The Best Psychedelic Rock Bands of the 1960s

The Best Psychedelic Rock Bands of the 1960s – A Comprehensive List

The Beatles

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 of the 20th century. Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later experimented with several musical styles, ranging from pop ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard 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 in subsequent years, led by primary songwriters Lennon and McCartney, the band came to be perceived as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the young counterculture of the 1960s.

The Beatles built their reputation playing clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg over a three-year period from 1960, with Stuart Sutcliffe initially serving as bass player. The core trio of Lennon, McCartney and Harrison, together since 1958, went through a succession of drummers during 1959–60; Pete Best was replaced by Starr early in 1960. Manager Brian Epstein molded them into a professional act, and producer George Martin enhanced their musical potential on record. They gained popularity in Britain after their first single, “Love Me Do”, became a modest hit in early 1963; 1963 also saw the release of their debut album Please Please Me. By 1964 Beatlemania had reached fever pitch across Britain and Ireland; subsequently unprecedented numbers of young people flocked to see them perform live or buy their records everywhere they went—particularly on their groundbreaking 1964–65 world tours which proved immensely popular with both audiences and critics alike. From 1965 onwards regular studio releases produced a stream of innovative recordings that exerted significant influence on Western popular culture—reflected both in fashion trends such as the mop-top haircut they affected (and were frequently lampooned for) as well as scenes such as “flower power” that mirrored traditional images associated with peace marches during such times as World War II but placed them squarely within the context of anti-war protests during Vietnam War era later on. As pop culture historian James Perone wrote:
“Certainly no band since has filled arenas so consistently or for so long … They did it by writing songs that captured both the hearts—and ears—of young people around the world.” One critic described Chamberlain’s term “the Fab Four” as being “as Immortal … [and] accurate … [as] any other tag applied to rock’s royalty.” In 2008 website Roughstock placed them at number five on its list of “The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time”.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London, England in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of bandleader Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica, keyboards), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums), and Ian Stewart (piano). Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued as a touring member until his death in 1985. Jones died less than a month after recording started.

The Rolling Stones have released 25 studio albums in the United Kingdom (24 of those albums have also been released in the United States), eight concert albums and numerous compilations. On 20 July 2019 they will release their 26th UK studio album, titled NO SECOND CHANCES. As of 2002, the Rolling Stones had sold more than 200 million records worldwide.

The Doors

The Doors were one of the most successful and controversial American rock bands of the 1960s. With their unique blend of blues, jazz, classical music, and psychedelic rock, they achieved massive success, both commercial and critical. But their career was marred by tragedy, as lead singer Jim Morrison was plagued by drug and alcohol abuse, which ultimately led to his untimely death at the age of 27.

The Beach Boys

Known for their distinctive vocal harmonies and for their influential role in the development of pop music, the Beach Boys are one of the most popular bands of all time. Formed in 1961, the group originally consisted of brothers Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. The Beach Boys rose to fame with their 1965 album Beach Boys’ Party!, which contained the hit single “Fun, Fun, Fun”. With a series of chart-topping albums and singles, the Beach Boys became one of the biggest bands of the 1960s. They are often cited as America’s preeminent band of the era.

The Byrds

The Byrds were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (known as Jim McGuinn until mid-1967) being the sole consistent member, until the group disbanded in 1973. Although they only managed to achieve commercial success in the United States, the band was influential on the development of American punk rock and alternative country music.

The Byrds’ sound was marked by McGuinn’s 12-string Rickenbacker guitar playing, original member David Crosby’s harmonizing vocals and high tenor wordless melodies, Gene Clark’s songwriting contributions and lead vocals, Michael Clarke’s distinctive drumming style, and the use of Latin rhythms. They are best known for their signature tunes “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)”, both of which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965 and 1967 respectively; as well as for their iconic cover of Bob Dylan’s “My Back Pages”, which peaked at number 31 on the Hot 100 in 1966. Several of their releases were included on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time; two songs – “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Turn! Turn! Turn!” – are members of the Grammy Hall of Fame; while their debut LP Mr. Tambourine Man (#35) is included on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Their version of Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” was inducted into both Grammy Hall Of Fame and National Recording Registry as a “Recording To Be Preserved”.