14 Comments
User's avatar
Natalie Storey's avatar

Been seeing these articles on psychedelic music lately with zero female musicians. Makes me barf in my mouth a little to keep on talking about the Grateful Dead.

James McKeown's avatar

Totally agree, it is male dominated. The San Francisco Tape Centre I mention was actually started by Roman Sender and Pauline Oliveros who was considered a central figure in the development of post-war experimental and electronic music. There are many more women in music and in psychedelia in general who should be considered and talked about.

Natalie Storey's avatar

For example Lapsley blows my mind & has said she was inspired by LSD.

Natalie Storey's avatar

Boring old white guys always think they should be trip djs but most of the time they should not.

Natalie Storey's avatar

I think you guys just lack references, honestly. For example Valerie June is so psychedelic. She’s on every one of my Journey playlists.

B Philippe's avatar

A beautiful article

Jeremy Poynton's avatar

Add the Grateful Dead whose longer tracks and extended improvisation were extremely psychedelic and could place you in terrifying catharsis or ecstasy...

Dark Star

The Other One

Playing In The Band and more.

Having seen them here in the UK every time they came, usually accompanied by LSD or mushrooms they stand alone in rock 'n roll as pyschedelic travellers.

We won't see their like again

James McKeown's avatar

Absolutely. Also interesting that Phil Lesh was closely connected with Riley, Reich et al. And with the San Francisco Tape Music Center.

Jeremy Poynton's avatar

Yes. Phil trained under Berio and help fund various new British composers. There’s a video about this, and I know he invited a couple of these composers to one of the 1990 Wembley shows. Suitably blown away!

I’ll try to dig it out - meanwhile this is a comprehensive article about this

https://slippedisc.com/2015/10/how-the-grateful-dead-backed-little-known-british-composers/

Jeremy Poynton's avatar

BBC Arena - arts programme “Grateful and the Dead”. Damned if I can find it anywhere - saw it at the time.

MCJ's avatar

I'm surprised you didn't also mention Persian Surgery Dervishes, one of Riley's improvisational pieces. Highly recommended "sacred" music.

James McKeown's avatar

Agreed it’s wonderful. Admittedly this essay only scratches the surface. Much to still discuss.