Little Known Psychedelic Rock Bands You Need to Hear

Psychedelic rock is a genre of music that is often overlooked. However, there are many great bands that fall under this category that are worth giving a listen. This blog will provide you with a list of some little known psychedelic rock bands that you need to hear.

The Psychedelic Furs

The Psychedelic Furs are one of the most underrated and sadly forgotten bands of the 80s. Formed in London in 1977, the Furs were fronted by the dark and sensual vocalist Richard Butler and his brother Tim on bass. The Furs combined post-punk with a new wave pop sensibility, which caught the ears of many college radio stations in the US. The band found commercial success with their 1981 single “Pretty in Pink”, which was later used in the John Hughes film of the same name.

Formed in 1977

The Psychedelic Furs are an English rock band that was formed in 1977. The band’s original lineup consisted of vocalist Richard Butler, his brother Tim Butler on bass guitar, Duncan Kilburn on saxophone and keyboards, Paul Wilson on drums, and Roger Morris on lead guitar.

Origin

The Psychedelic Furs are an English rock band founded in 1977. Led by singer Richard Butler and his brother Tim Butler on bass guitar, thePsychedelic Furs are one of the many acts spawned from the British post-punk scene.

Sound

The Psychedelic Furs are an English rock band founded in 1977. The initial success of their debut album, ‘The Psychedelic Furs’, was hampered in Britain by a ban on the airplay of the LP’s lead single, “Love My Way”. Nevertheless, the album peaked at No. 41 in the UK Albums Chart andrave reviews from the press. It was not until mid-1982 when “Love My Way” reached No. 7 in the UK Singles Chart that the band finally enjoyed widespread fame in their home country.

The Furs’ first LP was recorded quickly and cheaply on eight tracks while the band was living in a North London squat. Reviewers drew favorable comparisons with The Velvet Underground, and according to Allmusic, “may be one of the first alternative rock albums”. NME praised its mixture of post-punk and synth pop, writing that it “proves that basic songwriting is all important; not outdated concepts like romance or surrealism”.

Notable Songs

The Psychedelic Furs are an English rock band that was founded in 1977. The band’s music has been described as a “mix of post-punk and new wave”, and they were one of the first bands to be associated with the New Romantic movement.

The Psychedelic Furs’ debut album, The Psychedelic Furs, was released in March 1980 and reached No. 41 on the UK Albums Chart. The album’s lead single, “Sensitive”, peaked at No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart in April 1980.

The band’s second album, Talk Talk Talk, was released in November 1981 and reached No. 24 on the UK Albums Chart. The album’s lead single, “Pretty in Pink”, was released in February 1982 and peaked at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart.

The Psychedelic Furs’ third album, Mirror Moves, was released in July 1984 and reached No. 10 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 45 on the UK Albums Chart. The album’s lead single, “Heaven”, was released in May 1984 and peaked at No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 18 on the UK Singles Chart.”Love My Way” is a song by English rock band The Psychedelic Furs, originally released as a single from their fourth studio album Mirror Moves (1984) as its lead track; it also appears as opening track of its US release for which it became more well known due to strong airplay support by radio station WLIR[1] which put it into regular rotation.[2]

The Jesus and Mary Chain

The Jesus and Mary Chain were a Scottish alternative rock band formed in Glasgow in 1983. The band consisted of brothers Jim and William Reid (vocals, guitar and drums respectively). The band was influenced by punk rock, as well as the more experimental side of the new wave of British alternative rock. The group helped pioneer the shoegazing subgenre.

Formed in 1983

The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid. After signing to independent label Creation Records, they released their first single “Upside Down” in 1984. Their debut album Psychocandy was released to critical acclaim in 1985, drawing comparison to the Velvet Underground.

The band went on to release five more studio albums before disbanding in 1999. They reunited in 2007 and have released three more albums since then. The Jesus and Mary Chain were one of the most influential bands of the 1980s and have been cited as an influence by a number of artists, including Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, the Smashing Pumpkins, LCD Soundsystem, and Primal Scream.

Origin

The Jesus and Mary Chain is a Scottish Alternative Rock band formed in East Kilbride in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid. The group signed to independent label Creation Records in early 1985 and released their debut album Psychocandy in November of that year.

The album was a critical success, named NME’s Album of the Year and named one of the best albums of all time by publications such as Spin, Pitchfork, and VH1. The Jesus and Mary Chain went on to release four more studio albums throughout their career before going on hiatus in 1999. They reunited in 2007 and have released two more albums since then.

Sound

The Jesus and Mary Chain’s sound is defined by its heavy use of feedback, distortion, and reverb. These elements, combined with the band’s use of pop melodies, create a unique sonic experience that has been influential to many subsequent bands.

Notable Songs

The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid. After signing to independent label Creation Records, they released their first single “Upside Down” in 1984. Their debut album Psychocandy was released to critical acclaim in 1985, receiving praise for its unique combination of pop melodies played through a wall of distorted guitars and feedback. The band went on to achieve mainstream success with their next two albums, Darklands (1987) and Automatic (1989).

Notable songs:
– “Just Like Honey”
– “Some Candy Talking”
– “Never Understand”
– “Head On”

Spacemen 3

One of the most influential bands of the 1980s, Spacemen 3 were known for their minimalist approach to space rock. The band was formed in Rugby, England by Peter Kember and Jason Pierce, who later went on to form the more successful band Spiritualized. Spacemen 3’s sound was built around a heavily distorted drone, which was sometimes described as “white noise.”

Formed in 1982

Spacemen 3 was an English alternative rock band, formed in 1982 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Peter Kember and Jason Pierce. The group was active from 1982 to 1991, playing suicide-influenced space rock. It achieved moderate commercial success with their album Playing with Fire (1989). Spacemen 3’s sound was characterized by droning guitars and repetitive rhythms, underpinned by a drone bedroom production. Their music was defined as “minimalistic drone-rock” and distinctively riff-based.

Origin

Spacemen 3 were an English rock band, formed in Rugby, Warwickshire in May 1982 by Peter Kember and Jason Pierce. The group’s musical style arose from their shared interests in 1960s psychedelic, garage rock and Spacemen 3’s attempt to replicate the buzz they received from taking the drug amphetamine. Spacemen 3’s signature sound combined drone and lengthy jams with distorted guitars and modal chord patterns.

The band gained some attention in the underground music scene of mid-1980s England, and released three singles and their debut album Sound of Confusion before breaking up in 1991. Following another drug-related collapse by Pierce, Kember maintained control of the Spacemen 3 name and reformed the band without Pierce in 1993, releasing two more albums before breaking up again in 1996.

The original lineup reunited for two final concerts in 2005 and 2006.

Sound

Spacemen 3 was an English rock band, active from 1982 to 1991, best known for their 1993 LP Playing with Fire. The group was founded by Pete Kember (aka “Sonic Boom”, also of Spectrum and EYE) and Jason Pierce (also of Spiritualized).

The two were initially in a band together called The Sound, but after that group’s singer left to join another band, they decided to form Spacemen 3. The group’s original lineup also includedWill Carruthers on bass and Sterling Roswell on drums.

The band built up a sizeable following in their native England and began to attract attention from the American record label Matador Records, who released their first album For All the Fucked-Up Children of This World We Give You Spacemen 3 in 1987.

The group’s sound was rooted in 1960s psychedelic rock and likely influenced by the likes ofThe Velvet Underground, Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd, and early esoteric German krautrock bands such asAsh Ra Tempel and Kraftwerk.

Notable Songs

Spacemen 3 was an English rock band, active from 1982 to 1991, founded in Rugby, Warwickshire by Sonic Boom (aka Peter Kember) and Jason Pierce. The band is remembered as a pioneer of drone music[1] and space rock,[2][3] and was one of the first groups to utilize Moog synthesizers,[4][5] song structures based around minimalism, Feedback and distortion. Spacemen 3’s best known songs are “Taking Drugs to Make Music to Take Drugs To”, “Losing Touch with My Mind”, “Come Down Easy”, ” Walkin’ with Jesus”, and “Transparent Radiation (Brighton Rock)”.

The group toured relentlessly throughout Europe and North America between 1986 and 1991, playing over 500 concerts.[6][7] According to Kember, almost 500 hours of Spacemen 3 recordings exist;[8] many of these are available on various bootleg albums and unofficial releases.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre

The Brian Jonestown Massacre is a San Francisco-based band that was formed in 1990. The band is led by Anton Newcombe, and they have released 16 albums to date. The band is known for their psychedelic rock sound, and they have been a major influence on the neo-psychedelia and garage rock revival scenes.

Formed in 1990

The Brian Jonestown Massacre is a San Francisco-based musical project and rock band led by Anton Newcombe. It was formed in 1990. The group began as a garage band and was the subject of a documentary film, Dig!, released in 2004. The name comes from the Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones and the Manson Family murders.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre has released seventeen albums, five compilation albums, five live albums, thirteen EPs, sixteen singles, and two various-artist compilation albums.

Origin

The Brian Jonestown Massacre is a psychedelic rock band originally from San Francisco, California, United States. The group was the subject of the 2004 documentary film Dig!, directed by Ondi Timoner. The film chronicles the long running feud between The Brian Jonestown Massacre and another San Francisco band, The Dandy Warhols.

The group was started by Anton Newcombe in 1990. They have released seventeen albums, five compilation albums, five live albums, thirteen EPs, sixteen singles as well as two various-artist compilation albums to date. The band has been through many lineup changes but has always been centered around Newcombe. The name is a combination of Brian Jones, founder of the 1960s rock band The Rolling Stones, and Jonestown, the site of the 1978 massacre of members of the Peoples Temple cult in Guyana.

Sound

The Brian Jonestown Massacre is an American musical project and band led by Anton Newcombe. It was formed in San Francisco in 1990. The group began as a garage rock band and was part of the San Francisco psychedelic rock scene that included The Warlocks, The Fresh & Onlys, and Tripsichord Music Box. The name Brian Jonestown Massacre is a portmanteau of The Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones and the Peoples Temple mass murder/suicide in Jonestown, Guyana.

Since 1995, The Brian Jonestown Massacre has released seventeen albums, five compilation albums, five live albums, thirteen singles, six various-artist compilation albums, threevideos, two extended plays (EPs), and one film. BJM has been featured in global press including Rolling Stone, Spin, Mojo, NME as well being written about in various books. Amongst their influences are 60s garage bands such as 13th Floor Elevators and early psychedelic acts such as Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd and Love. Newcombe has often referred to 13th Floor Elevators frontman Roky Erickson as his “hero”.

In early 2006 NME votedvalue-formattedSpecifies the alignment of value cells (left/center/right)The Brian Jonestown Massacre “the best underground band in the world today”. Later that year both Field Day Festival organizers and Pitchfork Media named them to top 10 lists of most memorable performances.[‘citation needed’]

Notable Songs

The Brian Jonestown Massacre is a San Francisco-based band led by frontman Anton Newcombe. The group was One of the first bands to be tagged with the “psychedelic rock” label, and they have been credited as a major influence on the development of the genre.

The band’s sound is characterized by guitars which often exhibit a jangly, modal quality reminiscent of Ravi Shankar’s sitar playing, as well as Indian nuances such as the use of tabla-style percussion. Their songs often feature hook-laden melodies and hypnotic refrains, which are underpinned by a pulsing, krautrock-inspired rhythmic groove.

Notable songs include “Straight Up and Down,” “Going to Hell,” “Oh Lord,” and “Vacuum Boots.”