Acid Rock
tagStarted 1966Peak 1967-1971Last big hit 1972
Located in 1 route
The loud, heavy, jam-driven edge of psychedelia: blasting fuzz guitar, marathon solos, blues-derived riffs cranked to distortion and improvised freak-outs designed to mirror a peaking trip. Less studio whimsy than its softer cousin, more raw volume, feedback and live, sweat-soaked intensity stretched over long-form rave-ups.
History
Took shape in 1966-67 around San Francisco's ballroom scene, where bands fed off extended live improvisation and high-volume amplification to soundtrack LSD experiences. Hendrix, Cream and Blue Cheer pushed the heaviness; the long-jam ethos and amp worship fed directly into hard rock and the earliest heavy metal by the early 70s.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- Wikipedia: Acid rock
- AllMusic
- Rolling Stone
- Treble Zine