Congratulations to the Genres of Psychedelic Rock
Congratulations to the Genres of Psychedelic Rock for their successful run in the late 1960s and early 1970s!
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group, whose best-known line-up comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential band in popular music history. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll, their sound incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop, as well as experimental recording techniques such as multi-tracking and tape loops. Although their initial musical style was influenced by groups such as the Tin Pan Alley pop of Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley, as well as early rock and roll acts such as Chuck Berry and Little Richard, the Beatles soon developed their own sound. With a line-up comprising Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr, they became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential band in pop music history.
The Beatles’ influence
The Beatles are widely considered the most influential band of all time, and records such as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Abbey Road and Rubber Soul are seen as landmarks of the 20th century. The Beatles’ influence on popular culture was and remains immense. Their commercial success helped to define the 1960s and they are frequently associated with that decade, particularly in terms of fashion, music and politics.
In 1968, The Beatles travel to Rishikesh in India to study meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The trip is cut short when they return to the UK after Ringo Starr suffers a severe bout of tonsillitis. While in India, they write many songs that appear on The Beatles (aka “The White Album”), including “Dear Prudence,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Child of Nature.”
After the band’s break-up in 1970, each member pursued solo careers. John Lennon was shot dead by Mark David Chapman in New York City in December 1980; George Harrison died of cancer in November 2001. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr both continued to record and tour into the 21st century.
The Beatles and drugs
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group, whose best-known line-up comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, are regarded as the most influential band of all time. They were integral to the development of 1960s counterculture and popular music’s recognition as an art form.
Initially inspired by skiffle and 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 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, they came to be perceived by many fans and commentators as the embodiment of progressive ideals compared with the pop mainstream. Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, they later utilised several genres ranging from pop ballads to psychedelic rock. Their clothes, hairstyles, statements and humour struck a new chord with young people (and caused many older people to view them with suspicion). As McCartney later said: “Before Elvis … there was nothing.”
During early Beatlemania shows were often pandemonium, with screaming fans rushing the stage. Security became tighter at concerts; on 18 August 1965 police used dogs for the first time at a Beatles concert in Shea Stadium New York City An estimated 55% of American teenagers had seen them perform by mid-1966.
The intensity of fan reaction proved too much for some venues: on 12 September 1964 John Lennon joked during a Melbourne press conference about how ringmaster Tommy Cooper had been “knocked off his perch” as “top dog” entertainer by screaming girls at Beatles concerts. When asked what it felt like to be more popular than Jesus Christ, he replied: “I don’t know. I’ve never been that popular.” This was interpreted as blasphemy by some Christians in the US – where newspapers ran headlines such as “Beatles more popular than Jesus” – leading to a backlash that included public burnings of their records. This contributed to their decision not to tour there again after 1966..
The Rolling Stones
On December 3rd, 1967, The Rolling Stones released their eighth studio album, Beggars Banquet. The album is considered to be one of the greatest albums of all time. The album features the single “Sympathy for the Devil”, which is one of the most well-known songs by the band.
The Rolling Stones’ influence
The Rolling Stones began to develop their own style and repertoire of songs, which set them apart from other blues-based bands of the time. They drew inspiration from Chicago blues artists such as Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, as well as British Invasion bands such as the Beatles. The band’s early songs show the influence of rhythm and blues, but by the mid-1960s, they had begun to incorporate elements of British psychedelic rock and American country music. The Stones became a leading band of the “British Invasion” of America.
The Rolling Stones and drugs
During the 1960s, the Rolling Stones became associated with the youth counterculture that advocated sexual liberation and experimentation with psychedelic drugs. In 1968, they wrote the song “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” about taking acid. Drugs would continue to play a role in their music and lives throughout the band’s career.
In 1967, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts were arrested on drug charges after a police raid on Richards’ house in rural England. Although most of the charges were later dropped, Jagger was sentenced to three months in jail for possession of amphetamines. The jail sentence was suspended on appeal and Jagger avoided serving time.
Richards was arrested again in 1973 after heroin was found in his luggage at an airport in Toronto. He pleaded guilty and was fined $500. The same year, Jones died from drowning while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. After Jones’ death, Wyman left the group and was replaced by Ronnie Wood.
The Rolling Stones continued to make music despite their struggles with drugs. They are widely considered one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. Although his mainstream career only spanned four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes him as “arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music”.
Jimi Hendrix’s influence
Jimi Hendrix was an American musician who is widely considered to be one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. Hendrix pioneered the use of feedback and distortion in guitar playing. His erratic behavior and lifestyle, coupled with his apparent alcoholism and drug abuse, made him one of the most controversial rock stars of his time.
Jimi Hendrix and drugs
Jimi Hendrix was notorious for his excessive drug use, and it’s often cited as a contributing factor to his untimely death. Though he dropped out of high school and never pursued formal education, Hendrix was a gifted musician who taught himself how to play the guitar. He first gained notoriety as a member of the band The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and his explosive onstage performances, combined with his innovative style of play, made him one of the most influential guitarists of all time.
Hendrix’s drug use began in his teens, when he started smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol. He later began experimenting with harder drugs, including LSD, PCP, and heroin. Hendrix was open about his drug use and even wrote songs about it, including “Rainy Day, Dream Away” and “Purple Haze.” In 1969, he told Rolling Stone magazine that he had tried acid “about a thousand times.”
Hendrix’s drug use took a toll on his health; he frequently missed concerts and studio sessions due to intoxication, and his behavior became increasingly erratic. On September 18th, 1970, Hendrix died of an accidental overdose of barbiturates. He was just 27 years old.
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd is a psychedelic rock band that formed in London, England, in 1965. The band achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music. Their work is marked by the use of experimental techniques and extended improvisation.
Pink Floyd’s influence
Psychedelic rock bands like Pink Floyd were a major force in the development of the genre, and their unique sound continues to influence artists today.
Pink Floyd’s 1967 debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, is considered one of the most influential psychedelic rock albums of all time. The album’s mix of angular guitar riffs, extended solos, and atmospheric soundscapes laid the foundation for subsequent psychedelia.
Pink Floyd’s 1968 follow-up, A Saucerful of Secrets, betrayed their debt to Syd Barrett with its more experimental song structures and sound collages. Barrett’s replacement, David Gilmour, made his debut on the album and would go on to become one of the most iconic guitarists in rock history.
Pink Floyd’s third album, More, was released in 1969 and was the band’s first album to be released in North America. The film soundtrack became a major hit single in both the UK and US, cementing Pink Floyd’s reputation as one of the leading lights of psychedelia.
After Syd Barrett’s departure from the band, Pink Floyd began to experiment with longer song formats and more abstract lyrics. This new direction reached its apex with their 1971 classic Meddle, an album that featured the 23-minute opus “Echoes.” Meddle was followed by another classic LP, Obscured by Clouds, which contained another fan favorite track in “Breathe.”
Pink Floyd ended the decade with The Dark Side of the Moon, one of the most successful and influential albums in rock history. The record topped charts around the world and stayed on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart for 741 weeks – an unheard-of achievement for any band, let alone a psychedelic act.
Pink Floyd and drugs
Classically trained musician Syd Barrett founded Pink Floyd in 1965. The band’s early success was built on their pioneering of the psychedelic rock genre, which they helped to shape with their energetic and improvisational live shows, innovative studio work, and use of audio effects. Key to this sound was their continuous experimentation with feedback, fuzz boxes, and modulators. As their popularity grew, the band began to be associated with the counterculture movement and LSD, particularly because of Barrett’s well-documented mental instability.
The Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in the 1960s in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band is known for its eclectic style, which blended elements of country, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, rock, and jazz. They are also known for their long improvisational jams, which could last for hours. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
The Grateful Dead’s influence
The Grateful Dead’s music has had a significant impact on the evolution of psychedelic rock and jam band music. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012. They have sold more than 35 million albums worldwide.
The Grateful Dead formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band’s musical style blended elements of folk, blues, country, jazz, and rock. The band’s repertoire consisted primarily of original songs written by band members Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, and Ron McKernan, as well as a few covers of traditional Americana songs.
The Grateful Dead’s live performances were improvisational and often included extended jams on their original songs. This improvisational style made them popular with fans of psychedelic rock and jam band music. The Dead’s concerts were also known for their unique visual effects, which were created by bassist Phil Lesh using a variety of electronic equipment.
The Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995 after the death of Jerry Garcia. However, the band has continued to influence the evolution of psychedelic rock and jam band music through its alumni, who have formed new bands such as The Other Ones, Furthur, RatDog, and Phil Lesh & Friends.
The Grateful Dead and drugs
The Grateful Dead have been associated with many drugs, most notably LSD, and were at the forefront of the counterculture movement of the 1960s. Their music has often been seen as symbolic of the drug culture and drug use, and the band was frequently marred by drug-related arrests and overdoses. The Grateful Dead’s long association with drugs began in their early days as a band playing in Palo Alto, California. Members of the band were introduced to marijuana and LSD, and
While the Grateful Dead never openly advocated drug use, their music often had a psychedelic edge that was influenced by their use of drugs. In addition, the band was known for their live concerts, which were often improvisational and could last for hours. These concerts often became “happenings” where fans would gather to experience the music and the drugs.
The Grateful Dead’s relationship with drugs came to a head in 1967, when they were arrested for possession of marijuana. The case was eventually dropped, but it damaged the band’s reputation. In 1970, keyboardist Ron “Pigpen” McKernan died of liver failure due to his alcoholism. Two years later, bassist Phil Lesh was arrested for possession of methamphetamine.
Despite these challenges, the Grateful Dead continued to be one of the most popular bands of the 1970s and 1980s. In 1995, guitarist Jerry Garcia died of a heart attack. His death marked the end of an era for the band, but their music continues to be popular among fans old and new.
