Roky Erickson Forum

Roky Erickson

Forum

Roky Erickson is a musician living in Austin, TX. In the 60's he was the lead singer and a principal songwriter in the Thirteenth Floor Elevators, among the most important and influential American bands of their time. Their influence wasn't felt immediately like many groups like The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Beach Boys, or CSN. They were mostly a regional group, playing in Texas and California. What Roky, Tommy Hall, Stacy Sutherland (and a small cast of rhythm guys in and out) dii was an early form of psychedelic rock, overdrive version basic chuck berry-style rock, and beautiful acoustic-based songs that were more mature and though-provoking than most anything being heard regularly on the American club circuit. Their first and only true records "The Psychedelic Sounds Of The Thirteenth Floor Elevators" and "Easter Everywhere" are classics. They did an amazing cover of Dylan's 'Baby Blue', Eastern philosophy-inspired songs like 'Slip Inside This House', and had a local hit with the fiery 'You're Gonna Miss Me".
Erickson continued making music after the band broke up. He was with the group Blieb Alien, later backed by The Aliens, then made records solo with an array of famous Texas musicians and friends. For anyone who is a fan of psych, or of eccentric musicians with a most unique perspective on things, Erickson is just for you.

>>By exile103 (Friday, 12 Dec 2003 06:22)

I think the Texas psychedelic rock scene, Roky Erikson is one of the most legendary individuals. The legend is, Roky Erikson was found in possession of a lot of LSD not too long after it was first made illegal in the USA. He was found guilty by reason of insanity, and sentenced to a mental institution. In the mental institution, they gave him electric shock therapy because in 1969 it was still the last year they used shock therapy in the US to punish drug users. After a few months of shock therapy, Roky was released and from then on claimed aliens were communicating to him through the power lines.
Although they did a decent (and maybe the first?) cover version of the prophetic acid-inspired Beatles song "THE WORD", they suffered greatly when they lost Roky. Unlike the ultraknown Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd, Roky never had any big hit psychedelic songs, and by the time he got out of therapy the psychedelic rock scene was over.
Roky and the 13th Floor Elevators are now one of the many nuggets from that era to be rediscovered. I don't think they were ever recorded very well, but they were a part of the 1960s Texas psychedelic/drug music scene that launched the career of someone else named Billy Gibbins who went on to play in ZZ Top.

>>By SulfurFury (Thursday, 18 Dec 2003 20:28)

very cool and accurate sulfurfury. roky is doing very well now. his brother got him out of austin where he was basically deteriorating and took him to his home in pennsylvania. roky is healthier both physically and mentally than he has been in many years. i've seen him at his last two birthday parties and he looks great. it's a very encouragin story. henry rollins also deserves credit for helping roky both personally and with publishing Openers II, a collection of roky's songs and poetry. thanks henry!

>>By exile103 (Tuesday, 23 Dec 2003 20:10)

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