The Occult Influence in Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock music is often associated with the occult, and for good reason. Many of the biggest bands in the genre openly embraced the dark side, and their music reflected this fascination. In this blog post, we’ll explore the occult influence in psychedelic rock.

Psychedelic Rock and the Occult

Psychedelic Rock is a subgenre of rock music that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The style is characterized by a heavy use of distorted electric guitars, bass guitars, drums, and keyboards, as well as psychedelic effects. Psychedelic Rock is often associated with the occult, due to the heavy use of symbols and imagery.

The Beatles and Aleister Crowley

The Beatles and Aleister Crowley -Psychedelic Rock and the Occult The Beatles were no strangers to the dark side of the occult. In fact, their whole career is shrouded in mystery and rumor, much of it involving black magic, Satanism, and the dark arts. Aleister Crowley was one of the most well-known practitioners of the occult in the early 20th century, and he had a huge influence on the Beatles. Crowley’s ideas can be seen in their music, their artwork, and their behavior.

Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Page

Led Zeppelin was one of the most successful and influential rock bands of all time. The band’s frontman, Jimmy Page, was an avid collector of occult books and paraphernalia. He was also a close friend of Aleister Crowley, the famous British occultist. Page incorporated many of Crowley’s ideas into Led Zeppelin’s music, lyrics, and stage performances.

The band’s use of symbolism and imagery drawn from the occult, combined with their heavy metal sound, had a profound impact on the nascent psychedelic rock scene. Many other bands would go on to adopt similar aesthetics and themes in their music.

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd is one of the most well-known and influential psychedelic rock bands of all time. Formed in London in 1965, the band was initially associated with the city’s underground music scene and was known for their experimental and avant-garde approach to music. They would go on to become one of the most successful and iconic rock bands of all time, selling over 250 million records worldwide and creating some of the most influential and timeless music in history.

However, Pink Floyd’s connection to the occult is often overlooked. In fact, many of their early songs make direct references to occult concepts and practices, and several of their album covers feature images that are clearly influenced by occult symbolism. Even more fascinating is the fact that several members of the band were openly interested in the occult, and it has been speculated that their music was used as part of actual occult rituals.

Whether or not you believe in the powers of the occult, there is no denying that Pink Floyd was heavily influenced by it. From their early days making experimental music in London’s underground scene to their global success as one of the most iconic rock bands of all time, Pink Floyd’s connection to the occult is undeniable.

The Occult in Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock, often called simply psychedelic rock or acid rock, is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s and became widely popular in the early 1970s. The psychedelic experience is often associated with the use of psychedelic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline.Psychedelic rock attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs.

The Beatles and Aleister Crowley

The Beatles were one of the most influential bands of all time, and their impact is still felt today. Many of their songs contained hidden messages and references to the occult, which led some to believe that the band was involved in Satanic rituals. One of the most famous examples is the song “Helter Skelter,” which is said to be about the Manson Family murders.

Aleister Crowley was a British occultist who founded the religion of Thelema. He is also known for his involvement in ceremonial magic and sexual liberation. Some believe that Crowley was an influence on the Beatles, particularly John Lennon. In an interview, Lennon even said that Crowley was “one of my heroes.”

Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Page

Psychedelic rock, often called simply psyrock or psych rock, is a style of rock music that was inspired by psychedelic culture and LSD-25. The music is intended to replicate and enhance the experience of a psychedelic trip. Psychedelic rock often uses various types of electronic equipment, including synthesizers and reverb units, and incorporates elements from other genres, including folk music, electronic music, jazz, and world music.

Led Zeppelin was an English rock band that formed in 1968. The band’s heavy, guitar-driven sound has led them to be cited as one of the progenitors of heavy metal. Their style drew from a wide variety of sources, including blues-rock, psychedelic rock, and folk. Jimmy Page was the band’s primary songwriter and producer, and he also played guitar solos on many of their tracks.

The band incorporated elements of the occult into their lyrics and stage performances. Page was interested in the occult from an early age, and he later joined the British interdisciplinary magickal order known as the Golden Dawn. The Golden Dawn taught its members how to tap into what they called “the astral plane,” which they believed was a higher level of reality that could be accessed through meditation and other means. Page used some of these techniques while writing songs for Led Zeppelin, and he also incorporated occult symbols into the band’s stage performances.

Some examples of Led Zeppelin songs with occult themes include “Stairway to Heaven,” “All My Love,” “Black Dog,” and “Kashmir.” In live performances of these songs, Page would often play an acoustic guitar with a symbol painted on it that represented the astral plane. He also frequently used a theremin onstage, which added an eerie quality to the band’s sound.

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd, who are often considered one of the founding fathers of psychedelic rock, have been inspired by the occult throughout their career. In 1967, they released their debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, which included the song “Interstellar Overdrive”. The song was directly inspired by Aleister Crowley’s book Magick in Theory and Practice, and includes references to Crowley’s philosophy of Thelema.

The band would continue to explore occult themes on subsequent albums, such as 1969’s Ummagumma and 1971’s Meddle. On the latter album, they even included an image of Crowley on the cover. However, it was on 1973’s The Dark Side of the Moon where Pink Floyd would fully embrace the occult. The album explored themes of mental illness and insanity, and included several references to Crowley and his teachings.

Since then, Pink Floyd have continued to mine the occult for inspiration, particularly on their later albums The Wall and The Division Bell. While they may not be as overt in their exploration of the occult as they once were, it remains a significant part of their musical legacy.