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A thread on notable and influential psychedelic rock artists of the 60s and 70s
(In no particular order)
(In no particular order)
1. The Animals
A band that came from England’s 60s R&B scene, the Animals (and the Rolling Stones) were the first R&B inspired band to make headway in the first-wave of the British Invasion. During the late 60s, the band became dissatisfied with their...
A band that came from England’s 60s R&B scene, the Animals (and the Rolling Stones) were the first R&B inspired band to make headway in the first-wave of the British Invasion. During the late 60s, the band became dissatisfied with their...
increasingly commercial music, and began to tie their R&B roots with more psychedelic sounds that grew in popularity during the late 60s, mainly in part to the San Francisco psychedelic scene. The Animals music helped lay down the patchwork for hard rock in the 70s.
2. Jefferson Airplane
A band originating from the San Francisco psychedelic scene of the late 60s, Jefferson Airplane is seen as the catalyst for the explosion of psychedelic rock in the late 60s, with their album “Surrealistic Pillow” and songs like “White Rabbit”...
A band originating from the San Francisco psychedelic scene of the late 60s, Jefferson Airplane is seen as the catalyst for the explosion of psychedelic rock in the late 60s, with their album “Surrealistic Pillow” and songs like “White Rabbit”...
and “Somebody to Love”. Although, not as long-lived as their other San Francisco peers, Jefferson Airplane helped define the 60s acid rock sound. The band also epitomized the “hippie” ethos of the 60s and the leftist, anti-war political movement.
3. The Grateful Dead
Another band from the San Francisco psychedelic scene, The Grateful Dead was the psychedelic era’s musical poster-child. This band managed to survive through the better part of three decades, unlike many other psychedelic rock bands...
Another band from the San Francisco psychedelic scene, The Grateful Dead was the psychedelic era’s musical poster-child. This band managed to survive through the better part of three decades, unlike many other psychedelic rock bands...
which had a shorter shelf life. The Grateful Dead’s distinct acid rock sound had roots in bluegrass and folk, and only shifted to more psychedelic sounds after the band moved to San Francisco, and became engrossed in the local druggie culture and psychedelic music.
4. The Beatles
What would this thread be without the Beatles? Despite their earlier roots in Motown-oriented rock and pop-rock, their album “Revolver” turned the world’s focus to psychedelic music and made it easier to consume for the masses. The band’s following albums...
What would this thread be without the Beatles? Despite their earlier roots in Motown-oriented rock and pop-rock, their album “Revolver” turned the world’s focus to psychedelic music and made it easier to consume for the masses. The band’s following albums...
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band”, “Magical Mystery Tour”, and a bit of the “White Album” continued the psychedelic sound. Despite their music from this era not being as distinctly “acidic” as other acts, they did help popularize and glamorize psychedelic rock.
5. Jimi Hendrix
In his brief 4-year stardom, Jimi Hendrix expanded the electric rock guitar vocabulary much more than anyone before— or since. Along with his unprecedented musical talent, his work was defined by innovative amplification...
In his brief 4-year stardom, Jimi Hendrix expanded the electric rock guitar vocabulary much more than anyone before— or since. Along with his unprecedented musical talent, his work was defined by innovative amplification...
and distorted feedback, giving his music an incredibly distinct sound. His psychedelic rock was buried in blues, R&B and soul gave way to some of the most unique music of the 60s. Not to mention the strides he made for black artists and racial equality in music.
6. Janis Joplin
A woman whose electrifying stage prescence and powerful voice dominated her music, Janis Joplin is often hailed as of the best female rock vocalists of the 60s. Her beginnings in the San Francisco psychedelic band “Big Brother & The Holding Company”...
A woman whose electrifying stage prescence and powerful voice dominated her music, Janis Joplin is often hailed as of the best female rock vocalists of the 60s. Her beginnings in the San Francisco psychedelic band “Big Brother & The Holding Company”...
gave way to some of her most notable hits and exciting performances. Her role in rock revolutionized how women in music were seen in the industry, with her assertive nature, sexually-open persona and raunchy on-stage presence allowing for women to equals to their male peers.
7. The Rolling Stones
Another key piece in the first-wave British Invasion, The Stones started out with rock music influenced by R&B and blues. Their earlier music pioneered the gritty, hard-driving rock sound that later defined the hard rock and metal of the 70s...
Another key piece in the first-wave British Invasion, The Stones started out with rock music influenced by R&B and blues. Their earlier music pioneered the gritty, hard-driving rock sound that later defined the hard rock and metal of the 70s...
The Stones’ later psychedelic work, mainly on their album “Their Satanic Majesties Request” wasn’t nearly as influential as other artists however, it allowed the psychedelic and acid rock of the 60s to become more commercial, and easier for the public to digest.
Now, this is definitely not all of them, and there are so many more artists who helped mold and shape psychedelic rock during it’s infant years. Bands like The Zombies, The Doors, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and more, also made...
many strides in psychedelic rock and helped make it into what it is today. This sub-genre of rock is one very dear to my heart, and even though it’s not as popular as it was over 50 years ago, it’s influenced music now in many ways.
