The Best Psychedelic Rock Artists of All Time

A list of the best psychedelic rock artists of all time, including Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett, and Jimi Hendrix.

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. They became the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed act in the history of popular music. They are also widely regarded as one of the most influential bands of all time. The group consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.

The Beatles’ influence on psychedelic rock

Psychedelic rock, also referred to as psyrock, is a style of rock music that sought to replicate the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It became incredibly popular in the mid-1960s, when The Beatles began to experiment with new sounds and technologies.

The Beatles would go on to become the most influential band in psychedelic rock, with their 1966 album Revolver widely considered to be the genre’s definitive work. The band’s sound was heavily influenced by Indian music, which they had been exposed to during their time in Rishikesh. This can be heard in songs like “Tomorrow Never Knows” and “Within You Without You”.

While The Beatles were undoubtedly the biggest name in psychedelic rock, they were far from the only artists exploring this new sound. Other important figures in the genre include The Beach Boys, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, and Pink Floyd. Psychedelic rock would go on to mutate into other styles like acid rock and space rock before eventually falling out of fashion in the 1970s. Nevertheless, its legacy can still be heard in many modern bands.

The Beatles’ psychedelic rock songs

The Beatles are often cited as the artists who popularized psychedelic rock, with songs such as “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “Psychedelic Songs”. Often experimental and exploratory, psychedelic rock broke away from the pop sensibility of early rock and roll to create a more far-out sound.While the genre is now associated with the late 1960s, it continued to be popular throughout the 1970s, with artists such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and The Grateful Dead.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are often cited as one of the greatest and most influential rock bands of all time. They have released some of the most iconic and timeless songs in the history of rock music. The band’s members are Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and Charlie Watts. The Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004.

The Rolling Stones’ influence on psychedelic rock

The Rolling Stones are often credited as one of the keystone bands that helped to pioneer the psychedelic rock genre in the late 60s. The band’s use of feedback, distorted guitars, and mind-bending effects created a unique sound that was influential to many other artists at the time. The Stones’ approach to songwriting was also unique, often blending dark themes with catchy hooks and melodies. This combination proved to be very popular with audiences, and helped to make the band one of the most successful groups of all time.

The Rolling Stones’ psychedelic rock songs

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), 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 finished, 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 ever since.

The Rolling Stones were at the forefront of the British Invasion of bands that became popular in the United States in 1964 and were identified with the youthful and rebellious counterculture of the 1960s. Rooted in blues and early rock and roll, they later incorporated different genres into their recordings such aspsychedelic rock, R&B, dub music, as well as triggering their embracing of hip hop with some of their recordsin the 1980s.The band’s primary songwriters Jagger and Richards began to diverge artistically from each other during this period; Jagger preferring to write more personal socially conscious songs with a distinctly English character while Richards focused on electric blues oriented material influenced by double stop slide guitar work of Muddy Waters’ recorded output.

Their Satanic Majesties Request is The Rolling Stones’ psychedelic pop album that was released in 1967. This album experiments with a variety ideas such like Syd Barrett-esque whimsy, Mellotron swells courtesy of Brian Jones and Indianclassical instrumentation by Lasham Asavari Kahn. All songs were credited to Jagger/Richards except for “She’s a Rainbow” which was credited to both Jagger and Richards individually.

The Doors

The doors were one of the most influential and controversial American rock bands of the 1960s. They were formed in Los Angeles in 1965 by singer Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. The doors were known for their unique sound and style, which was a mix of blues, rock, jazz, and classical music. They were also known for their controversial lyrics and live performances, which often featured Morrison’s unpredictable and erratic behaviour.

The Doors’ influence on psychedelic rock

The Doors were one of the most influential Psychedelic Rock bands of all time. Their music was a perfect blend of Psychedelic and Hard Rock, and their lyrics were often dark and mysterious. The band’s frontman, Jim Morrison, was a true Rock star, and his stage presence was electric. The Doors’ music is still popular today, and their influence can be heard in many modern Psychedelic Rock bands.

The Doors’ psychedelic rock songs

While The Doors’ dabbling in psychedelia might not have been as overt as other artists of the time, there’s no mistaking the influence it had on their music. Here are some of The Doors’ best psychedelic rock songs.

-“The End”
This song was originally written for the 1967 film “Apocalypse Now,” but was ultimately not used in the film. It remains one of The Doors’ most popular and well-known songs, and is a perfect example of their psychedelic sound.

-“Light My Fire”
The Doors’ first big hit, “Light My Fire,” is a perfect example of the band blending elements of psychedelia with their own unique brand of rock. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and helped to cement The Doors as one of the biggest rock bands of all time.

-“People Are Strange”
This song was originally released as a single in 1967, but didn’t gain much traction until it was featured in the 1986 film “The Lost Boys.” The song is now widely considered to be one of The Doors’ best, and its dark, atmospheric sound is indicative of the band’s psychedelic leanings.

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix is often cited as the greatest guitar player of all time. His unique style of playing combined blues, rock, and jazz elements helped to define the Psychedelic Rock genre. Hendrix was also one of the first popular musicians to use feedback and distortion to create new sounds with his electric guitar.

Jimi Hendrix’s influence on psychedelic rock

Psychedelic rock artists like Jimi Hendrix were often influenced by mind-altering drugs, which helped to create the distorted and complex sounds that characterized the genre. Hendrix’s use of feedback and other innovative techniques helped to push the boundaries of what was possible with electric guitar, and his influence can still be heard in psychedelic rock today.

Jimi Hendrix’s psychedelic rock songs

Few psychedelic rock songs are as well-known – or as influential – as Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze.” The track, which was released in 1967, is a perfect example of the genre’s defining characteristics: dizzyingly fast guitar work, mind-bending lyrics, and a sense of sonic exploration.

But “Purple Haze” is just one of many excellent psychedelic rock songs by Hendrix. Other standouts include “Fire,” “The Wind Cries Mary,” and “All Along the Watchtower.” These tracks showcase Hendrix’s incredible range as a songwriter and musician, and they remain some of the best examples of psychedelia in popular music.

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd’s influence on psychedelic rock

Pink Floyd is one of the most influential psychedelic rock bands of all time. Formed in 1965, the band helped pioneer the use of extended improvisation and studio experimentation in psychedelic rock.

The band’s early work is marked by Syd Barrett’s distinctive lead guitar style and provocative lyrics. Barrett’s Drug-induced mental instability caused him to leave the band in 1968, but Pink Floyd continued to experiment with different sounds and styles on subsequent albums.

The group’s 1971 album, “Meddle,” is often cited as a high point of their career. The album’s stand-out track, “Eclipse,” features an extended jam that highlights the band’s improvisational strengths.

Pink Floyd continued to enjoy critical and commercial success throughout the 1970s with albums like “Dark Side of the Moon” and “Wish You Were Here.” The band’s later work explored themes of aging, sanity, and alienation, culminating in their final album, “The Wall.”

Pink Floyd’s psychedelic rock songs

Pink Floyd was an English rock band formed in London in 1965. They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music.

Some of their most notable psychedelic rock songs include:
-Interstellar Overdrive
-See Emily Play
-The Gnome
-Lucifer Sam
-Bike
-The Piper at the Gates of Dawn