What Were the Two Most Important Influences on Psychedelic Rock?
The two most important influences on psychedelic rock were the Beatles and Bob Dylan.
The Beatles
When the Beatles began to experiment with drugs, they also began to experiment with their music. In 1965, they released the album Rubber Soul, which contained the song “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown).” The song was written by John Lennon about his experience taking LSD, and it was one of the first pop songs to reference drug use. The Beatles continued to experiment with drugs and their music, and they had a profound influence on the development of psychedelic rock.
The Byrds were another important influence on psychedelic rock. The band’s hit song “8 Miles High” was written about their experience taking LSD, and it was one of the first pop songs to reference drug use. The Byrds also experimented with alternate tunings and feedback, which were both important elements of psychedelic rock.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is one of the most important and influential figures in popular music history. His songs, such as “Like a Rolling Stone” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” captured the spirit of the social and political upheaval of the 1960s. His lyrics were often quoted by members of the counterculture, and his electric performances at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 and at the 1966 Manchester Free Trade Hall concert inspired many young musicians to pick up electric guitars and start playing rock music. Dylan’s impact on psychedelic rock is evident in the work of numerous artists, including The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, The Doors, and Jimi Hendrix.
