The Top Psychedelic Rock Bands of All Time
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Listening to psychedelic rock can be a mind-altering experience. The genre is characterized by distorted guitars, trippy lyrics, and mind-bending sound effects. If you’re looking to explore this genre, check out our list of the top psychedelic rock bands of all time.
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. They became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential music band in history. Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later utilised several genres, ranging from pop ballads to psychedelic rock, often incorporating classical and other elements in innovative ways. In 1963, their enormous popularity first emerged as “Beatlemania”; as the group’s music grew in sophistication, led by primary songwriters Lennon and McCartney, the band were integral to pop music’s evolution into an art form and to the development of the counterculture of the 1960s.
Their early work
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 Seeger Sessions’s heady mix of folk, blues and rock.
Their early work includes the skiffle-infused Please Please Me (1963), which went to number one in the UK and launched Beatlemania; the song “I Want To Hold Your Hand” became their first US number one in 1964. After Pablo Fanques Circus fire during their set at the Manchester Hippodrome in May that year, The Beatles quickly gained popularity across Europe with their appearances on television programmes such as Top of the Pops. They undertook their first US tour in 1964, culminating with historic appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. From 1965 onwards they released a stream of chart-topping singles and ground-breaking albums, including Rubber Soul (1965), Revolver (1966) and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), widely regarded as two of the greatest albums ever made.
Their later work
The Beatles began to experiment with recording techniques at the end of 1966, including “backward vocals” and sound effects on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and vocal double tracking (“doubletracked”) on Magical Mystery Tour. The album Revolver saw further experimentation such as the deliberate distortion of John Lennon’s vocals on “Tomorrow Never Knows”, the use of sitar on “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” and “Love You To”, and reversed cymbals on “Rain”. While recording Sgt.
Pepper, the band took more of an active interest in the album’s production than they had previously. George Martin later recounted that Pepper was “the first album where the artist was really involved in every aspect of the production”. The Beatles made greater use of studio musicians on Sgt. Pepper than on their previous albums: an orchestra was employed for several tracks, as were horns, a brass band and a women’s choir. The album also features extensive use of sound effects, reverse tape sounds and significant use of varispeed.
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Ian Stewart (piano), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass) and Charlie Watts (drums). Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued as a touring member until his death in 1985. Jones died less than a month after recording was completed.
Their early work
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band that was formed in London, England in 1962. The Rolling Stones have released 30 studio albums, 23 live albums and numerous compilations. The band has also released four live concert films. The Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004. The Rolling Stones were ranked number 4 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” in 2004 and number 12 on VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”.
The band’s early work was marked by a string of hits that included “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, “Paint It, Black”, “Get Off of My Cloud”, and “Honky Tonk Women”. Singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards wrote most of the band’s early songs, which were often pop-oriented anthems with hooks strengthened by the competent songwriting team of bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts. The team wrote their own material as well, including such successes as “Brown Sugar” from 1971’s Sticky Fingers. As Richards began to include more country and blues influences in his songwriting while Jagger also began working with producer Glyn Johns, their sound became more organic on such late-’60s releases as Beggars Banquet (1968), Let It Bleed (1969), Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! The Rolling Stones in Concert (1970), Sticky Fingers (1971), and Exile on Main Street (1972).
Their later work
After the Stones’return from their 1969 American Tour, they released “Beggars Banquet” (1968), “Let it Bleed” (1969) and “Sticky Fingers” (1971). The albums were a return to their R&B roots and are now considered some of their best work. “Beggars Banquet” features the classic cuts “Sympathy for the Devil,” “Street Fighting Man,” and “Salt of the Earth.” “Let It Bleed” contains the hit single “Gimmie Shelter” and the anthemic title track. And on “Sticky Fingers,” the Stones continue their streak with classics like “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Brown Sugar,” and “Wild Horses.”
The Who
The Who is one of the most well-known psychedelic rock bands of all time. They formed in 1964 and released their debut album, My Generation, in 1965. The album included the hit single “My Generation”, which is considered one of the most influential rock songs of all time. The Who continued to release successful albums throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including Quadrophenia and Tommy. They are considered one of the most important rock bands of all time and have influenced countless other artists.
Their early work
The Who first gained fame in the mid 1960s with a series of high-energy rock anthems, including “I Can’t Explain,” “My Generation,” and “Substitute.” They added to their reputation with the 1967 album The Who Sell Out, a pastiche of pirate radio commercials and Musclesbound ads that was one of the first concept albums, as well as one of the most brilliantly executed. The following year’s Tommy was an even more ambitious project, a double album that told the story of a “deaf, dumb, and blind” boy who becomes a pinball champion; it was later made into a movie and a Broadway play.
Their later work
The Who continued to produce new music throughout the 1970s and 1980s, with guitarist Pete Townshend taking on a greater role in songwriting. Their later albums, such as “Who’s Next” and “Quadrophenia,” are considered among the best in rock history. The band embarked on a successful reunion tour in 1989 and has continued to perform with occasional lineup changes in the years since.
Led Zeppelin
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that originated in the 1960s and was inspired by psychedelic culture. The bands that created this genre were influenced by psychedelic drugs, and their lyrics often reflected this influence. Led Zeppelin is one of the most famous psychedelic rock bands of all time.
Their early work
Led Zeppelin’s early work was rooted in blues and acoustic music, but they quickly began to experiment with other genres. As their sound developed, they incorporated elements of psychedelia, making them one of the most influential psychedelic rock bands of all time. From their groundbreaking debut album to their last studio release, Led Zeppelin redefined what rock music could be.
Led Zeppelin’s debut album, Led Zeppelin (1969), is often cited as one of the most influential albums of all time. The record combined blues and folk influences with a heavy dose of psychedelia, creating a sound that was entirely new and exciting. Tracks like “Dazed and Confused” and “Communication Breakdown” showcased the band’s raw energy and power, while “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” showed their softer side. The album was a huge success, reaching the top of the charts in the UK and US.
Led Zeppelin II (1969) continued in the same vein as their debut, with a heavier focus on blues and psychedelia. The record featured some of the band’s most iconic tracks, including “Whole Lotta Love” and “Moby Dick”. Led Zeppelin II was an even bigger success than their debut, cementing Led Zeppelin as one of the biggest rock bands in the world.
Over the next few years, Led Zeppelin released a series of hugely successful albums that further expanded their sound. 1970’s Led Zeppelin III featured a more acoustic-based sound, with tracks like ” Gallows Pole” and ” Since I’ve Been Loving You” showcasing the band’s versatility. 1971’s Led Zeppelin IV is perhaps their best-known album, containing classic tracks like ” Stairway to Heaven” and ” Misty Mountain Hop”. 1973’s Houses of the Holy saw the band experiment with different styles once again, with reggae-influenced tracks like “D’yer Mak’er” sitting alongside heavier songs like “The Song Remains the Same”.
Led Zeppelin’s later work saw them experimenting with different genres even further. 1975’s Physical Graffiti was a double album that contained everything from hard rock (“Kashmir”) to folk (” Bron-Yr-Aur”) to funk (“Trampled Underfoot”). 1977’s In Through The Out Door was their last studio album before drummer John Bonham’s death in 1980. The record featured synth-driven tracks like “Fool in the Rain” and “Hot Dog”, which were a far cry from the band’s earlier work.
Despite only releasing nine studio albums during their career, Led Zeppelin had a profound impact on rock music. Their innovative blend of genres inspired countless other artists, making them one of the most influential bands of all time.
Their later work
Led Zeppelin’s later work saw them experimenting with different sounds and styles, often drawing inspiration from world music. This led to some of their most acclaimed albums, such as Physical Graffiti and In Through the Out Door. However, this period was also marked by tragedy, with the untimely death of drummer John Bonham in 1980. This put an end to Led Zeppelin, and although the band did briefly reunite for a one-off show in 2007, they have not recorded or performed together since.
