Psychedelic Rock — Breaking Boundaries and Defying Conformity
Heavy reverb and echo, sitars and synthesizers, long drawn-out songs, vibrant colors, and hippie clothing — all characteristics of psychedelic rock. Emerging from mid-1960s subcultures, the term “psychedelia” comes from the use of psychedelic drugs, specifically LSD, where usage of the drug greatly increased during this time. Psychedelic rock artists wanted to create music that would enhance the trip from taking the drug or even have the music act as the trip itself.
Influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and Anti-Vietnam War protests, many young people of the 1960s rejected mainstream norms and chased alternative lifestyles, causing countercultures to rise in San Francisco, London, and Los Angeles. From the Haight-Ashbury District of San Francisco, the band The Grateful Dead developed a lengthy and highly improvisational approach to music. In London, The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream were two iconic bands of the genre who shared great respect for one another. The lead guitarists, Eric Clapton of Cream and Jimi Hendrix are both known for their virtuosic guitar playing. Also in London, two already established mainstream bands, The Beatles and Beach Boys, made two very experimental albums as they shared and fought for the attention of their own label. From Los Angeles, there was The Doors with the lead singer, Jim Morrison, most notably having a darker take on psychedelia. He spoke about the “hell” associated with the trip rather than the “heaven.” Some other notable bands are Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother and the Holding Company, The Who, and The Byrds.
With the rise of the countercultures came the birth of the hippie aesthetic. Encompassing many different aspects of life, such as fashion, music, art, and political ideas, the hippie aesthetic was a distinctive part of 1960s counterculture. You may already have an idea of what the stereotypical hippie might look like: loose, flowing garments, beaded jewelry, headbands, sunglasses, and long hair. It was a movement that rejected mainstream values, sought to spread peace and love, and promoted spirituality and mindfulness.
Influenced by Bob Dylan, the lyrics of psychedelic rock dealt with more serious themes compared to the music of other genres. The artists spoke of topics about society, spirituality, and political ideas, rather than teen life and romance. It also focused on the concept album, where a theme or idea was present throughout much of the album, rather than simply putting several independent tracks together. The 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Hearts Club Band by The Beatles is a great example of this. Classical music and jazz were often used in psychedelic rock as they already had a reputation for being “serious music.” Additionally, virtuosity in this genre was highlighted, with Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton of Cream being notable “guitar heroes” for their highly skilled and technical ability around the guitar.
Countercultures and the widespread use of LSD weren’t the only contributors to the rise of psychedelic rock. American artists needed to battle The British Invasion bands swarming the charts which caused them to become increasingly ambitious and experimental, doing things like fusing genres and using unique instruments. For example, the producer of the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, used advancing technology to push the boundaries in the studio to create their most experimental album, Smiley Smile. Furthermore, music festivals of this time, most notably Woodstock and Monterey Pop Festival, provided a great outlet for this music to be performed and heard. Lastly, the development of FM radio was another outlet for psychedelic rock to grow. While the more pop-oriented and mainstream AM radio would never play this type of music, FM radio allowed for longer cuts and alternative music.
For those in the 1960s, psychedelic rock wasn’t just a music genre; it was a lifestyle. Not only was it an immersive experience that took you through a journey of sonic landscapes, but it also influenced the way people dressed and acted and ultimately how they saw the world. It was a mindset that promoted mindfulness and introspection and spread peace and love. It was a rejection of societal norms to chase something different and laid the foundation for future artists to continue pushing the envelope of ambition and experimentation for generations to come.
