Psychedelic Rock: WoahTunes You Need to Know
Contents
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired, or influenced, by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs.
The Origins of Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock is a genre of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The genre is characterized by a number of musical and lyrical elements, including the use of feedback, extended guitar solos, and unusual sounds, effects, and production techniques.
The Beatles and the British Invasion
Psychedelic rock, sometimes called simply psyrock or psych rock, is a subgenre of rock music that arose in the mid-1960s with the goal of bringing a more “mind-expanding” experience than what was provided by traditional pop or rock music. The British Invasion, which featured bands such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, was one of the main catalysts for the development of psychedelic rock as it introduced new sounds and themes from America that would be explored further by psychedelic artists. Some of the earliest examples of psychedelic rock include “I Can See for Miles” by the Who and “Paperback Writer” by the Beatles.
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test is a 1968 book by Tom Wolfe that chronicles the exploits of Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters. The book is considered an essential work on the hippie subculture and psychedelic drugs.
The title refers to an incident in which Kesey and the Pranksters dropped acid (LSD) in Custer State Park, South Dakota. The experience was captured in a photo by Edith Meyer which appeared on the cover of the first edition of the book.
The Acid Test was influential in popularizing psychedelia and helped to foster the development of psychedelic rock music. Many of the artists featured in Psychedelic Rock: WoahTunes You Need to Know were influenced by Kesey and the Pranksters, including The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix.
The Sound of Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock is a genre of rock music that is inspired, or influenced, by psychedelic culture and attempts 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.
The Psychedelic Soundtrack
In the late 1960s, Psychedelic music emerged as a new genre that was defined by its LSD-inspired sound collages, mind-bendingly long jams, and trippy lyrics about love, peace, and counterculture. The best Psychedelic Rock songs are expansive and transportive, with layers of sound that slowly unfurl over the course of their often lengthy running times.
While the genre is often associated with the Summer of Love and the hippie movement, Psychedelic Rock’s roots go back to the early ’60s and Garage Rock bands like The Seeds, who laid the groundwork for what would become known as Psychedelic Rock with their primal blend of surf guitar licks and primal garage rock energy. By 1966, bands like The Kinks and The Beatles were experimenting with feedback-drenched psychedelic sounds on tracks like “I’m a Believer” and “Tomorrow Never Knows,” respectively.
The psychedelic sound really came into its own in 1967 with landmark albums like Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles and The Grateful Dead’s Anthem of the Sun. These records defined the sound of Psychedelic Rock with their use of extended jams, multi-tracking, phasing effects, sitars, and other sonic innovations. Other essential Psychedelic Rock albums from 1967 include mono mixes of Jefferson Airplane’s Surrealistic Pillow (which features the band’s signature hit “Somebody to Love”) and Electric Ladyland by Jimi Hendrix (which features some of Hendrix’s most iconic guitar work on tracks like “Crosstown Traffic” and “All Along the Watchtower”).
Psychedelic Rock reached its commercial peak in 1968 with hits like Cream’s “Crossroads” (which was famously covered by Eric Clapton), Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild,” And Marvin Gaye’s psychedelic masterpiece “I Heard it Through the Grapevine.” But 1968 was also a tragic year for Psychedelic Rock, as it saw the deaths of both Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones (who drowned in his swimming pool) and Jimi Hendrix (who died from an accidental overdose).
The early ’70s saw a decline in popularity for Psychedelic Rock, but there were still some great records being made in the genre during this time period. Notable examples include David Bowie’s The Man Who Sold the World (1970), Pink Floyd’s Meddle (1971), Leonard Cohen’s Songs of Love and Hate (1971), King Crimson’s Islands (1971), Joni Mitchell’s For the Roses (1972), Roxy Music’s For Your Pleasure (1973), Queen II by Queen (1974)
Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti (1975).
The Psychedelic Experience
Psychedelic rock is a subgenre of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. Musicians attempted to replicate the mind-altering experiences of psychoactive drugs, such as LSD and psilocybin mushrooms, through the use of various studio techniques and effects. Psychedelic rock often makes use of feedback, extended jam sessions, distorted guitars, and abnormal vocal techniques. The genre is heavily influenced by Indian classical music and Eastern mysticism.
Psychedelic rock experienced a brief period of mainstream popularity in the late 1960s, before declining in the early 1970s. It would later enjoy a resurgence in popularity during the 1990s with bands such as The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols.
The Legacy of Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock, also called simply psychedelia, is a style of rock music that became popular in the mid-1960s. The genre is marked by a heavy use of distorted guitars, psychedelic effects, and unusual song structures. The genre is often seen as an extension of the countercultural values of the time.
The Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in San Francisco. The band is known for its unique and eclectic style, which blended elements of folk, country, bluegrass, blues, reggae, rock, jazz, and spacey improvisational jams. They are also known for their devoted fan base, known as “Deadheads.” The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
Pink Floyd
Psychedelic rock emerged in the mid-1960s as a subgenre of rock music that was inspired by psychedelic culture and sought to replicate its hallucinogenic effects. Musicians incorporated new sonic technologies, extended guitar solos, and improvised lyrics to create what became known as “acid rock.” The style reached its peak in the late 1960s with the release of landmark albums such as The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Pink Floyd’s The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Although psychedelic rock declined in popularity following the emergence of punk rock in the late 1970s, the genre has continued to exert a significant influence on popular music.
Jimi Hendrix
Psychedelic rock, also called psychedelia, is a style of rock music that was inspired, influenced, or representative of psychedelic culture and which attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. The music is intended to replicate and enhance the experience of taking psychedelics drugs such as LSD.
