The Common Bond That Linked Acid and Psychedelic Rock

The Common Bond That Linked Acid and Psychedelic Rock: A look at how these two genres are connected.

Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock, also called acid rock or garage rock, is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The style is characterized by songs with distorted electric guitars, extended improvisation, and often unconventional lyrics. The term “psychedelic” is often used to refer to the style’s visual and sonic effects, which can include the use of unusual or elaborate stage props, electronic effects, and costumes.

Origins

Psychedelic music first emerged in the mid-1960s, when American and British bands began to experiment with mind-altering substances like LSD. This new style of music was heavily influenced by Eastern philosophy and religion, as well as the work of avant-garde composers like John Cage. The result was a sound that was both trippy and transcendent, full of swirling colors and strange textures.

Psychedelic rock quickly became the soundtrack for the counterculture movement, a widespread social phenomenon that rejected mainstream values and embraced progressive ideals. This new way of thinking about the world led to unprecedented levels of creativity in all areas of art and culture, including fashion, film, and design.

While most psychedelic bands only enjoyed moderate success during their brief time in the spotlight, a few – like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones – achieved global fame. Psychedelic rock would go on to exert a powerful influence on subsequent generations of musicians, shaping the sound of everything from punk rock to hip hop.

Characteristics

Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s and is characterized by the use of psychedelic, mind-altering drugs, such as LSD, in conjunction with extended output on guitar and other instruments, featuring distorted sounds, feedback effects, and extreme volume levels. The style is often associated with the Counterculture of the 1960s and the Hippie movement.

Acid Rock

Many Rock bands in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s used feedback, distorted guitars and heavy drums to create a new type of Rock music. This new style of music was called Acid Rock. The term “Acid Rock” was first used by music critic Seymour Stein in 1967 to describe The stores’ new sound.

Origins

Acid rock is a subgenre of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. It is typified by a heavy use of distorted electric guitars, bass guitar, drums, and often longitudinal feedback noise.

The style occasionally incorporates elements of other genres, including folk and country. While the earliest examples of acid rock are generally associated with the psychedelic subculture, it was also influential on protopunk and glam rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s.

In 1967, British bands such as The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream and The Rolling Stones popularized the use of feedback and distortion, creating what would become known as acid rock. US groups such as The Doors, Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane also experimented with the genre.

Characteristics

Acid rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed during the mid-1960s. Its distinguishing characteristic is a heavy use of distorted, extended guitar solos and riffs, sometimes accompanied by feedback squeals and other noises, all intended to give the music an “acid” or “psychedelic” sound. The style sometimes featured lengthy improvised jams and incorporated elements of jazz and Indian classical music.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, acid rock evolved into heavy metal, with acid-influenced bands such as Iron Butterfly and Led Zeppelin helping to pioneer the style.

The Common Bond

Psychedelic and acid rock emerged in the mid-1960s as two completely different subgenres of rock music. Psychedelic rock was focused more on drug-induced states, while acid rock was more focused on social issues. Despite their differences, the two genres shared a common bond: a rejection of the traditional values of the time.

The Electric Guitar

The electric guitar is a common bond that links acid and psychedelic rock. The guitar has been a staple of rock music since the genre’s inception, and its impact on acid and psychedelic rock is undeniable. The electric guitar is responsible for the distorted, feedback-laden sound that is characteristic of these styles of music. Without the electric guitar, acid and psychedelic rock would not be the same.

The Distortion Pedal

The first distortion devices designed for electric guitars were introduced in the late 1940’s. These units, called “fuzz boxes,” created a distorted, tube like sound by overloading the input stage of the amplifier. In the 1950’s, Les Paul and Gibson Guitars popularized the use of guitar distortion with their hit records. Overdrive and Fuzz pedals became widely used by Rock guitarists in the 1960’s. The first overdrive pedal was the Ibanez Standard OD-9, which was introduced in 1977.

The Drum Kit

The drum kit is the backbone of any rock band, and it has been a key component of psychedelic rock since the genre’s inception. While the electric guitar may get all the glory, it’s the drummer that keeps the band locked in and grooving.

Psychedelic rock is all about creating a groove that will take the listener on a journey, and the drum kit is essential for that. The driving rhythms of the drums create a sense of forward momentum, while the cymbals add color and texture to the sound. Without a solid drum foundation, psychedelic rock would not be nearly as effective.

Conclusion

In conclusion, LSD and psychedelic rock music were both key components in the counterculture of the 1960s. Psychedelic rock music was often used as an accompaniment to LSD trips, and the two substances often had a profound effect on each other. LSD helped to open up people’s minds to new ways of thinking, and psychedelic rock music provided the perfect soundtrack for this new way of life.