The Rise of Modern Psychedelic Rock and Stoner Rock

Psychedelic and stoner rock music have been on the rise in recent years. This blog explores the reasons behind this phenomenon and the bands that are leading the charge.

The Origins of Psychedelic Rock and Stoner Rock

Psychedelic rock, also known as mind-expanding rock, acid rock, and trippy rock, is a style of popular music that originated in the early to mid-1960s. It is characterized by distorted guitars, mind-altering lyrics, and trippy sound effects.

The Beatles and the Birth of Psychedelic Rock

The Beatles’ 1966 album Revolver is often cited as the first psychedelic rock record, and it’s certainly true that the band’s exploration of mind-altering drugs had a profound effect on their music. However, the label “psychedelic rock” didn’t come into widespread use until later in the decade, when bands like The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and The Doors began to experiment with longer, more jam-oriented songs that incorporated elements of Eastern music and philosophy. These bands were inspired in part by the work of avant-garde composer John Coltrane, who was himself influenced by Indian music and philosophy.

Stoner rock is a subgenre of Psychedelic rock that began in the early 1990s with bands like Kyuss and Sleep. Stoner rock is typically characterized by heavy guitar riffs, a slow-to-mid tempo, and a thick, “stonery” sound. The genre is often riff-based and incorporates elements of other genres such as Doom metal, Sludge metal, Hardcore punk, and Psychedelic rock.

The Rolling Stones and the Rise of Stoner Rock

While the Rolling Stones may not have been the first band to experiment with drugs, they were certainly one of the most influential in terms of bringing drug use to the mainstream. The Stones’ 1964 song “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” is widely considered to be one of the first popular songs to reference drug use, with its iconic opening line “I can’t get no satisfaction.” The Stones continued to experiment with drugs throughout their career, and their 1967 album “Their Satanic Majesties Request” is widely regarded as one of the first psychedelic rock albums.

The Rolling Stones’ influence can be seen in many subsequent psychedelic and stoner rock bands, such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and the Grateful Dead. These bands all experimented with drugs, and their music often reflected this experimentation. For example, Pink Floyd’s 1967 album “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn” includes songs that reference LSD trips, while Led Zeppelin’s 1971 song “Misty Mountain Hop” is about cannabis use. The Grateful Dead were also well-known for their live shows, which often included lengthy improvisations thatwere likely influenced by drug use.

The Rolling Stones’ influence on psychedelic and stoner rock cannot be overstated. They were one of the first popular bands to openly experiment with drugs, and their music helped pave the way for subsequent bands in this genre

The Modern Psychedelic Rock Scene

Psychedelic Rock and Stoner Rock have seen a surge in popularity in recent years. These genres have been around for decades, but they have gained a new following in the 21st century. Psychedelic Rock and Stoner Rock are similar in many ways, but they also have their own unique sound.

The Grateful Dead and the San Francisco Sound

The Grateful Dead and the San Francisco Sound of the late 1960s and early 1970s was influential in the development of modern psychedelic rock. The San Francisco Sound is often cited as being a key element in the development of psychedelic and stoner rock, two subgenres which are closely related.

The Grateful Dead’s music was largely improvisational and often included extended jams, which were a new concept at the time. They also incorporated elements of folk, blues, country, and jazz into their music. The band’s live performances were an important part of their appeal, and they were particularly well-known for their extended jams.

The San Francisco Sound was characterized by its use of electric guitars, bass guitars, drums, and keyboard instruments like the organ and piano. It also featured lengthy improvisation and extended jams. Other bands that were influential in the development of psychedelic rock and stoner rock include Jefferson Airplane, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Pink Floyd, and The Doors.

Jimi Hendrix and the Electric Ladyland Sessions

In the fall of 1968, Hendrix and his bandmates—bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell—entered New York City’s Record Plant studio to begin work on what would become Electric Ladyland. The album’s sprawling double-disc length and diversity of material reflected the group’s wide-ranging musical interests, which included not only rock & roll and blues but also world music and pop. Electric Ladyland also marked the first time that Hendrix fully embraced his role as a bandleader, with many of the album’s songs featuring contributions from a rotating cast of collaborators that included percussionist Juma Sultan, keyboardist Bernie Worrell and members of the Crescent City Horns. Inspired by these sessions, Hendrix would go on to form his ownshort-lived studio, Electric Lady Studios, which remains one of the most iconic recording facilities in music history.

Pink Floyd and the Dark Side of the Moon

After the release of Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon”, the Psychedelic Rock Scene began to take a dark turn. Many artists began to experiment with heavier, more distortional sounds and subject matter. This new style of Psychedelic Rock is sometimes referred to as “Stoner Rock”.

The Modern Stoner Rock Scene

Psychedelic rock and stoner rock have been on the rise in recent years. This type of music is typically characterized by its heavy use of distorted guitars, blues-based riffs, and extended jams. The modern stoner rock scene has its roots in the early 1990s, when bands like Kyuss and Sleep began to experiment with these sounds.

Kyuss and the Rise of Stoner Metal

In the early 1990s, a new type of rock music began to emerge from the American desert. Kyuss, a band from Palm Desert, California, mixed the slow tempos and heavy riffs of doom metal with the riff-based song structures of hard rock. The result was a new subgenre of metal known as stoner metal or desert rock. Kyuss’ sound was influential on subsequent stoner metal bands such as Fu Manchu, Monster Magnet, and Corrosion of Conformity.

Queens of the Stone Age and the New Wave of Stoner Rock

Formed in 1996, Queens of the Stone Age is one of the most well-known stoner rock bands today. The band’s sound is a unique mix of stoner rock and hard rock, with a heavy focus on groove and rhythm.Queens of the Stone Age’s breakthrough album, “Songs for the Deaf,” was released in 2002 and was an instant success, garnering critical acclaim and commercial success. The album’s lead single, “No One Knows,” became a huge hit, propelling the band to new levels of popularity.

In recent years, Queens of the Stone Age have continued to experiment with their sound, incorporating elements of synth-pop and industrial music into their music. The band’s most recent album, “Villains,” was released in 2017 to critical acclaim.

Queens of the Stone Age are often credited with reviving interest in stoner rock and helping to bring the genre to a wider audience. Along with fellow stoner rock bands like Kyuss and Fu Manchu, Queens of the Stone Age are considered pioneers of the modern stoner rock scene.

Sleep and the Rise of Doom Metal

The early 1990s saw the rise of two closely related subgenres of heavy metal music: doom metal and stoner rock. Both genres are characterized by slow tempos, heavy guitars, and a dark, atmospheric sound.

Doom metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It is characterized by a slow, heavy, and distorted sound, often with horror-inspired lyrics. Prominent doom metal bands include Saint Vitus, Candlemass, and Cathedral.

Stoner rock is a subgenre of hard rock that emerged in the early 1990s. It is characterized by a heaviness and sludginess, often with psychedelic influences. Prominent stoner rock bands include Kyuss, Fu Manchu, Monster Magnet, and Sleep.