Psychedelic rock was born out of the infamous 1960s 'acid tests' of Ken Kesey, where LSD was taken communally during "happenings," large free-form parties thrown in the Beat tradition. Many of these parties took place in or around San Francisco, and the Grateful Dead were frequently the house band, supplying a soundtrack rich in musical experimentation for the newly enlightened audience. Many other bands were quick to follow suit, whether it was fellow San Franciscans Jefferson Airplane or Los Angeles outfits like the Doors, the Byrds, and Love. Jimi Hendrix, a virtuoso guitarist from Seattle, found fame in the London underground and soon set a global standard for musicianship and showmanship. U.K. bands like Pink Floyd and Tomorrow put their art-school concepts through the LSD blender and created sounds to match their newly expanded consciousness. As the Summer of Love settled into the quagmire of Vietnam and race riots, the psychedelic sound became dated and bands like the 13th Floor Elevators, Moby Grape, and Pink Floyd were forced to either disband or rethink their approach after losing members to drug busts and psychosis. However, the psyche-soul of the Temptations proved the acid experience wasn't limited to white, middle-class college kids, and the links between drugs, music, and exploration had been irreversibly drawn.

Notable Artists: The Grateful Dead, Love, Pearls Before Swine, Cream, T. Rex