singer of The RattlesnakesJim Morrison is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and influential frontmen in rock music history. His baritone vocals and subdued stage presence defied the stereotypical image of a rock singer, while his lyrical preoccupation with sex, drugs, death and transcendence set him apart from many of his contemporaries. Although Morrison was known for his erratic behavior and excessive drug use, he was also an accomplished poet who wrote several books of verse including An American Prayer (1978).
Pink Floyd
Few bands have had as big of an impact on the world of music as Pink Floyd. Hailing from the United Kingdom, the band was at the forefront of the psychedelic rock movement in the 1960s. With their mind-bending lyrics and innovative sound, they created some of the most iconic tracks in rock history. Pink Floyd is a must-listen for any fan of psychedelic rock.
Formed in 1965 in London, England
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 music is marked by the use of innovative studio techniques, exploration of philosophical and psychological themes, and elaborate live shows. One of rock music’s most critically acclaimed and commercially successful bands, they have sold over 250 million records worldwide.
The lineup that ultimately became Pink Floyd consisted of Syd Barrett on guitar and lead vocals, Nick Mason on drums, Roger Waters on bass and lead vocals, and Richard Wright on keyboards. Barrett was replaced by guitarist David Gilmour in 1968. Wright died in 2008; Gilmour assumed leadership of the band after Waters left in 1985.
Members: Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason
Pink Floyd was an English rock band formed in London in 1965. They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music.
Pink Floyd were founded by students Syd Barrett on guitar and lead vocals, Nick Mason on drums, Roger Waters on bass and vocals, and Richard Wright on keyboards and vocals. They first gained popularity performing in London’s underground music scene in the late 1960s. Under Barrett’s leadership, they released two charting singles and a successful debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967). Barrett’s behaviour caused tensions within the band, and he was replaced by David Gilmour as their lead guitarist and principal songwriter. Wright left Pink Floyd in 1979 before The Wall was released; Waters became Pink Floyd’s de facto leader thereafter.
Notable Songs: “Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2,” “Wish You Were Here,” “Comfortably Numb”
Formed in 1965, Pink Floyd is one of the most iconic and influential bands of all time. They are best known for their concept albums and experimental sound, which often incorporated elements of psychedelic rock. Some of their most famous songs include “Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2,” “Wish You Were Here,” and “Comfortably Numb.” If you’re a fan of psychedelic rock, then Pink Floyd is definitely a band you should check out!
The Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, country, bluegrass, blues, gospel, and psychedelic rock. They were one of the most popular live bands of their era, and were ranked 57th on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Artists of all time.
Formed in 1965 in San Francisco, California
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in San Francisco, California. The band is known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, country, bluegrass, blues, gospel, and modal jazz. They are considered one of the greatest jam bands of all time.
The core lineup of the Grateful Dead consisted of Jerry Garcia (guitar, vocals), Bob Weir (guitar, vocals), Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (keyboards, harmonica, vocals), Phil Lesh (bass guitar, vocals), and Bill Kreutzmann (drums). The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and their 1977 live album “Cornell 5/8/77” was added to the National Recording Registry in 2012.
Members: Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, and Bill Kreutzmann
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band’s core lineup consisted of Jerry Garcia on lead guitar and vocals, Bob Weir on rhythm guitar and vocals, Phil Lesh on bass and vocals, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan on keyboards and vocals, and Bill Kreutzmann on drums.
The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of psychedelic rock, folk, country, improvisational jazz, blues, and bluegrass. They also became renowned for their live performances, which were often improvisational and included lengthy jams.
The Grateful Dead has been cited as a major influence by many jam bands including Phish, Widespread Panic, Blues Traveler, the Spin Doctors, Umphrey’s McGee, and the Dave Matthews Band. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
Notable Songs: “Truckin’,” “Uncle John’s Band,” “Casey Jones”
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. Ranging from quintet to septet, the band is known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, country, jazz, bluegrass, blues, gospel, and psychedelic rock; for live performances of lengthy instrumental jams; and forTheir devoted fan base, known as “Deadheads.” “Their music,” writes Lenny Kaye, “was principally a group improvisation effort with mind-expanding qualities that somehow struck a chord with the nascent counterculture.” They were ranked 57th in the issue The Greatest Artists of all Time by Rolling Stone magazine.
The Grateful Dead have sold more than 35 million albums worldwide. The Grateful Dead was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area amid psychedelic counterculture activity centered on Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters. The founding members were Jerry Garcia (guitar, vocals), Bob Weir (guitar, vocals), Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (keyboards, harmonica, vocals), Phil Lesh (bass guitar), and Bill Kreutzmann (drums). Drummer Mickey Hart and nonperforming lyricist Robert Hunter joined in 1967. Hart quit the band in 1971 but rejoined 20 years later. percussionist indicating their debt to improvisationalAfrican music traditions. Their music also incorporated elements of psychedelia—a signature sound that defined them both musically and visually.”
