Along with LSD, came psychedelic rock pioneered by artists such as the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, the Doors and much more. The music emerging during the mid to late 1960s and early 70s contrasted earlier rock in the ways that artists produced sounds and lyrics that contributed or enhanced the experience of “tripping on acid”.
Also, protest in form rather than lyricism was a common mechanism in psychedelic rock, for example this factor is broadcasted in Hendrix’ star spangled banner performance at Woodstock, where he interwove Taps (a military funeral song) and distorted guitar riffs to mimic war sounds into the song. Void of lyrics, Hendrix still made a powerful statement with just his instrument alone.
 The Further Bus |  The Beach Boys |  The Doors |
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 The Hippie Movement |  Jimi Hendrix |  George Harrison and Ravi Shakar |
 Grateful Dead |  Drop Acid Not Bombs |  LSD in the 60's |
Musical Elements
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Form of escapism, differing from rock from the 40s and 50s
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This fueled hedonistic and self indulgent behavior in terms of spiritual enlightenment
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Audio distortion through electronics
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Looping
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Synthesizers/electro-Theremin
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Whimsical vocals and instrumentals
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Featuring sitars
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Heavy feedback from guitars
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Heavy reverb
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Jam sessions
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Keyboards
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The combination of all these factors help to mimic the experience of taking drugs such as LSD, DMT, marijuana, etc.
Where It All Started
In the US, psychedelic rock emerged simultaneously with counterculture and the hippie movement, building off of the same ideals in spiritual exploration, “tuning in”, and mental expansion through mind altering drugs such as LSD. Through a blend a several different musical elements, psychedelic rock artists sought to emulate the experience of taking hallucinogenic drugs.