The Troggs and the Rise of Psychedelic Rock
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The Troggs were a British rock band formed in 1964 who helped pioneer the genre of psychedelic rock. This blog will explore their story and influence on music.
The Troggs
The Troggs were an English rock band formed in 1964. They had a number of hits in the United Kingdom and the United States. Their most famous song is “Wild Thing”. The Troggs were one of the first psychedelic rock bands and their music influenced many other bands of the genre.
Forming in the UK in the early 60’s
The Troggs formed in the UK in the early 60s, and are often credited as being one of the first psychedelic rock bands. Their sound was a unique blend of garage rock and psychedelia, and their biggest hit, “Wild Thing,” became an international sensation. While the band’s popularity waned in the 1970s, they continued to tour and release albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The Troggs were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
Their sound and influence
The Troggs are widely considered one of the first psychedelic rock bands. Their sound was characterized by a raw, garage-band style, with simple chord progressions and catchy melodies. The band’s biggest hit, “Wild Thing,” is a prime example of their early sound. The song’s success helped to popularize the use of power chords, which would become a staple of punk rock and heavy metal music.
The Troggs’ influence can also be heard in latter-day psychedelic bands like The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols. More broadly, their garage-rock sound was a major inspiration for the punk and alternative rock movements of the 1970s and 1980s. In recent years, the band has seen something of a resurgence in popularity, thanks in part to their songs being featured in films and TV shows like “The Hangover” and “Breaking Bad.”
The Rise of Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock, also sometimes called acid rock, is a subgenre of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The style is distinguished by a preoccupation with psychedelic experiences and drug culture, often manifested in musical experimentation, extended improvisation, and unusual sounds. Psychedelic rock often aim to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs, most notably LSD.
The influence of The Troggs
The Troggs are one of the most important and influential bands in the history of rock music. Though they are best known for their 1966 hit single “Wild Thing,” the English band was at the forefront of the psychedelic rock movement in the late 1960s. The Troggs’ music was a major influence on Psychedelic Rock bands like Pink Floyd, Cream, and The Doors.
The Troggs were formed in 1965 in Andover, England. The band’s original lineup consisted of lead singer Reg Presley, guitarist Chris Britton, bassist Pete Lucas, and drummer Ron kg Jones. The Troggs’ musical style was a raw and primitive form of rock and roll. Their sound was characterized by Presley’s aggressive vocals, Britton’s fuzztone guitar riffs, and Jones’ pounding drums.
The Troggs rose to prominence in 1966 with the release of their debut album, From Nowhere. The album’s lead single, “Wild Thing,” was a #2 hit in the UK and a #1 hit in the US. The song’s simpleSubject-verb-object structure (I think I love you/ But I wanna know for sure) made it an instant pop classic.
In 1967, The Troggs released their second album, With a Girl Like You. The album’s title track was another international hit for the band. Other notable tracks from With a Girl Like You include “I Can’t Control Myself” and “Anyway That You Want Me.”
The Troggs continued to release albums throughout the late 1960s and 1970s including Love is All Around (1968), Neanderthal Man (1970), Cellophane (1971), Black Bottom (1972), and Trojan Horse (1973). Though the band never again achieved the commercial success of their early records, they remained an influential force in rock music thanks to their raw sound and catchy pop hooks.
The British Invasion
The Troggs were an English rock band formed in 1964. They had a string of hits in the mid- to late-1960s, including the hit singles “Wild Thing”, “With a Girl Like You” and “Love Is All Around”. The band’s repertoire included other well-known songs such as “I Can’t Control Myself”, “Night of the Long Grass”, and “Peace of Mind”. The Troggs were part of the British Invasion, with their music being exported to the United States and other countries. The band was also one of the first groups to be labelled as psychedelic rock.
The Troggs Today
Although they are not as popular as they once were, the Troggs are still going strong today. They have been credited with being one of the first bands to embrace the psychedelic sound of the sixties and their influence can still be heard in modern music. Let’s take a closer look at the Troggs and their place in music history.
The band’s current sound and style
The Troggs are still touring today and their sound has changed very little over the years. They continue to play their brand of Psychedelic Rock, which is a mix of traditional rock and roll with elements of psychedelic music. The band’s current lineup includes original members Reg Presley on vocals and Chris Britton on guitar, as well as new members Tony Murray on bass and Pete Lucas on drums. The Troggs continue to tour and perform throughout the world and are currently working on new material for a future release.
The band’s current popularity
Despite their lack of recent chart success in the UK and US, The Troggs continue to be popular live performers, particularly in Germany and Japan. The band’s basic garage rock sound has also been a major influence on many subsequent punk and alternative rock bands. In 2008, they were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the BBC.