Psychedelic Rock: The Ultimate Wiki Guide

Discover everything you need to know about Psychedelic Rock, from its humble beginnings to its modern-day resurgence. This is the ultimate guide for fans and newcomers alike.

What is Psychedelic Rock?

Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attemptsto replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs.Psychedelic rock often aimsto recreate or reflect the experience of altered consciousness.

The term “psychedelic” was coined in 1956 by psychiatrist Humphry Osmond as an alternative descriptor for hallucinogenic drugs in the context of psychedelic psychotherapy. Osmond first used the term to refer to psychedelics in a scientific paper, suggesting that LSD could be used to treat alcoholism. The popularity of the term spread with the rise of the counterculture in the 1960s, when it came to be associated with music style.

Psychedelic rock originated in the mid-1960s with bands such as The Beatles, The Jefferson Airplane, and The Byrds exploring Eastern music modalitiesincluding sitar-based sounds on songs such as “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” and “Eight Miles High.” Psychedelic fashion and decoration became an integral part of rave culture and parties seeking to replicate laboratory conditions conducive to relaxation, creativity, and exploration of alternate states of consciousness.

Origins of Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock, also referred to as psychedelia, is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s and was popularized in the early 1970s. The genre is defined by its use of distorted guitars, bass, drums, and vocals, as well as its predilection for extended jams and improvised solos. Psychedelic rock also often made use of studio effects such as reverb and echo.

The style is most commonly associated with the so-called “San Francisco Sound” of the late 1960s, which featured bands such as the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Big Brother & The Holding Company. The scene was also an important breeding ground for the development of acid rock, a subgenre defined by its heavier sound and focus on extended guitar solos.

In Britain, psychedelic rock reached its peak of popularity with bands like Pink Floyd, Soft Machine, and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. The genre also had a significant impact on the development of progressive rock, with groups like Yes and Genesis incorporating elements of psychedelia into their music.

Despite its popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, psychedelic rock has remained something of a niche genre in the years since. Nevertheless, the style has continued to exercise a strong influence on successive generations of musicians, with many modern bands citing psychedelia as a major source of inspiration.

The British Psychedelic Rock Scene

The British psychedelic rock scene was one of the most important and influential in the history of the genre. Fuelled by bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd, as well as a thriving underground club culture, the British psychedelia movement reached its peak in the late 1960s.

However, it was not just the music that made this scene so special – it was also the fashion, art and lifestyle that went with it. Psychedelic rock in Britain was a true cultural phenomenon, and one that has left a lasting legacy.

If you want to learn more about the British psychedelic rock scene, then this is the ultimate wiki guide for you. We’ve gathered together everything you need to know, from the history of the genre to its biggest bands and best-loved tracks.

The American Psychedelic Rock Scene

The American psychedelic rock scene began in 1965 with the Acid Tests, hosted by author and activist Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters. The bands that played at these parties, including the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane, would go on to become some of the most iconic acts in rock history. The influence of psychedelic drugs such as LSD can be heard in the music of these bands, which often features lengthy improvised jams and mind-bending sound effects.

The popularity of psychedelic rock spread to other countries in the late 1960s, giving rise to influential scenes in Britain and Japan. Psychedelic rock would go on to play a significant role in the development of other genres such as punk rock, new wave, and heavy metal.

Psychedelic Rock in the 1960s

Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempted to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. The music is intended to replicate and enhance the experience of taking psychedelic drugs, most notably LSD. Many psychedelic groups differ in style, and the label is often applied spuriously.

Psychedelic rock developed during the mid 1960s as Western society was becoming increasingly accepting of drug use for recreational purposes. NIDA Director Dr. Robert L. Dupont has said that Psychedelic Rock, “…may be the most potent transmitter ever devised for turning on young people to mind-bending experiences.” The first psychedelic rock song is generally considered to be “The Trip” by The Electric Prunes, released in early 1967.

Psychedelic rock reached its pinnacle in 1967 – often referred to as the “Summer of Love” – with classic albums such as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles, The Doors by The Doors, Are You Experienced? by Jimi Hendrix, Disraeli Gears by Cream and Surgery byTV Eye 7. Some of the most important artists associated with this style of music are Jimi Hendrix, Cream,Jefferson Airplane,The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin Big Brother and the Holding Company ,The Beatles , and The Doors.

Psychedelic Rock in the 1970s

Psychedelic rock, also referred to as garage rock, is a subgenre of rock music that started in the mid-1960s. It is characterized by its heavy use of distorted guitars, drums, and vocals. Psychedelic rock often uses feedback and other electronic effects to create a “trippy” sound.

The Beatles’ album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) is considered by many to be the first psychedelic rock album. The Beach Boys’ Smile (1966), The Doors’ self-titled debut album (1967), and Jefferson Airplane’s Surrealistic Pillow (1967) are also considered early examples of psychedelic rock.

Psychedelic rock reached its peak in popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with groups such as The Grateful Dead, Santana, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and The Who all releasing critically acclaimed records.

However, by the mid-1970s, the popularity of psychedelic rock was on the decline. Punk rock emerged as a reaction against what many perceived as the self-indulgent and introspective nature of psychedelic rock. Many psychedelic rock bands broke up or changed their sound in an attempt to stay relevant. Some groups, like Pink Floyd and Grateful Dead, managed to adapt and continued to enjoy success into the 1980s and beyond.

Psychedelic Rock in the 1980s and Beyond

Nowadays, the term “psychedelic rock” is used more broadly, sometimes encompassing acts as diverse as Talking Heads, R.E.M., and The White Stripes–all of whom have been influenced by psychedelia in one way or another.Psychedelic rock began to fall out of fashion in the early 1970s, as the original wave of psychedelic bands broke up or moved into other genres such as progressive rock, hard rock, and heavy metal. Although some isolated pockets of psychedelia persisted–such as in the work of Captain Beefheart, Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd, and Robyn Hitchcock–the genre was largely consigned to history until its reemergence in the 1980s.

In 1985, Julian Cope released his second solo album, World Shut Your Mouth, a heady mix of DIY punk aesthetics and garage rock energy infused with a distinctly psychedelic sensibility. Cope would go on to be one of the most important figures in Brit-psychedelia’s ’80s revival–not only with his own work (both solo and with The Teardrop Explodes) but also through his tireless championing of long-forgotten 1960s psychedelic bands such as The Misunderstood, The Electric Prunes, and Love.

The mid-’80s also saw the formation of two other key Brit-psyche bands: The Telescopes and Spacemen 3. Both groups took a more experimental approach than Cope’s song-based pop psychedelia; The Telescopes were particularly known for their use of feedback and white noise, while Spacemen 3’s lengthy jams (often improvised in the studio) were indebted to early-’70s Krautrock groups such as Kraftwerk and Neu!.

Notable Psychedelic Rock Bands

Psychedelic rock, also referred to as garage rock, is a genre that was popularized in the 1960s. It is characterized by its use of distorted guitars and mind-altering lyrics that often explore themes of anti-establishment, drug use, and counterculture.

Notable bands who helped to pioneer the genre include The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and The Doors. Psychedelic rock continued to be popular in the 1970s with bands such as Led Zeppelin and Queen. In more recent years, the genre has seen a resurgence in popularity with bands like The Strokes and Tame Impala.

Notable Psychedelic Rock Albums

Psychedelic rock, also known as acid rock, is a type of rock music that experienced a height of popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. Psychedelic rock is often characterized by extended instrumentation, complex song structures, and an emphasis on improvisation and exploration. The genre is also often associated with mind-altering substances such as LSD, which were often used by psychedelic rock bands in an attempt to enhance the experience of their live shows.

Some of the most famous and influential psychedelic rock albums include:

The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
The Doors – Strange Days (1967)
The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds (1966)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced? (1967)
Pink Floyd – The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)