5 Psychedelic Rock Bands From California You Need to Know
Discover 5 of the best psychedelic rock bands to come out of California. With a mix of heavy guitars and dreamy lyrics, these bands will take you on a musical journey.
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most controversial and influential rock acts of the 1960s, mostly because of Morrison’s lyrics and charismatic but unpredictable stage persona. After signing with Elektra Records in 1967, The Doors released eight albums in five years, some of which are considered classic examples of psychedelic rock. The band had moderate commercial success until Morrison’s untimely death at age 27 in 1971.
The surviving members continued as a trio until finally disbanding in 1973. Eight years later, they reunited and released two albums before disbanding again. In 2002, Manzarek and Krieger started touring the world as The Doors of the 21st Century with a rotating lineup of singers including Bryan Adams and distortional-blues artistIan Astbury of The Cult.
Love
Love was one of the most influential bands to come out of the 1960s. Formed in Los Angeles, they were at the forefront of the psychedelic music scene. Their album “Forever Changes” is considered by many to be a classic.
The Doors
The Doors were another band that was hugely influential in the development of psychedelic rock. Formed in Los Angeles in 1965, they were known for their unique sound and provocative lyrics.
The Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead were a San Francisco-based band that was hugely popular in the 1960s and 1970s. They were known for their extended jams, which often incorporated elements of psychedelic rock.
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was a San Francisco-based band that was one of the most successful psychedelic rock bands of the 1960s. They are best known for their hit song “Somebody to Love.”
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young was a supergroup that formed in 1968. They were known for their harmonies and for their political activism.
Jefferson Airplane
Formed in San Francisco in 1965, Jefferson Airplane was one of the pioneering bands of the psychedelic rock movement. The band’s original lineup included singer Grace Slick, guitarists Paul Kantner and Jorma Kaukonen, bassist Jack Casady, and drummer Spencer Dryden. Jefferson Airplane is perhaps best known for their 1967 hit “Somebody to Love,” which was written by Slick and Kantner. The band was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
The Byrds
The Byrds were one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s. They were known for their unique blend of folk, country and rock music, as well as their use of unconventional instruments like the sitar. The Byrds were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
The Grateful Dead are one of the most iconic rock bands of all time. They were founded in 1965 in San Francisco, and their music is defined by its psychedelic sound and extended jam sessions. The Grateful Dead have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, once in 1994 and again in 2015.
Jefferson Airplane was a rock band that was active in the 1960s and 1970s. They were known for their psychedelic sound and social activism. Jefferson Airplane was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
Moby Grape was a rock band that was active in the late 1960s. They were known for their unusual song structures and for featuring three lead vocalists. Moby Grape was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
The Beach Boys are one of the most iconic pop bands of all time. They were founded in 1961 in Southern California, and their music is defined by its sunny disposition and surf-themed lyrics. The Beach Boys have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, once in 1988 and again in 2001.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is a folk rock supergroup made up of American musicians David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, and Canadian musician Neil Young. They are noted for their intricate vocal harmonies, often tumultuous interpersonal relationships and political activism. Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) was formed in 1968 and their second album, Déjà Vu (1970), included Young as a fullfledged member.
