The Best Psychedelic Rock Bands of All Time
We all know and love the classics, but what about the modern psychedelic rock bands that are out there today? Here’s a list of the best psychedelic rock bands of all time.
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 in history. Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later utilised several genres, ranging from pop ballads to psychedelia and hard rock, often incorporating classical elements in innovative ways. In 1963 their enormous popularity first emerged as “Beatlemania”, and as the group’s music grew in sophistication led by primary songwriters Lennon and McCartney, they came to be perceived as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the Counterculture of the 1960s.
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 unique and among the most controversial and influential rock acts of the 1960s, mostly because of Morrison’s lyrics and voice along with his erratic stage persona. After Morrison’s death in 1971 at the age of 27, the remaining members continued as a trio until disbanding in 1973.
Although they were commonly defined as psychedelic rock, the Doors worked in a wide variety of musical styles including blues-rock, hard rock, and jazz-influenced pop. In 1993, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone ranked them 41 on their list of “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”.
Pink Floyd
Even if you don’t consider Pink Floyd to be a psychedelic rock band, there’s no denying that they were hugely influential in the development of the genre. Formed in 1965, the band was at the forefront of the British psychedelic scene, and their 1967 album “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn” is widely considered to be one of the best psychedelic albums ever made. Pink Floyd continued to experiment with psychedelia on subsequent albums like “Ummagumma” and “Atom Heart Mother”, but they are perhaps best known for their classic 1973 album “The Dark Side of the Moon”, which contained several overtly psychedelic tracks like “On The Run” and “The Great Gig In The Sky”.
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin is often cited as one of the greatest and most influential rock bands of all time. They formed in London in 1968 and went on to release nine studio albums, including the timeless classics Led Zeppelin IV and Houses of the Holy. With their bluesy, hard-rock sound infused with elements of folk, Indian music, and Eastern sounds, Led Zeppelin created a unique sonic landscape that is still highly revered by fans and critics alike. Though the band only released nine albums during their active years, they have left an indelible mark on the history of rock music.
The Grateful Dead
Considered by many to be the grandfathers of the jam band genre, The Grateful Dead formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band’s unique brand of long-form improvisational rock has influenced generations of musicians, and their live performances are legendary. The Dead’s lineup changed many times over the years, but the core members were Jerry Garcia (guitar, vocals), Bob Weir (guitar, vocals), Phil Lesh (bass, vocals), and Bill Kreutzmann (drums). Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (keyboards, harmonica, vocals) was also an important early member of the band who sadly passed away in 1973. The Grateful Dead released 13 studio albums between 1967 and 1989, and they remain one of the most popular live acts to this day.
