Summary of “Rock & Roll Episode 06”
The video documentary entitled “Rock & Roll Episode 06” presented music in the 1960s that focused on psychedelic music, defined as a classification of music that is apparently mind revealing . The initial portions of the video tried to define psychedelic music from members of the band who actually pioneered and promoted this type. From among the definitions that were gathered, the following emerged: psychedelic music is music that expands awareness and consciousness; it is a musical genre that blends together different senses with musical elements and scores; it triggers responses which allegedly takes the mind beyond what could be heard .
Since psychedelic music has been associated at a time when the hippies of the 60s were emerging, the general public’s response could be deemed as diverse. It was noted that the agencies governing the music industry could be restrictive when it censored the song composed and sung by The Byrds entitled Eight Miles High, which could have catapulted them to fame. At the same token, much of the audience from that generation have reportedly openly embraced this innovative type of music as it represented a medium of expression – a means to publicly announce a breaking out from previous generation’s type of music popularized by Bob Dylan, the Beatles and even Motown.
The documentary presented bands in San Francisco who apparently became associated with psychedelic music such as The Byrds, Big Brother & the Holding Company, The Grateful Dead, Country Joe & the Fish, and Jefferson Airplane, among others. Apparently, it was disclosed that most of the members of these bands have acknowledged using drugs, particularly LSD, which was noted to be a powerful drug that causes wild perception distortions. However, due to the popularity within which music became a force for social and political framework, as well as a unifying medium to promote peace and to send the message of the need to end the war, other bands such as the Beatles apparently followed and joined composing psychedelic music through their Revolver record .There was much experimentation in sounds, use of diverse musical instruments (even learning how to play the sitar made popular by a certain Ravi Shankar), and the open acknowledgement of using drugs to be able to expand one’s awareness and abilities to explore different musical styles that could possibly emerge from the feeling of being high or elated.
The British bands reportedly followed suit with the emergence and popularity of Pink Floyd, among others. There were other bands that pioneered rock music to be heard, performed and played within a larger arena such as the Wood stock and Rolling Stones. However, when fans and music patronizers eventually became chaotic and led to physical assaults, violence during these performances, the end of psychedelic music was reportedly marked with an apparent death of a spectator in one of the largest Rolling Stones concert in December of 1969 . As emphasized, just like any other musical genres, the new decade expected another form and style of music, ending the preference of the peace-love generation who patronized this musical style.
Work Cited
"Rock & Roll Episode 06 Blues in Technicolor." 21 October 2011. YouTube. 12 December 2012
