CHAPTER 18 Psychedelic Rock and Roots Revivalists

 The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was a strong example of the experimentation within rock music in the second half of the 1960s – although it didn’t initiate progressive rock nor was progressive rock solely British  The American and British alternative rock styles fed off of each other simultaneously

MAIN CENTERS  The two main centers of this in America were Los Angeles and San Francisco, California

 The social tone of the late 1960s was a rebellious one toward materialism and the political policies of the adult establishment  This youth movement was particularly evident in university communities

ONE BIG ISSUE  America’s involvement in the conflict in Vietnam – many young people were outraged that the old establishment was sending scores of young people into a war that had never been declared

 Rebellion took the form of a lifestyle that ran completely opposite to the morals and ethics of the previous generation, and San Francisco became a focal point for this

Bohemian  San Francisco had a thriving bohemian community in the 1950s and 1960s  In the Haight-Ashbury district a communal tribalism arose, incorporating Eastern culture and religion

Hippies  Hippies, the people of this youth culture preached “love, not war” and openly experimented with sex and drugs  More widespread with the development of the birth control pill in the 1950s  Drugs, aided by the development of hallucinogenic drugs, particularly LSD  Concerts in San Francisco clubs attempted to simulate or enhance the drug experience with entrancing rhythmic music and disorienting light shows

 Jazz and folk music had found a home in San Francisco and this provided a foundation for a new and experimental brand of rock, immune to the standards and conservatism of the music industry

LIFESTYLES and FM RADIO  While trying to remain anticommercial, the music, fashion, and lifestyle of the counterculture soon caught on around the country – one thing that helped this was FM radio

 In those days, the FCC mandated a radio station could not duplicate programming on its AM and FM frequencies  This led to hours of unused airtime on FM stations that lengthier, more experimental music could benefit from  Also, since most of this music never would have been played on AM with its 3 to 4 minute restrictions, conservative content and hyperactive DJs, it fit in well on FM

Jefferson Airplane  Jefferson Airplane was the first San Francisco band to sign with a major label  They began as folk musician Marty Balin was assembling a house band for his San Francisco club  7nw 7nw 7nw

 Their sound was a mix of the members’ influences, ranging from folk to R&B  In 1966, Grace Slick replaced the original singer (Signe Anderson) bringing with her a powerful voice and sarcastic lyrics  She became the first tough-image female rock star, leading the way for a number of other women to do the same in the 1970s  nYmE Dick Clark Interview nYmE nYmE  NUr3vw White Rabbit, page 219 Analysis NUr3vw NUr3vw

The Grateful Dead  The Grateful Dead was the psychedelic era’s most beloved and enduring bands  Their fans, known as Deadheads, reach across generations  The Dead became enduring stars outside of the mainstream music industry, essentially creating a market for themselves  vGZtY Dark Star vGZtY vGZtY

 Commercial success eluded them but their fans were closer to a cult than just audience members, following the band everywhere it toured and recording thousands of hours of bootleg material with the band’s blessing  The band was mainly a touring band, incorporating extended improvised solo sections, known as jams

 DZ6Fw Truckin’ DZ6Fw DZ6Fw  xcH7g Sugar Magnolia xcH7g xcH7g  They broke up in 1995 with singer Jerry Garcia’s death (heart attack) but their work influenced a number of bands to follow their jam band style, both musically and idealistically

JANIS JOPLIN  Janis Joplin was born in Texas, went to college for one year and moved to San Francisco to sing for Big Brother and the Holding Company  Janis Joplin’s vocal style  Came from the tradition of black gospel and blues shouters  Her voice was coarse and screaming – forecasted the metal screaming vocal style of the 1970s  Ball and Chain

 Her image also epitomized the new female rock star  Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane had broken ground, moving away from the wholesome girl next door look, but was subtle compared to Joplin  Joplin, unlike Slick was not necessarily physically attractive, but wore garish clothes, stomped around the stage and screamed her vocals  She died of a drug overdose in 1970

JIMI HENDRIX  Jimi Hendrix took the innovations made by T-bone Walker on the electric guitar and greatly expanded on them, using greater levels of distortion and feedback  Although he was born in Seattle, Washington, he moved to England in 1966 where the R&B scene was flourishing  He formed a trio there – the Jimi Hendrix Experience  M I Don’t Live Today pg 223 Analysis M M

 With this group, he wrote music using distortion, feedback and other effects to create a unique guitar sound previously unheard  They debuted at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival following the Who  Wanting to make a name for himself he destroyed his guitar as well, but not before setting it on fire

 Jimi Hendrix was unique in that while most black musicians were involved in the soul scene at the time, he was pioneering in the field of rock music.  Purple Haze eY_s eY_s eY_s  He died in He choked on his own vomit, probably after a drug overdose.

LOS ANGELES  While San Francisco bands had a more utopian view of the world, singing about free love and leaning on a strong folk influence, Los Angeles bands had a darker, more cynical style

THE DOORS  The Doors formed in 1965 and released their debut album in 1966  One very unique feature of the band was their lack of a bassist; instead they featured dense and complex organ parts  Singer Jim Morrison’s voice was rich and deep; his lyrics were thoughtful, dark and poetic

 Ma_0RM Light My Fire pg 225 Analysis Ma_0RM Ma_0RM  Morrison’s lyrics reflected his own manic outlook on life; he was an alcoholic and a drug addict and died at the age of 27 (the same age as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones)

The 27 Club  Group of popular musicians who have died at the age of 27, usually from a drug overdose, or drug and/or alcohol related issues.  musicians-who-died-at-age-27 musicians-who-died-at-age-27 musicians-who-died-at-age-27

WOODSTOCK

Woodstock  Woodstock was not the first open air music festival, but is almost certainly the most famous  Took place on a farm August 15 – 17, 1969 near Bethel, New York  It was funded by a few wealthy entrepreneurs

 Originally around 100,000 people were expected to come – before receiving their permit they assured the town of Bethel only 50,000 would attend  At first tickets were $18, available only at select record stores in New York – once event coordinators saw the amount of attendees, it became a “free concert”  Around 500,000 people attended

 The festival was overcrowded the weather was rainy, sanitation conditions were poor, food was in low supply  There were 3 recorded deaths and 2 recorded births  Despite the poor conditions and the many opportunities for crime and violence, the ideals of peace and love prevailed in people’s minds

 32 acts performed – among those who declined were Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the Doors  and_events_at_Woodstock_Festival and_events_at_Woodstock_Festival and_events_at_Woodstock_Festival  Jimi Hendrix Star Spangled Banner