Velvet Revolutions: Psychedelic Rock from the Eastern Bloc 1968-1973

If you’re a fan of psychedelic rock, then you’ll definitely want to check out Velvet Revolutions: Psychedelic Rock from the Eastern Bloc 1968-1973. This compilation features some of the best and most mind-bending tunes from behind the Iron Curtain, and is sure to take your listening experience to new heights.

The Velvet Revolution and Psychedelic Rock

The Velvet Revolution was a series of protests and political uprisings that took place in the Czech Republic in 1989. The Velvet Revolution began on November 17, 1989, and ended on December 29, 1989. The Velvet Revolution was a peaceful overthrow of the communist government. It was also a time when Czechoslovakia became a democracy. One of the most important aspects of the Velvet Revolution was the music. Psychedelic rock was a form of music that was popular among the youth in Czechoslovakia. The youth used music as a form of protest against the communist government.

The Velvet Revolution of 1968

In 1968, the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies invaded Czechoslovakia to end the “Prague Spring” of political and social liberalization. The invasion marked a return to hard-line communism in the Eastern Bloc and signalled the end of the era of détente between East and West. In response to the Soviet crackdown, western countries movements protested against their own governments’ policies, while in Czechoslovakia, a new generation of young people began to challenge Communist rule.

The Velvet Revolution of 1968 was a nonviolent revolution that took place in Czechoslovakia. The revolution arose from a student movement protesting against suppression of free speech and other forms of repression by the Communist authorities. The students were joined by workers and other groups, and the protests quickly spread throughout the country. The government was forced to negotiate with the protesters, and on 21 August 1968, they agreed to reforms that included an end to censorship, freedom of assembly, and increased openness in government.

The Velvet Revolution led to the overthrow of Communist ruler Alexander Dubček and the re-establishment of democracy in Czechoslovakia. It also had a significant impact on music, with a new wave of bands influenced by western Psychedelic Rock beginning to emerge from behind the Iron Curtain. This compilation features some of the best examples of this genre from Czechoslovakia, Poland, East Germany, Hungary and Yugoslavia.

The Prague Spring of 1968

The Prague Spring of 1968 was a time of political liberalization and mass protests in Czechoslovakia. It began on January 5th with a student demonstration at Charles University and ended on August 21st with the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia. Some of the most important events during the Prague Spring include the expulsion of Alexander Dubček from the Communist Party and the installation of Gustáv Husák as the new leader of Czechoslovakia.

The Prague Spring marked a period of intense experimentation in both politics and music. One of the most important musical developments during this time was the rise of psychedelic rock in Czechoslovakia.Psychedelic rock, which had its origins in Western countries like the United States and United Kingdom, began to take root in Czechoslovakia during the 1960s. Bands like The Flavius, Atlantis, and Blue Effect were at the forefront of this musical movement.

These bands combined traditional rock instrumentation with elements of Eastern European music, resulting in a unique and distinctive sound. Psychedelic rock became very popular with young people in Czechoslovakia and helped to shape the country’s music scene for years to come.

The Warsaw Pact Invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968

On August 20th, 1968, the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact Invasion of Czechoslovakia took place in response to the ‘Prague Spring’ reforms that had been taking place under Alexander Dubček’s leadership. The invasion resulted in the death of over 100 people, and the suppression of the Czechoslovakian people by the Soviet Union.

Psychedelic Rock from the Eastern Bloc

The Velvet Revolution was a series of protests and civil unrest that took place in Czechoslovakia in late 1989 and early 1990. The Velvet Revolution began on November 17, 1989, when police arrested several students at Charles University in Prague for protesting the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia that took place on August 21, 1968. The students were beaten and jailed, which sparked a series of demonstrations and protests that quickly spread throughout Czechoslovakia. By the end of November, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia had lost all power and control, and on December 29, 1989, the country officially became a democracy.

Soviet Psychedelic Rock

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a number of artists in the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries began experimenting with psychedelic rock, resulting in a unique subgenre sometimes referred to as “Soviet Psychedelic Rock” or “Eastern Bloc Psychedelic Rock”. These artists blended Western psychedelic and garage rock influences with traditional Eastern European folk music to create a new, hybrid style of rock music.

Though relatively short-lived, Soviet Psychedelic Rock had a significant impact on the development of rock music in Eastern Europe, and its influence can still be heard in the work of contemporary artists from the region. If you’re interested in exploring this fascinating corner of rock history, check out our list of essential Soviet Psychedelic Rock albums below.

Czech Psychedelic Rock

Czech psychedelic rock is a genre of rock music that developed in Czechoslovakia in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was influenced by Western psychedelic rock and the local Czech music scene, as well as traditional folk music.

The first Czech psychedelic rock band was The Plastic People of the Universe, who were active between 1968 and 1976. They were followed by other bands such asitor Flamingo and Ektar, who began experimenting with the genre in the early 1970s.

Czech psychedelic rock was banned by the Communist government in the early 1970s, but several bands continued to perform underground. These bands became known as the “Velvet Revolution” musicians, after the Velvet Revolution of 1989 which toppled communism in Czechoslovakia.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in Czech psychedelic rock, with several reissues and compilations being released.

Polish Psychedelic Rock

Polish Psychedelic Rock, also called Rozbitki (“Wrecks”) or Kołysanki (“Lullabies”), is the name given to a style of popular music that arose in Poland during the late 1960s and early 1970s, drawing heavy influences from Western rock music and Indian classical music. The style is characterized by extended improvisation, complex instrumentation, and often politically charged lyrics.

The first wave of Polish psychedelia began with the band Niebiesko-Czarni (“The Blue-blacks”), who released their debut album in 1967. Niebiesko-Czarni’s sound was inspired by The Beatles and incorporated elements of surf rock and garage rock. They were soon followed by other bands such as SBB, Turbo, and Breakout, who began to experiment with longer song structures and more complex arrangements.

In the early 1970s, Polish rock began to move away from its Western influences and embrace a more Eastern sound, influenced by the likes of Ravi Shankar and Karlheinz Stockhausen. This new style was dubbed “Kosmiczny Rock” (“Cosmic Rock”) and was championed by groups such as Starzy Singers, Miłość, Urszula Dudziak, and Skaldowie. Kosmiczny Rock often featured extensive use of synthesizers, sitars, and other exotic instruments, and its lyrics often dealt with cosmic themes such as space travel, the environment, and political protest.

The Velvet Revolution of 1989 signaled the end of Communism in Poland, and with it came a brief resurgence in popularity for Polish Psychedelic Rock. Many of the pioneers of the genre (such as SBB, Breakout, and Miłość) reunited for concert tours and new albums; younger bands such as Acid Drinkers and Homo Twist began to incorporate psychedelic elements into their own unique styles; and festivals devoted to Psychedelic Rock (such as the Festival ofPsychedelic Music in Wrocław) became increasingly popular.

While Polish Psychedelic Rock is not as well-known as its Western counterpart, it nevertheless played an important role in the country’s musical history; its influence can still be heard in the work of contemporary Polish bands such as Tides from Nebula and Riverside.