The Best Psychedelic Rock Bands of All Time

A comprehensive list of the best psychedelic rock bands of all time, including Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, and The Doors.

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, beat and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later experimented with several genres, 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, led by primary songwriters Lennon and McCartney, they came to be perceived by many fans as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the era’s sociocultural revolutions.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The original line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Ian Stewart (piano), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass) and Charlie Watts (drums). The band’s primary songwriters, Jagger and Richards, assumed leadership after Andrew Loog Oldham became the group’s manager.

The Rolling Stones were in the vanguard of the British Invasion of bands that became popular in the US in 1964 and were identified with the youthful and rebellious counterculture of the 1960s. They were instrumental in making blues a major part of rock music and continued to be a leading band into the 21st century. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004. Rolling Stone magazine ranked them fourth on their “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” list and their estimated album sales are above 250 million. They have released 30 studio albums, 18 live albums and numerous compilations.

The Who

The Who is an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic line-up consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century, selling over 100 million records worldwide. The Who’s early work was marked by a admiration for American R&B and rock artists such as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, and Jackie Wilson. Their next phase saw them incorporating more elements of art and pop music into their sound.

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. The band’s heavy, guitar-driven sound, rooted in blues and psychedelia on their early albums, has earned them recognition as one of the progenitors of heavy metal, though their unique style drew from a wide variety of influences, including folk music.

Pink Floyd

Few bands have had as lasting and profound an impact on rock music as Pink Floyd. Formed in 1965, the band was led by Syd Barrett and Roger Waters, who wrote most of the group’s early material. The band quickly gaining a following for their experimental and psychedelic sound.

In 1967, Pink Floyd released their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. The album was a critical and commercial success, and is now considered one of the greatest debut albums of all time. It featured Barrett’s songwriting at its most whimsical and psychedelic, with songs like “Bike” and “Lucifer Sam” sounding like nothing else that was being made at the time.

In 1968, Barrett began to suffer from mental health problems, leading to his eventual departure from the band. He was replaced by David Gilmour, who would become one of the most influential guitarists in rock history. Under Gilmour’s leadership, Pink Floyd released some of their most iconic albums, including The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), and The Wall (1979). These albums saw the band move away from their experimental roots and into more radio-friendly territory, with longer songs and more complex arrangements.

Pink Floyd are one of the best-selling bands of all time, with estimated sales of over 250 million records worldwide. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, and were awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. In 2019, they were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame.

The Doors

One of the most important and influential American rock bands of all time, The Doors formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. The band was composed of singer-songwriter and keyboardist Ray Manzarek, singer Jim Morrison, and drummer John Densmore, with guitarist Robby Krieger joining the following year.

The Doors were one of the most controversial rock bands of their time, due in large part to Morrison’s often provocative and unpredictable behavior. They were also one of the most successful, with their debut album, 1967’s The Doors, becoming a critical and commercial smash. The album spawned the hit singles “Light My Fire” and “Break On Through (To the Other Side),” both of which become Top 40 hits in the US.

The group followed up their debut with 1968’s Strange Days, which was another commercial success. It included the hit single “People Are Strange.” The band’s third album, 1969’s The Soft Parade, was a bit more experimental and saw them incorporating brass and strings into their sound for the first time. Despite mixed reviews from critics, it still sold well and included the hit single “Touch Me.”

The Doors continued to experiment with their sound on 1970’s Morrison Hotel, which returned to a more basic rock sound. The album was a financial success thanks to the popular singles “Love Her Madly” and “Roadhouse Blues.” 1971’s L.A. Woman was released shortly after Morrison’s death at age 27; it would be the band’s final studio album with him as lead singer. The album included the hit single “Riders on the Storm.”

After Morrison’s death, The Doors remained active for several more years before disbanding in 1973. They reunited briefly in 1978 for an anniversary concert featuring new singer Jim Archer; a live album from that show was released as An American Prayer in 1980. Manzarek, Krieger, and Densmore reunited once again in 2002 for a tribute concert honoring late Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti; they were joined onstage by various guest singers including Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.

Jimi Hendrix

It’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role of guitar hero – or any other kind of rock star, for that matter – than Jimi Hendrix. A virtuoso player with a style that blended blues, rock, R&B, pop and psychedelic sounds, Hendrix was a master of feedback and distortion who expanded the sonic possibilities of the electric guitar. He was also a master showman, performing feats of skill and showmanship that had never been seen before – or since. His 1967 debut album, Are You Experienced?, is one of the most influential and iconic albums in rock history, and his 1967 performance at the Monterey Pop Festival is considered one of the greatest rock concerts of all time. Hendrix died at the age of 27 in 1970, but his legend has only grown in the decades since his death. He remains one of the most beloved and respected figures in rock & roll.

Cream

Cream was a psychedelic rock band that formed in 1966. The band members were Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton. Cream was one of the first bands to use distorted guitar feedback and other effects to create their unique sound. The band’s biggest hits include “Sunshine of Your Love,” “Crossroads,” and “White Room.” Cream broke up in 1968, but the members have reunited on several occasions since then.

Blind Faith

Formed in 1968, Blind Faith was a “supergroup” comprised of members from some of the most successful bands of the time. The band was short-lived, releasing just one self-titled album before disbanding, but their impact on the genre was undeniable. With hits like “Can’t Find My Way Home” and “Presence of the Lord,” Blind Faith created some of the most memorable psychedelic rock ever recorded.

Traffic

Traffic was a British rock band that formed in Birmingham in 1967. The group’s primary songwriter was Jim Capaldi, and their musical style ranged from psychedelic rock to progressive rock. Traffic was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

The band’s debut album, Mr. Fantasy (1968), peaked at number 16 on the UK Albums Chart. Their following albums, Traffic (1968) and Last Exit (1969), both reached the top ten in the UK. The group’s final album, Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory (1973), charted at number one in the United States.

Traffic has been cited as an influence by many subsequent musicians, including Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, and Robert Plant.