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Acid rock

Music genre
NameAcid rock
Stylistic originsPsychedelic rock, garage rock, blues rock, jazz fusion, rāga
Cultural originsLate 1960s United States
Typical instrumentsElectric guitar (usually with guitar effects - distortion, fuzzbox, phaser, etc.) - bass guitar - electronic organ - drums
Mainstream popularityPeaked in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Derivative formsHeavy metal, space rock, stoner rock
Regional scenesSan Francisco, California

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Acid rock is a form of psychedelic rock, which is characterized with long instrumental solos, few (if any) lyrics and musical improvisation. Tom Wolfe describes the LSD-influenced music of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Iron Butterfly, Big Brother & The Holding Company, Cream, Jefferson Airplane, Ultimate Spinach, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Blue Cheer, Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Great Society, Stone Garden and the Grateful Dead as "acid rock" in his book about Ken Kesey and the Acid Tests, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.

"Acid rock" also refers to the subset of psychedelic rock bands that were part of, or were influenced by, the San Francisco Sound, and which played loud, "heavy" music featuring long improvised solos.


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