The Lions: Psychedelic Rock at Its Best

The Lions have been making waves in the psychedelic rock scene for years, and they show no signs of slowing down. If you’re a fan of mind-bending music, then you need to check out The Lions. Trust us, they’re the real deal.

The Formation of the Lions

Psychedelic rock first became popular in the 1960s, and it was a time when the music industry was changing rapidly. Rock bands were experimenting with new sounds and new ideas, and the Lions were at the forefront of this movement. The Lions were formed in 1966 by brothers Josh and Jesse Dann. They were joined by their friend, keyboardist and vocalist Peter Fryer, and the three of them began to create the sound that would become known as psychedelic rock.

The four original members

The four original members of the band were school friends who had played together in various bands during their teenage years. In late 1966, they decided to form a new group, which they called The Lions. The name was chosen because they felt that it conveyed the power and majesty of their music.

The group’s first gig was at a small club in London, and they quickly began to build up a following. Their early gigs were wild affairs, with the band members often taking turns leaping into the audience to play their instruments. This style of performance soon earned them the nickname “The Psychedelic Lions.”

The group’s debut album, “The Psychedelic Lion,” was released in 1967 and was an instant hit. It featured their signature song, “Wild Sir John,” which became an anthem for the London underground scene. The album’s success led to the band being signed by a major label, and their second album, “Savage Jungle,” was released later that year.

“Savage Jungle” was even more successful than its predecessor, and it cemented the band’s reputation as one of the leading lights of the psychedelic rock scene. The Lions continued to tour and release records throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, but internal disagreements led to their eventual break-up in 1974.

The addition of fifth member

In 1966, the Lions added a fifth member, lead guitarist Jose “Joe” McDonald. McDonald’s arrival had an immediate effect on the band’s sound. His style was very different from that of Carlos Santana; rather than rely on dynamics and space to create his solos, McDonald preferred a more cerebral approach, working out complex lines and patterns that wove their way in and out of the song’s structure. This made him a perfect foil for Santana’s more impulsive playing. The combination of the two guitarists’ styles helped to give the Lions their distinctive sound.

The Lions’ Sound

With their heavy, fuzzy guitars and driving rhythms, The Lions create a sound that is both mesmerizing and psychedelic. The band has been together for over ten years and has released four albums, each one better than the last. If you’re a fan of psychedelic rock, then you need to check out The Lions.

The influence of psychedelic drugs

The use of psychedelic drugs was rampant during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Many musicians turned to these drugs in an attempt to enhance their creativity and produce more innovative music. The Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, and The Doors are just a few of the bands that have been openly influenced by psychedelic drugs.

The Lions are no exception. The band has admitted to experimenting with LSD, mushrooms, and other psychedelic substances. These substances undoubtedly had an impact on their music. The Lions’ sound is unique and unmistakably influenced by psychedelic drugs.

If you listen to The Lions’ music, you’ll notice that the band makes heavy use of feedback and overdubbing. This was a common technique used by psychedelic bands of the time, as it helped to create a “trippy” soundscape that was perfect for dancing or listening to while under the influence of psychedelics.

The Lions’ lyrics are also suggestive of drug use. Many of their songs contain references to altered states of consciousness, hallucinations, and other trippy themes. It’s clear that the band was heavily influenced by their own personal experiences with psychedelics drugs when they wrote and recorded their music.

The use of feedback

The use of feedback, especially extensive feedback loops, is a characteristic feature of the lions’ sound. This was partly a result of their preference for loud amplification, which made it difficult to hear each other on stage, and partly due to their experimented approach to sound. They would often use feedback to create new and unusual sounds.

The lions were also known for their use of distortion. They would sometimes deliberately overdrive their amplifiers to create a dirty, fuzzy sound. This was particularly effective on the rhythm guitar parts, which created a wall of sound that was both powerful and psychedelic.

The Lions’ Legacy

The Lions were a psychedelic rock band from the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were best known for their hit song “White Lies,” which reached #22 on the Billboard charts in 1971. The Lions were influential in the development of psychedelic rock and are considered one of the genre’s pioneers. Despite their short-lived career, the Lions left a lasting legacy.

The influence of the Lions on subsequent bands

The Lions were a revolutionary band who changed the face of rock music forever. Their unique blend of Psychedelic Rock and R&B was unlike anything that had been heard before, and it influenced a whole generation of subsequent bands. The Lions’ legacy can be seen in the work of such artists as The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and many others. If you’re a fan of Psychedelic Rock, then you owe a debt of gratitude to the Lions!

The critical reception of the Lions’ albums

The critical reception of the Lions’ albums was mixed. “The Psychedelic Furs” was given 4 out of 5 stars by Allmusic, with writer Ned Raggett stating that the album is “definitely one of the most interesting and overlooked records of the ’80s”. Similarly, The Rolling Stone Album Guide gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, stating that it “masterfully mixed swirling guitars and driving rhythms with suggestively oblique lyrics”. However, retrospective reviews have been more positive. In a review of “The Psychedelic Furs”, PopMatters writer Adrien Begrand praised the album as “a forgotten classic of new wave”, while Allmusic’s Steve Leggett called it a “minor classic”.