The Pioneers of Psychedelic Rock
The Pioneers of Psychedelic Rock were a group of musicians who pioneered the sound of psychedelic rock in the 1960s. They were known for their use of feedback, extended jams, and mind-altering substances.
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. With a line-up comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they are regarded as the most influential band of all time. The group were integral to the development of 1960s counterculture and popular music’s recognition as an art form.
Their early years and influences
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 of the 20th century. They were integral to the development of 1960s counterculture and popular music’s recognition as an art form. Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, their sound incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop in innovative ways that caught the attention of young people across the world.
The group’s primary songwriters, Lennon and McCartney, are referred to as the greatest songwriting partnership of all time. Led by their creative leader and primary singer-songwriter Lennon, The Beatles built their reputation playing clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg over a three-year period from 1960, with Stuart Sutcliffe initially serving as bass player. The core trio of Lennon, McCartney and Harrison, together since 1958, went through a succession of drummers until they recruited Starr in 1962. Proficient musicians all four then became intensively involved in crafting The Beatles’ output in the studio — an approach that would transform popular music.”
The Beatles and psychedelic drugs
Psychedelic drugs played an important role in the development of psychedelic rock and the counterculture of the 1960s. The Beatles, who are often cited as the pioneers of psychedelic rock, were influenced by psychedelic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and cannabis.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney both used LSD regularly during the recording of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour. Lennon famously said that LSD opened his mind and helped him to see music in a new way. McCartney also credited LSD with helping him to write some of the Beatles’ most iconic songs, including “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “Day Tripper”.
George Harrison was also introduced to LSD by Lennon in 1966, but he only took the drug a few times before deciding that it was not for him. Ringo Starr reportedly never took LSD, though he did experiment with other psychedelics such as cannabis.
The Beatles’ use of psychedelic drugs had a profound impact on their music and their attitudes towards life. The positive experiences that they had while under the influence of LSD led them to believe in the power of love and peace, which became central themes in their songs. The Beatles’ message of love and peace was an inspiration to many people during a time of political and social unrest.
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones were one of the first bands to experiment withpsychedelic rock. Their 1967 album, Their Satanic Majesties Request, was a critical and commercial flop, but it signaled the Stones’ willingness to experiment with new sounds. The album’s single, “We Love You”, was banned by the BBC for its drug references.
Their early years and influences
Rolling Stones is an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums), and Ian Stewart (piano). Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued to work with the band as a contracted musician until his death in 1985. The band’s primary songwriters, Jagger and Richards, assumed leadership after Andrew Loog Oldham became the group’s manager. Jones left the band less than a month before his death in 1969, having already been replaced by Mick Taylor, who remained until 1974. After Taylor left the band, Ronnie Wood took his place in 1975 and continues on guitar in tandem with Richards. Since Wyman’s retirement in 1993,[1][2] Darryl Jones has served as touring bassist. The Stones have not had an official keyboardist since 1963, but have employed several guest players including Chuck Leavell from 1982 to 1987 and Matt Clifford from 1994 to 2014.[3]
The Rolling Stones were at the forefront 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. Theydistinguished themselves from other bands of the time with their instrumentation (two electric guitars expanded to three by mid-1965 with acoustic guitar and keyboards also becoming regular features) and their style which drew on a wide range of influences including blues rock, rhythm and blues https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rolling_Stones
The Rolling Stones and psychedelic drugs
It is well known that the Rolling Stones were huge proponents of psychedelic drugs during their careers. They were some of the first major mainstream rock stars to openly experiment with LSD, and their music often reflected this change in drug use. The song “She’s a Rainbow” from the 1967 album Their Satanic Majesties Request is a perfect example of this change, with its trippy lyrics and dreamy soundscape.
The Stones’ famously rebellious attitude also led them to explore other illegal drugs, such as cocaine and heroin. However, it was their use of LSD that really set them apart from other bands of the time. The Stones’ willingness to experiment with mind-altering substances helped to create the unique sound that would come to define their records throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The Doors
Their early years and influences
The Doors were a rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965 by vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger. They were one of the most controversial and influential rock bands of the 1960s thanks to Morrison’s wild, poetic lyrics and charismatic stage presence.
The band came to prominence with their debut album, The Doors (1967), which reached No. 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The singles “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” and “Light My Fire” both became No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album also helped them gain a large international following; it sold over three million copies in the US and more than seven million copies worldwide.
The Doors continued to release successful albums throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, including Strange Days (1967), Waiting for the Sun (1968), The Soft Parade (1969), Morrison Hotel (1970), Absolutely Live (1970), and L.A. Woman (1971). The band’s popularity waned after Morrison’s death in 1971 at the age of 27; Krieger, Densmore, and Manzarek carried on as a trio until 1973 when they decided to disband.
Since then, The Doors’ music has been adapted for many films and television shows. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and were ranked number 41 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” in 2004.
The Doors and psychedelic drugs
Psychedelic drugs played an important role in the formation of the band and the development of their sound. The Doors were one of the first bands to openly experiment with LSD, and members of the band took the drug on a regular basis during their early career. LSD had a profound effect on the group’s music, and it can be heard in both the lyrics and the sound of their early records.
The Doors were also influenced by other psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin mushrooms and peyote. These substances were often used by the band during their live shows, and they helped to create an atmosphere of spontaneity and improvisation. The Doors were one of the first rock bands to regularly incorporate mind-altering substances into their live performances, and this helped to set them apart from other groups of their time.
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix was a true pioneer of psychedelic rock. His unique style of playing and signature sound was unlike anything that had been heard before. Hendrix pushed the boundaries of what was possible on the guitar and his innovative techniques influenced a generation of musicians.
His early years and influences
Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle, Washington on November 27, 1942. His mother, Lucille, was only 17 years old at the time. Hendrix was named James Marshall Hendrix after his father, who left the family when Jimi was just a baby. His mother later married Al Hendrix, who adopted Jimi and gave him his last name.
Jimi’s first exposure to music came from watching his father play the blues on guitar. He was also inspired by watching other local musicians perform. When he was 15, he got his first guitar and taught himself how to play. He dropped out of high school a year later and joined the Army, but he was discharged after only one year due to an injury.
After he left the Army, Hendrix moved to Clarksville, Tennessee and began playing in clubs. He soon caught the attention of Booker T. Jones of Booker T. & the MGs, who helped him get a recording contract with R&B label Volt Records. Hendrix’s first single, “Hey Joe,” was released in 1966 and reached the top ten in several countries.
Jimi Hendrix and psychedelic drugs
Psychedelic drugs, such as LSD and mushrooms, were central to the 1960s counterculture and played a significant role in the development of psychedelic rock. Although Hendrix was never a heavy user of psychedelic drugs, he did experiment with them on occasion, and his music was heavily influenced by their effects.
In 1966, Hendrix moved to England and formed the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The band’s 1967 debut album, Are You Experienced, included several songs that were inspired by Hendrix’s use of LSD, including “Purple Haze” and “Foxey Lady”. The album’s artwork also included a number of references to drug use, including a picture of Hendrix taking a hit from a joint.
Hendrix continued to experiment with drugs throughout his career, and his usage often had an impact on his music. For example, the song “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” from the 1968 album Electric Ladyland was written after Hendrix took LSD and had a powerful hallucinations. In 1971, shortly before his death, Hendrix recorded the song “Ezy Ryder”, which includes the lyrics “I just took my Ezy Rider / Out for a spin”. Many believe that this is a reference to heroin use.
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd was an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic groups, they were distinguished for their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philosophical lyrics and elaborate live shows, and became a leading band of the progressive rock genre. They are one of the most commercially successful and influential groups in popular music history.
Their early years and influences
Pink Floyd originally consisted of students Syd Barrett (guitar, lead vocals), Nick Mason (drums), Roger Waters (bass, vocals) and Richard Wright (keyboards, vocals). Originally gaining popularity performing in London’s underground music scene, they signed with EMI Records in 1965 and released their first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, a year later. Their early work was distinguished by Barrett’s creatively random songwriting, and their performances featured extended improvisation.
Musically influenced by late-1960s psychedelic pop and experimental rock acts such as Pink Floyd’s early material was distinguished by Syd Barrett’s experimental approach to songwriting and guitar playing which sometimes veered into the realms of improvisation. Furthermore, their live shows often included lengthy improvised passages that were later edited down or removed entirely from studio recordings. Some of these improvised sections were captured on the band’s debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn; most notably the song “Interstellar Overdrive”, which runs for over nine minutes on the album.
Pink Floyd and psychedelic drugs
In the mid-1960s, while the Beatles were cavorting with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in India and Bob Dylan was “going electric,” Pink Floyd were immersed in the London underground scene, playing all-night parties and experimenting with LSD. Psychedelic drugs would play an important role in the band’s music and stage act for the next several years.
Singer Syd Barrett was the first member of Pink Floyd to experiment with LSD, and he quickly became addicted to the drug. Barrett’s excessive use of LSD caused him to become increasingly unstable, and he was soon fired from the band. Despite his dismissal, Barrett continued to exert a powerful influence on Pink Floyd’s music; his former bandmates would later say that everything they did after he left was in some way a reaction to his absence.
While Barrett was Pink Floyd’s primary connection to psychedelia, other members of the band also experimented with mind-altering substances. In 1967, Pink Floyd performed at the First Annual International Human Be-In in San Francisco, where they were exposed to a wide variety of psychedelic drugs. The following year, they released their second album, A Saucerful of Secrets, which included the song “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun,” inspired by an LSD trip taken by bassist Roger Waters.
The band’s third album, 1969’s More, was even more explicitly psychedelic than its predecessor. The movie that accompanied it featured disturbing images ofDrug addicts going through withdrawal, which were intended to evoke the feeling of an acid trip gone wrong. After its release, More was banned in several countries due to its controversial content.
Pink Floyd’s fourth album, Ummagumma, featured a live disc recorded at concerts in Manchester and London that featured extended improvisations inspired by psychedelic drugs. The studio disc included such acid-tinged tracks as “Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict,” which was written by guitarist David Gilmour while he was tripping on acid.
The band would continue to explore psychedelic themes on subsequent albums like Atom Heart Mother (1970) and Meddle (1971), but by this time they were moving away from drug-inspired mind expansions and towards more abstract concepts like alienation and madness. Still, their early experience with LSD would remain an important part of their identity; as Waters once said, “You could take Pink Floyd very seriously or not at all… but whatever you did you had to take Syd [Barrett] seriously.”
