Top 10 Best Psychedelic Music Artists

Looking for the best musicians of the psychedelic era.

1. Pink Floyd

   

   Pink Floyd are an English progressive rock band formed in 1965 in London, England. They gained international acclaim with their innovative, conceptual music blending progressive rock and psychedelia. The classic lineup included Syd Barrett (vocals and guitar), David Gilmour (vocals and guitar), Nick... read more

   I would say that Pink Floyd is more of a psychedelic band than a prog band. They have elements of both in their music, but I've always heard more psychedelic rock.

   Maybe it's just me, I don't know. Either way, it's some great stuff.

   I think this place should be named "The Pink Floyd Sound" or "Pink Floyd with Syd," or "Syd Barrett" because only "The Piper at The Gates of Dawn" and part of "A Saucerful of Secrets" was psychedelic.

   They are so professional. They never really did drugs and made songs that sound like they were high.

2. The Beatles

   

   The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the development of the 1960s counterculture and the recognition of popular... read more

   Excellent band, very good quality music compared to other bands of the time. One of the greatest lyrical minds in John Lennon and great instrumentalists too.

   Perfect chemistry between the band members and not one flaw in their masterpieces. They almost created psychedelic music and set in stone the staple trademarks with their album Revolver. Psychedelic Beatles forever!

   I think George Harrison's use of Indian instruments in songs like Love You To and Tomorrow Never Knows makes The Beatles a defining psychedelic element.

3. The Doors

   

   The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, comprising vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most influential and occasionally controversial rock acts of the 1960s, largely due to Morrison's poetic... read more

   It's sad that they were so short-lived, but if you're really into psychedelic rock, you'll know that there's no one better than The Doors.

   I love Pink Floyd and The Beatles, but nothing can beat The Doors. RIP Jim, your spirit will live on through your music and poems.

   If you like psychedelic rock, The Doors are essential! Especially their debut.

   Their sound shifted more towards blues in 1970 or so, but they still kept the psychedelic vibe in their music, for the most part.

   I can understand people saying this isn't the best band, but when it comes to psychedelic rock, they absolutely rule.

   Morrison's voice is unbelievable.

4. The Arcana

   

   The Arcana are a British rock band formed in 2016 in London, England. The band consists of Peter Lennodo on vocals, guitars, and keyboards, Jack Aquiziac on vocals, bass guitar, and keyboards, and Joey Silverheel on drums and percussion.... read more

   Ever wondered where the spirits of Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, and John Bonham ended up? Look no further.

5. The Jimi Hendrix Experience

   

   The Jimi Hendrix Experience was an English-American rock band formed in Westminster, London, in September 1966. The group featured Jimi Hendrix on vocals and guitar, Noel Redding on bass and backing vocals, and Mitch Mitchell on drums.... read more

   Jimi kicked ass creating most of the psychedelic sounds from that guitar of his. Legendary.

   Tracks like "If 6 Was 9" and "May This Be Love." Come on guys, seriously.

   Oh, yes. Jimi is a legend. Definitely another essential psychedelic act.

6. Grateful Dead

   

   The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band became known for its eclectic style, blending rock, folk, country, bluegrass, blues, reggae, jazz, and psychedelia. Their music often featured long, improvisational instrumental jams.... read more

   The Grateful Dead were so defining in psychedelic rock that they created a huge worldwide community of Deadheads who followed them from show to show.

   Pretty much the definitive style and mood in psychedelia. No one can imitate their carefree, blissful sound.

   I don't have to explain why they should be number one.

7. Cream

   

   Cream was a 1960s British rock supergroup power trio consisting of bassist and vocalist Jack Bruce, drummer Ginger Baker, and guitarist and vocalist Eric Clapton. The band was known for its blend of blues, psychedelic rock, and hard rock. Cream is often regarded as one of the first supergroups and was... read more

8. The Velvet Underground

   

   The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1964. Active until 1973, the band was managed early on by Andy Warhol and became influential for their experimental sound and lyrical themes. Members included Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison, and Maureen Tucker.

9. Jefferson Airplane

   

   Jefferson Airplane was a San Francisco, California-based band that pioneered the American counterculture movement and psychedelic rock. The group played a prominent role in the music scene of the 1960s and gained fame for their performances at major festivals like Woodstock and Monterey Pop.

   Members:... read more

10. Syd Barrett

    

    Roger Keith Barrett was an English musician, composer, singer, songwriter, and painter. He was a founding member of the band Pink Floyd and served as their original lead singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter. Barrett is also credited with naming the band and was influential in the early psychedelic... read more

    He is the genius that made Pink Floyd possible. I love Pink Floyd, both their progressive and psychedelic eras, but I prefer the psychedelic side because of Syd Barrett.

    Piper at The Gates of Dawn was absolutely perfect. A Saucerful of Secrets was also great. Other songs such as Echoes and their early singles like See Emily Play were spectacular. I also love Syd Barrett's solo albums as they are purely psychedelic and just amazing.

    Anyways, Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd were the best psychedelic artists ever, in my opinion. The Doors are also very psychedelic, and their songs and albums are extraordinary. Their songs like The End, Soul Kitchen, Light My Fire, When The Music's Over, Touch Me, and People are Strange can be very psychedelic.

    Also, The Beatles were extraordinary with songs like Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds, A Day in The Life, Tomorrow Never Knows, I'm Only Sleeping, Strawberry Fields Forever, and more.

The Newcomers
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    Los Toms

    
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    My Bloody Valentine

    

    My Bloody Valentine is an Irish shoegaze band from Dublin formed in 1983. The band consists of guitarist, producer, sampler, and vocalist Kevin Shields, drummer and sampler Colm Ó Cíosóig, bassist Debbie Googe, and vocalist and guitarist Bilinda Butcher, who joined the group early in their career.... read more

The Contenders

13. The Mamas & the Papas

    

    The Mamas & the Papas were an American folk rock vocal group formed in Los Angeles, California, who recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968. The group was a defining force in the music scene of the 1960s counterculture. The members were Americans John Phillips, Cass Elliot, and Michelle Phillips, and... read more

14. The Mothers of Invention

    

    The Mothers of Invention were an American rock band from California. Formed in 1964, their work is marked by the use of sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. The band was led by Frank Zappa, who was its primary composer and creative force.

15. King Crimson

    

    King Crimson was a British progressive rock band formed in 1969. The group underwent numerous lineup changes, but guitarist Robert Fripp remained the consistent driving force. Their most notable lineup from 1972 to 1975 included Fripp, John Wetton, Bill Bruford, and David Cross. The band is best known... read more

16. Captain Beefheart

    

    Don Van Vliet was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. He was a pioneer of experimental rock and is especially known for his 1969 album Trout Mask Replica. After retiring from music, he focused on painting.

17. Tame Impala

    

    Tame Impala is an Australian psychedelic rock project founded by Kevin Parker in 2007. It began as a home recording project for Parker, who writes, records, performs, and produces all of the music. Tame Impala is known for its genre-blending sound and albums like Lonerism and Currents.

    They have two albums, and those are probably some of the best music albums produced in the past five years.

18. The Yardbirds

    

    The Yardbirds are an English rock band formed in London in 1963. The band launched the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton (1963-1965), Jeff Beck (1965-1966), and Jimmy Page (1966-1968), all of whom ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest... read more

19. Can

    

    Can was a German experimental rock band formed in Cologne, West Germany, in 1968. The core members were Holger Czukay on bass, Irmin Schmidt on keyboards, Michael Karoli on guitar, and Jaki Liebezeit on drums. The group worked with several vocalists over time, including Malcolm Mooney from 1968 to 1970... read more

20. Janis Joplin

    

    Janis Joplin (1943-1970) was an American singer who rose to fame as the lead vocalist of the psychedelic rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company. She was known for her powerful voice, emotive performances, and distinctive hippie style. Joplin remains an iconic figure of 1960s counterculture and... read more

21. Blue Cheer

    

    Blue Cheer was an American rock band that performed and recorded primarily in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The band remained sporadically active until 2009. Based in San Francisco, they played a psychedelic blues rock style.... read more

22. Quicksilver Messenger Service

23. Tangerine Dream

    

    Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music band founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The group has experienced numerous lineup changes, with Froese remaining the only continuous member until his death in January 2015. Its most renowned formation was the mid-1970s trio of Froese, Christopher Franke, and... read more

24. The Moody Blues

    

    The Moody Blues were an English rock band known for their influence on art rock and progressive rock. They began by playing rhythm and blues, but their second album, Days of Future Passed, released in 1967, merged rock with orchestral music. The band remained active for many years and was inducted into... read more

25. Still Corners

    

26. MGMT

    

    MGMT is an American rock band formed in 2002 by Benjamin Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden. After the release of their debut album, additional members Matthew Asti, James Richardson, and Will Berman joined the band for live performances and later contributed in the studio. The group gained widespread... read more

    Listen to Kids, The Youth, Congratulations, Time to Pretend, and one of the greatest dance songs, Electric Feel. You will not be disappointed.

    The youths are starting to change. Really the best band I've heard from my era.

27. Pond