The Psychedelic Rock Movement’s Greatest Bands

The Psychedelic Rock Movement’s Greatest Bands

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band that became arguably the most successful act of the 20th century. They formed in Liverpool in 1960, and their initial lineup consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Throughout their career, the Beatles released thirteen albums, which have sold over 800 million copies worldwide, making them one of the bestselling music artists of all time. In addition to their commercial success, the Beatles are also considered one of the most influential bands of all time, with their music having had a significant impact on both popular culture and the development of rock music.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed 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 Jones left the band less than a month before his death in 1969, having already been replaced by Mick Taylor, who remained until 1974.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 has been on guitar in tandem with Richards ever since. Since Wyman’s departure in 1993, Darryl Jones has served as the Rolling Stones’ bassist.

The Rolling Stones were at the forefront of the British Invasion of bands that became popular in the United States in 1964. The band identified with the rebellious counterculture of the 1960s. They were instrumental in making blues a major part of rock and roll,[3][4] and of changing the worldwide focus of blues culture from its obscure roots music origins to its electric blues guitar pop descendants that could be enjoyed by white teenagers.[5] Rooted in blues and early rock and roll,[6] their sound incorporated elements of African-American music including R&B and gospel,[7][8] as well as that of Anglo-American pop.[9][10] They also created “rap-rock”[11] by fusing rapping with guitar playing[12][13] on such tracks as “Street Fighting Man” from 1968’s Beggars Banquet; this would prefigure later developments that would see hip hop fully emerge as a form of popular music some two decades later.[14] In December 2003, Rolling Stone magazine ranked them fourth on its list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time,[15][16][17] and their estimated record sales are above 250 million.[18][19][20] They have released 30 studio albums, 23 live albums and numerous compilations.-Wikipedia

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin was an English rock band formed in London

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd was one of the most influential bands of the psychedelic rock movement. Their music was characterized by long, extended jams, complex instrumentation, and innovative sound effects. They were one of the first bands to use synthesizers and other electronic instruments in their music. Pink Floyd’s most famous album, “The Dark Side of the Moon,” is considered one of the greatest albums of all time.

The Who

The Who is one of the most important and influential bands of the psychedelic rock movement. They were known for their powerful live performances and their ability to fuse together elements of garage rock, proto-punk, and classical music. The band’s classic lineup consisted of Pete Townshend on lead guitar, Roger Daltrey on lead vocals, John Entwistle on bass guitar, and Keith Moon on drums. The Who released a string of classic albums throughout the 1960s and 1970s including “My Generation,” “Who’s Next,” and “Quadrophenia.” The band is also responsible for writing some of rock’s most iconic songs including “I Can’t Explain,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” and “Baba O’Riley.”

Jimi Hendrix

Psychedelic rock, also referred to as psychedelic pop or acid rock, is a music genre that emerged in the mid-1960s. The style is characterized by distorted guitars, trippy lyrics, and mind-bending visual effects. The genre is often credited with having a significant impact on the counterculture of the 1960s.

Psychedelic rock reached its peak of popularity in the late 1960s with bands like Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, and The Grateful Dead. The style began to decline in popularity in the early 1970s, but has seen a resurgence in recent years with new bands like Tame Impala and Allah-Las.

The Doors

The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore. They were unique and among the most controversial and influential rock acts of the 1960s, mostly because of Morrison’s lyrics and charismatic but unpredictable stage persona. After the release of their debut album in 1967, The Doors had a string of successful singles, including “Light My Fire”, “Break On Through (To the Other Side)”, and “The End”, which were accompanied by innovative promotional films.

By early 1968, they were one of the most popular live bands in America. The band came to prominence in 1967 with their debut album Strange Days which featured their breakthrough single “Light My Fire”. The Doors were one of the first American bands to be signed to a major label ( Elektra Records ) without having a hit record or without having been discovered playing clubs.

The band released eight more studio albums before Morrison’s death at age 27 in 1971. These albums continued to achieve commercial and critical success, including the multi-platinum L.A. Woman (1971) which peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 album chart and produced the hit singles “love her madly” and “Riders on the Storm”.

Cream

Formed in 1966, Cream was a short-lived yet highly influential British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/singer Jack Bruce, drummer Ginger Baker, and guitarist/singer Eric Clapton. The band’s sound was characterized by a heavy blues-rock approach as well as lengthy jamming sessions that often stretched their live performances to well over two hours. cream were also one of the first groups to successfully utilize the freewheeling improvisational approach of jazz to their own ends. Although they only released four studio albums during their active years (disregarding compilations and live recordings), they remain one of the most celebrated and influential bands of the psychedelic rock era.

King Crimson

Few bands have been as influential as King Crimson. They were one of the first bands to really experiment with psychedelia and rock, and their unique sound has influenced generations of musicians. They’re often cited as one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and it’s easy to see why.

Yes

Psychedelic rock, also known as acid rock, is a subgenre of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. Psychedelic rock is characterised by its distorted guitars, mind-altering lyrics and trippy sound effects. The style often incorporates elements of Indian and Eastern music, as well asutilising feedback and other electronic effects.

Psychedelic rock reached the height of its popularity in the late 1960s, with bands such as Pink Floyd, The Doors and The Jimi Hendrix Experience leading the way. However, the genre continued to influence musicians throughout the 1970s and 1980s, with many new bands taking inspiration from psychedelic rock’s innovative sounds.

In this article, we countdown the greatest psychedelic rock bands of all time.