Psychedelic Music

Psychedelic rock got its start in the early 60s. Society was becoming less conservative, eastern religion and new age mysticism were becoming more popular, and LSD was still legal. The combination proved to be mind blowing for folk musicians, who attempted to express their experiences in the form of music.

Instruments like sitar, theramin, and middle eastern percussion were used more frequently along with sound effects and surreal, dream-like lyrics. Live performances
of songs turned into instrumental jam sessions lasting more than 20 minutes. Album art featured bright colors and geometric patterns meant to replicate the visuals produced by hallucinogens.

As the culture evolved further, musicians began to address new subjects such as politics and war, fueling many heated protests and occasional violence. The atmosphere and music started to change as people abandoned hallucinogens for hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

While the psychedelic music scene has never again come close to the glory days of the 60s and early 70s, it has lived on in the form of all the different genres of music and modern bands influenced by it.