Psychedelic Rock Revival: The Clash of Cultures in the 1960s

1. CHAPTER 18 Psychedelic Rock and Roots Revivalists

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jj3wZVc7nw

13. 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 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klRoSj0nYmE Dick Clark Interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR8LFNUr3vw White Rabbit, page 219 Analysis

14. 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 • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WKmE-vGZtY Dark Star

15. 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

16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5jn58DZ6FwTruckin’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkKuhAxcH7g Sugar Magnolia 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

17. 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 • https://youtu.be/Bld_-7gzJ-o Ball and Chain

18. 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

19. 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 • https://youtu.be/kgalbnl5D4U I Don’t Live Today pg 223 Analysis

20. 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

21. 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 https://youtu.be/cJunCsrhJjg He died in 1970. He choked on his own vomit, probably after a drug overdose.

22. 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

23. 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

24. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw40NMa_0RM Light My Fire pg 225 Analysis 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)

25. 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. • http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/15-other-musicians-who-died-at-age-27

26. WOODSTOCK

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 32 acts performed – among those who declined were Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the Doors http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_performances_and_events_at_Woodstock_Festival https://digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/music0_woodstock-x.html https://youtu.be/MKvnQYFhGCc Jimi Hendrix Star Spangled Banner