Traditional Psychedelic / Progressive Rock Bands You Need to Know
Contents
Looking for something new in the world of music? Check out these traditional psychedelic and progressive rock bands that are sure to leave a lasting impression.
King Crimson
King Crimson is a progressive rock band that was formed in London in 1968. The band is considered to be one of the pioneers of the genre. The band has undergone many lineup changes over the years, but the one constant member has been guitarist and composer Robert Fripp. The band has released 13 studio albums, the most recent being in 2003.
History
King Crimson is a British progressive rock band formed in London in 1968. The group has gone through numerous lineup changes and styles throughout its lifespan, with its sound ranging from experimental jazz-rock to hard rock. King Crimson is considered to be one of the most influential and innovative bands of the 20th century, and they are still actively playing and recording today.
The band was originally formed by guitarist Robert Fripp and drummer Michael Giles, who were later joined by bassist Greg Lake and keyboardist Ian McDonald. The group’s debut album, “In the Court of the Crimson King,” is considered to be a landmark work in the genre of progressive rock. King Crimson has been credited with helping to pioneer the use of odd time signatures, extended jams, and classical influences in rock music.
Throughout their career, King Crimson has been praised for their technical proficiency and musicianship. The band has also been controversial for their use of violent imagery and lyrical themes. In recent years, King Crimson has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Music
King Crimson is a progressive rock band that was formed in London in 1968. The band has seen many lineup changes over the years, with guitarist Robert Fripp being the only constant member. The band is known for their complex and often experimental music, which has earned them a cult following. They have been influential to many other bands and genres, including art rock, punk rock, heavy metal and even electronic music.
Pink Floyd
English rock band Pink Floyd is one of the most commercially successful and influential groups in popular music history. Formed in 1965, the band achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music. They are known for their concept albums, innovative sound, and extravagant live shows.
History
Pink Floyd was an English rock band formed in London in 1965. They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music.
Pink Floyd were founded by students Syd Barrett on guitar and lead vocals, Nick Mason on drums, Roger Waters on bass and vocals, and Richard Wright on keyboards and vocals. Barrett was the primary songwriter and creative force behind the band, but his erratic behavior and decline due to mental illness forced him to leave the band in 1968. Waters became the primary songwriter and conceptual leader, devising the concepts behind their albums The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), The Wall (1979) and The Final Cut (1983). Wright left Pink Floyd in 1979, followed by Waters in 1985; ending the group as it had existed for over two decades.
Mason and Wright rejoined Pink Floyd in 1987 for A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987). Pink Floyd staged several comeback attempts throughout the 1990s and 2000s; all featuring Gilmour as the sole lead vocalist, but these were unsuccessful as they lacked Barrett, Wright or Waters. Barrett died in 2006; Wright died two years later. In 2014, Gilmour announced that Pink Floyd would reunion for their final album, The Endless River (2014).
Music
Pink Floyd was an English rock band formed in London in 1965. They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music. Pink Floyd were one of the first groups to experiment with studio effects, use innovative sound effects and develop their own sound. Their songs are known for their philosophy, exploration of mental illness, social commentary, sonic experimentation and: extended instrumental sections. They are considered one of the most influential bands of all time, having sold more than 250 million records worldwide.
Yes
Psychedelic and progressive rock music have always been my favorite genres. I grew up listening to classic rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and The Rolling Stones, and I still love them to this day. However, there are a lot of newer bands out there that are keeping the psychedelic and progressive rock traditions alive, and they’re doing it in a big way. Here are six traditional psychedelic / progressive rock bands you need to know.
History
Psychedelic rock, often shortened to psych rock or psychiatrick, is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The genre is distinct from other forms of psychedelic music, such as the looser, jazz-influenced style associated with early San Francisco bands such as the Grateful Dead; and from the more acid-drenched sounds of British psychedelia.
Psychedelic rock is generally intended to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs, most notably LSD. Many psychedelic groups differ in style, and the label is often applied spuriously.
The first use of the term “psychedelic” in relation to rock music was by critic Ralph J. Gleason in 1966, when he described San Francisco’s Quicksilver Messenger Service as “psychedelic blues”.
Music
Psychedelic and progressive rock are two genres that have been growing in popularity in recent years. If you’re a fan of either genre, or just looking to broaden your musical horizons, here are a few traditional psychedelic and progressive rock bands you need to know.
The Beatles are often cited as one of the most influential bands of all time, and their influence can be heard in both psychedelic and progressive rock. The Beatles pioneered the use of experimental techniques in their music, and their experimental approach to songwriting and sound led to some of the most iconic songs in history. If you’re a fan of either genre, you need to know The Beatles.
Pink Floyd is another band that is often cited as an influence on both psychedelic and progressive rock. Pink Floyd was known for their innovative use of sound effects and their willingness to experiment with new sounds. They also wrote some of the most iconic songs in history, including “Dark Side of the Moon” and “Wish You Were Here.” If you’re a fan of either genre, you need to know Pink Floyd.
The Grateful Dead is a band that is often associated with the counterculture movement of the 1960s. The Grateful Dead was known for their long jams, which would often last for hours. They were also known for their unique approach to songwriting, which led to some of the most iconic songs in history. If you’re a fan of either genre, you need to know The Grateful Dead.
Genesis
History
Psychedelic music (sometimes called psychedelia) is a wide-ranging style of rock music that originated in the mid-1960s. Influenced by psychedelic culture, the style incorporates Distortion and other effects to replicate the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. Psychedelic music often aims to replicate and enhance the experience of taking psychedelics, and may contain themes of peace, love, and social equality.
Progressive rock (often shortened to prog or prog rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States throughout the mid to late 1960s. Initially termed “progressive pop”, the style was an outgrowth of psychedelic bands who abandoned standard pop traditions in favour of instrumentation and compositional techniques more frequently associated with jazz, folk, or classical music. Additional elements contributed to its “progressive” label: lyrics were more poetic, technology was harnessed for new sounds, music approached longer forms that incorporated classical elements and experimentation.
Music
Psychedelic music is a wide-ranging and diverse genre of music whose roots are in the subculture of the 1960s psychedelic scene, centred on London, New York City, and San Francisco. Psychedelic music may aim to enhance the experience of certain states of consciousness, such as meditation, euphoria and psychosis.
Traditional psychedelic rock bands such as the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and The Doors were some of the first to embrace this new style of music. In the 1970s, bands like Pink Floyd, Yes and Genesis began to experiment with longer, more complex compositions that incorporated elements of classical music and jazz. These so-called progressive rock bands expanded psychedelia’s sonic palette while retaining its hypnotic pulse.
More recent artists such as Tame Impala and Psychic Ills have continued to explore the possibilities of psychedelic music, transcending genre boundaries in the process. If you’re looking to get your feet wet in this mind-bending genre, here are 10 traditional psychedelic / progressive rock bands you need to know.
Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull is a progressive rock band that was formed in 1967 in England. The band is considered to be one of the pioneers of the genre. The band’s music is characterized by its use of unusual time signatures, extended improvisations, and complex song structures.
History
Formed in 1967, Jethro Tull is a psychedlic/progressive rock band that’s considered one of the most influential groups of its genre. The band is known for its unique blend of folk, blues, and classical music, as well as its unconventional use of flute and saxophone.
Lead by singer/songwriter Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull has released 17 studio albums, with their debut album, This Was, being released in 1968. The band has sold over 60 million albums worldwide and has been nominated for 4 Grammy Awards.
Jethro Tull’s music has been highly influential to many subsequent bands and musicians, including Led Zeppelin, Rush, Yes, Genesis, and Pink Floyd.
Music
Jethro Tull is a British rock band formed in 1967. They initially played blues rock and jazz fusion, but later developed their sound to include elements of hard rock, heavy metal, and folk music. As of 2012, Jethro Tull has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide.
The band was founded by singer-songwriter and guitarist Ian Anderson, who has played a major role in the band’s direction throughout its history. Anderson wrote most of the band’s earliest material while bassist Glenn Cornick and drummer Clive Bunker provided stable rhythm section backing. This lineup toured extensively in 1968–1969, playing clubs and festivals across Europe and the United States.
By 1969, Phillip Notification had replaced Cornick on bass and keyboardist John Evan had joined; both players collaborated with Anderson on Jethro Tull’s first album, This Was (1968). The album featured a blend of blues rock with jazz influences and received mixed reviews. Despite its mixed reception, This Was was a commercial success, reaching number five on the UK Albums Chart and number 23 on the US Billboard 200 chart.
The group’s second album Stand Up (1969) reached number one in the UK Albums Chart and number 11 on the US Billboard 200 chart; it became their only album to achieve such success in both countries. The album’s title track reached number three in the UK Singles Chart; “Living in the Past” (1972) peaked at number 17; “Aqualung” (1971) at number seven; “Locomotive Breath” (1971) at number 11; “Cross-Eyed Mary” (1971) at number 24; “Bungle in the Jungle” (1974) at number 18; “‘Too Old to Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young to Die!” At this point you might be wondering what all this has to do with traditional psychedelic / progressive rock bands. Well, Jethro Tull is considered by many to be one of the pioneering bands of this genre, so we thought they deserved a spot on our list!
