PSYCHAMERIICA PARTT 2

Richard Morton Jack continues his trip through the most far-out delights of America’s psychedelic era.

The influence of hallucinogenic drugs had begun to be felt in ultra-hip musical circles from the start of the 60s, but it wasn’t until 1965 that it became explicit. Future Doors drummer John Densmore (see interview, page 54) joined a band named The Psychedelic Rangers that spring, ubiquitous Hollywood scenester Kim Fowley released his The Trip 45 that summer, and chart acts such as The Yardbirds, The Kinks and (of course) The Beatles had begun to experiment with Indian influences and trippy studio effects.

By the year’s end, The 13th Floor Elevators – high priests of America’s lysergic underground – were forming in Texas, Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters were holding their first ‘acid test’ in California (soundtracked by the nascent Grateful Dead), and The Byrds had taped the first version of Eight Miles High – unquestionably one of the most influential psychedelic compositions of all time. Truly a new era was dawning.

The hippy movement swiftly gathered momentum in 1966, with civil rights and anti-Vietnam sentiments as its political focus. Before long, media attention had centred on San Francisco, where numerous communes and dancehalls had been established. The city hosted the 3-day Trips Festival in January 1966 and, as the year progressed, bands such as Grateful Dead, Big Brother & The …

by Richard Morton Jack
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