Bands Such as New Order and The Cure Were Part of Psychedelic Rock
Contents
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. Bands such as New Order and The Cure were part of the psychedelic rock genre.
Psychedelic Rock- What is it?
Psychedelic rock, also referred to as just psychedelic rock, is a type of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. Psychedelic rock first emerged in the mid-1960s with bands such as the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds.
The sound
Psychedelic rock, also referred to as simply psychedelic rock, is a style of rock music that drew its inspiration from hallucinogenic drugs. The genre is often characterized by distorted guitars, sitars, and heavy drums, and often features lengthy improvisational sections. Psychedelic rock reached the height of its popularity in the mid- to late 1960s, but the style has continued to influence musicians over the past several decades.
The look
Psychedelic rock bands often attempted to reflect the experience of altered consciousness, LSD, and other drugs, both musically and through their visual appearance.
Psychedelic music was intended to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs, most notably LSD. Many of the watershed recordings in psychedelic music were released in 1967, the so-called “Summer of Love”, when many young people participated in experimental drug use.
Psychedelic art was often used on album covers and promotional materials for psychedelic music festivals (such as The Summer of Love). Artists such as Stanley Mouse, Alton Kelley, and Victor Moscoso created some of the best-known psychedelic art.
Psychedelic rock bands often attempted to reflect the experience of altered consciousness, LSD, and other drugs, both musically and through their visual appearance. The infamous “acid tests” hosted by Ken Kesey featured light shows by artists such as San Francisco’s Bruce Haack and Los Angeles’s Head West Light Show. Haack’s work was particularly influential; his Audio Vision Molto Luce show was used at early performances by The Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin.
Key Bands
Psychedelic rock emerged in the mid-’60s as bands such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys and The Byrds began experimenting with mind-altering drugs such as LSD. The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows” (1966) is considered a landmark of the genre. The term “psychedelic” refers to the experience of altered states of consciousness induced by drugs such as LSD, psilocybin mushrooms and mescaline.
New Order
New Order is an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Stephen Morris. The band’s classic lineup included Sumner on lead vocals and guitar, Hook on bass, and Morris on drums. The band gained popularity during the 1980s with their blend of post-punk, electronic dance music, and synth-pop. They had a number of hits including “Blue Monday” and “Bizarre Love Triangle.” The band broke up in 1993 but reformed in 1998. They continue to tour and release new music.
The Cure
Formed in Crawley, England in 1976, The Cure is considered one of the founding bands of the gothic rock genre. The group’s debut album, Three Imaginary Boys (1979), reached number 44 in the UK Albums Chart. The Cure rose to prominence in the early 1980s with their second album, Seventeen Seconds (1980), which reached number 20 in the UK and included the singles “A Forest” and “Primary”.
band’s dark and gloomy music was a major influence on the goth subculture that developed in the UK during the 1980s. The Cure’s popularity increased in the United States after their fourth album, Faith (1981), reached number73 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The Influence of Psychedelic Rock
The first psychedelic rock bands began to form in the mid-’60s, and their music was characterized by a distorted, feedback-drenched sound, often played at high volume. The psychedelic rock movement was influenced by a wide range of factors, including the drug culture of the time, the experimental music scene, and the political and social unrest of the era.
The music today
Psychedelic rock, sometimes referred to as garage rock, is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the mid-1960s. Psychedelic rock is often characterized by distorted guitars, lyrics with drug references, and extended instrumental passages.
The genre originated with American and British bands such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys. Psychedelic rock reached its peak of commercial popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with bands such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Black Sabbath. However, the genre continued to influence music in the 1980s and 1990s with bands such as New Order and The Cure being part of the so-called “second wave” of psychedelic rock.
