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Psychedelia

Ayers, Kevin

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The Original Mr. Cool. An original on the Canterbury Scene, Kevin Ayers spent the 60s with Wilde Flowers and Soft Machine before retiring to the comforts of Deià, Mallorca. Coaxed away by Peter Jenner, Ayers recorded a quartet of albums for Harvest label, beginning with the amazing Joy of a Toy. His band, the Whole Wide World, comprised of David Bedford, Lol Coxhill and Mike Oldfield, among many other luminaries, but his work was strictly pop, albiet one combined with an absurdist's sense of humor.

Founded: 1944

Location: Herne Bay, England

Website: Kevin Ayers

Barrett, Syd

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Roger Keith Barrett, founding member and primary songwriter of the early Pink Floyd, was a pioneer in the London Underground and perhaps the ultimate psychedelic hipster. Following his release from Pink Floyd in 1968, Barrett would eventually record two solo albums in the early 70s with the help of his former bandmates. His tragic demise, due in part to excessive use of acid, created the mythology of the drug-addled rock star. Look however to his recordings for his sheer genius.

Founded: 1946

Location: Cambridge, England

Website: Syd Barrett | The Official Website of Syd Barrett

Blossom Toes

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British psychedelia band featured Brian Godding, Kevin Westlake, Brian Belshaw, and Jim Cregan. Poli Palmer was also a member.

Founded: 1967

Location: London, England

Website: Lotsawatts

Brainbox

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Jan Akkerman's group prior to joining Focus. There only album is rather dated mix of blues and psychedelia. Of note is the sixteen minute "Sea Of Delight", however, as it would blueprint many of Focus' longer compositions.

Founded: 1969

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Brainticket

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Extremely obscure psychedelic outfit out of Switzerland released the trippy sound-collage Cottonwoodhill album in 1971. Further albums were guided by keyboardist Joel Vandroogenbroeck, including two late in the decade.

Founded: 1968

Location: Basel, Switzerland

Website: Brainticket

Brock, Dave

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Captian of the good ship Hawkwind.

Founded: 1941

Location: Isleworth, Middlesex, England

Calvert, Robert

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Best known for his role in Hawkwind, the mercurial Robert Newton Calvert also recorded a pair of solo albums in the mid 70s with producer Brian Eno. Upon his departure in 1979 and up until his death in 1988, his work comprised mainly on stage plays and poetry, but his moody, electronic work was certainly of its time.

Founded: 1945

Location: Pretoria, South Africa

Website: Robert Calvert - the spirit of the p/age

Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, The

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Combining Arthur Brown's soulful voice and stage theatrics, with Vincent Crane's masterful organ tone and Drachen Theaker's drumming, the Crazy World lit London's Underground on fire. However the flame was brief; after several diasterous tours, the band imploded, and Brown, unable to regroup, moved on.

Founded: 1966

Location: London, England

Website: Arthur Brown Official Webpage

Daevid Allen, an obituary

Oh shit... 
Sorry for that. Anger, disbelief, sadness, a rush of emotions. Of course, every train eventually pulls into the station one last time, and my thoughts are for those closest to him, and to his bravery.
I can't think of many (any?) from Daevid Allen's generation that have influenced so many, not just musically, but on that oh so slippery slope that I'll call “the spiritual level”. Perhaps that's why we all take the news so personal? I mean there's so many of us, and only one of him. Queue up “Zion my T-shirt” from the new album...

Daevid Allen, RIP

"Daevid Allen has passed on. He left today, this Friday the Thirteenth, at 1:08pm." Rest in peace.