How the Different Rock Subgenres Were a Reaction Against the Psychedelic Movement
Contents
How the different rock subgenres were a reaction against the psychedelic movement is a fascinating topic. This blog will explore how each subgenre developed in response to the psychedelic music and culture of the 1960s.
The Psychedelic Movement
The Psychedelic Movement was a time when music was used as a tool for social change. People were trying to break free from the constraints of the past and create something new. This led to a lot of different subgenres of rock forming, each with their own unique sound.
The Beatles and Psychedelia
The Beatles were one of the first and most influential bands to experiment with psychedelic drugs and sound. While their early work is often classified as pop or rock, their later albums (particularly Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and The Magical Mystery Tour) are considered some of the finest examples of psychedelic music. The Beatles’ use of feedback, distorted guitars, and studio techniques like reverse tape loops and multitrack recording were all integral to the development of psychedelic sound.
The Rolling Stones and Psychedelia
The Rolling Stones and PsychedeliaThe Psychedelic Movement in music was a cultural phenomenon that took place in the 1960s. It was a time when many young people turned on to drugs, particularly LSD, and used them in an attempt to expand their consciousness. The music of the time was also used as a tool for self-exploration and many artists experimented with sounds and suggestions that would alter the listener’s state of mind.
Of all the bands that were associated with this period, none was more famous – or infamous – than the Rolling Stones. The Stones were always seen as a rebellious band and their bad boy image only increased during the Psychedelic era. They were not afraid to experiment with drugs themselves and their music often reflected this, with songs like “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Paint it Black” giving listeners a glimpse into the dark side of human nature.
While the Rolling Stones are often thought of as a purely Rock band, they actually incorporated many different genres into their sound, including Blues, R&B, Country, and even Psychedelia. This willingness to experiment helped them remain popular as musical tastes changed over the years and they continue to be one of the most successful bands of all time.
The Reaction Against Psychedelia
Psychedelic music, also called simply “psychedelia”, is a wide-ranging style of rock music influenced by the mind-altering experiences that the use of psychedelic drugs can bring about. Psychedelic rock often used mantra-like repetitions of motifs and manipulated sounds to produce trippy, out-of-body effects and create an atmosphere of heightened awareness and sensory ecstasy.
The Creation of Hard Rock
In the late 60s and early 70s, a new type of rock was being created as a reaction to the psychedelic movement that had taken over the music scene. This new genre was known as hard rock, and it would go on to dominate the rock world for decades to come.
Hard rock was characterized by its heavy, distorted sound and its focus on traditional rock & roll values such as individualism, rebellion, and hedonism. Hard rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, and Van Halen became some of the biggest names in music, and their influence can still be felt today.
While hard rock may have been a reaction against the peace and love vibes of psychedelia, it still retained many of the same experimental qualities. Hard rock bands were always pushing the boundaries of what was possible with their music, and they continue to do so to this day.
The Creation of Heavy Metal
The late 1960’s and early 1970’s was the era of Psychedelia in music. Psychedelic music is defined by the use of extended improvised jams, mystical or literary lyrics, distortion, and extended feedback. This genre of music was extremely popular among the counterculture movement of the time which advocated for peace, love, and free sex. This movement was in reaction to the Vietnam War and the conservative values of the time. The problem with this genre is that it was largely created by white middle class males who were not truly experiencing the struggles of society. This caused a lot of backlash from people who felt that they were not being accurately represented.
This backlash first manifested itself in the creation of heavy metal. Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. It is defined by its aggressive sound, distorted guitars, and often dark or morbid lyrics. This music was created as a reaction to psychedelic music; it was meant to be loud, aggressive, and most importantly, real. It was created by working class males who were tired of being misrepresented by the hippie movement. Heavy metal would go on to be extremely popular in the 1970’s and 1980’s with bands such as Black Sabbath,Led Zeppelin,and Metallica becoming household names.
The Creation of Punk Rock
Punk rock was a direct reaction against the perceived excesses of the psychedelic music scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Psychedelic rock bands often used extended jam sessions, experimented with unusual instrumentation, and were influenced by Eastern philosophy and psychedelic drugs. Punk rockers, on the other hand, were opposed to drug use and embraced a DIY ethic. They stripped down their music to its essentials, focusing on short, fast-paced songs with simple melodies.
Punk rock emerged in the mid-1970s with bands like the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, and the Clash. These bands rejection of mainstream culture and their embrace of a DIY ethic won them a large following among disaffected youth. Punk rock would go on to influence subsequent genres like alternative rock, grunge, and emo.
