The 13th Floor Elevators - The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
On this episode we discuss the debut LP by the seminal psychedelic rock band, the 13th Floor Elevators: 1966's The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators. The 13th Floor Elevators were one of the the first well-known bands to come out of the Austin music scene in the 1960's, and one of the first band's nationwide to purposely embrace the term "psychedelic rock."
The band possessed a lead singer with a one of a kind voice (and screech) in Roky Erickson. The music was played with a fierce garage-rock intensity. But the thing that made them stand out was the use of the "electric jug," which imbued their songs a dark, uneasy, and otherworldly drone. The jug player was also the architect of the band's image and message, which relied heavily on the use of drugs as a means to "free your mind." Unfortunately the band embraced the message a little to fully, which resulted in drug busts and helped facilitate the decline of Erickson's mental health. But the music is something else. Their hit single, "You're Gonna Miss Me," is a undisputed classic, and their music was innovative and influential well beyond their short time as a working band.
THINGS WE DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE
The 13th Floor Elevators.
Pictured (Row L to R): John Ike Walton, Tommy Hall, Stacy Sutherland, Roky Erickson, and Ronnie Leatherman.
Before the 13th Floor Elevators, Roky Erickson fronted the Spades (pictured circa 1966).
The Jade Room was notable for being one of the only clubs in Austin that would allow teenagers.
The Spades had a regular weekly gig at the Jade Room. When Roky left the Spades for the 13th Floor Elevators, that band took over the Spades slot at the club.
Tommy Hall and his wife, Clementine.
Tommy Hall fancied himself as a kind of LSD prophet and believed a rock band was the best vehicle to spread his message. He is largely responsible for the makeup of the the Elevators. His wife helped to name them. 13 was her lucky number and the 13th letter of the alphabet was “M” which stood for marijuana.
The band’s business card that is thought to have the very first use of the term “psychedelic rock.”
The Stones had their first UK top 20 hit (peaking at number 12) with their version of the Beatles tune “I Wanna Be Your Man.” Here they are performing it on the popular UK variety show The Arthur Haynes Show in 1964. Brian Jones plays slide guitar on the song and sings backup, something he rarely did.
Roky mid-screech. The Elevators palying somewhare in Austin circa 1966.
The band and Clementine Hall were arrested on drug charges in the spring of 1966. They band members were prohibited form leaving the state as a condition of their bail.
The band lucked out and drew a lenient judge that dropped several of the charges and gave a two year probated sentence.
Leland Rogers, brother of country singer Kenny Rogers, was hired as the Elevator’s label International Artists to be their national promotion man specifically for the Elevator;s single “You’re Gonna Miss Me.”
Rogers was also named as the person who was responsible for keeping the band clean while they were on probation.
The band traveled to California and gigged for a couple of months. Here’s the band performing “You’re Gonna Miss Me” on Where The Action Is, a syndicated daily show hosted by Dick Clark in September 1966.
While in California, they played with several San Fransisco-based bands, including Texas expats the Sir Douglas Quintet, and the Great Society (featuring Grace Slick before she joined Jefferson Airplane).
The Elevators performed on American Bandstand just prior to the release of their debut. Dick Clark interview’s Tommy Hall asking who the head man is. Hall responds that “We’re all heads.” He also states that the album will be called Headstone.
The album had two sets of liner notes, one by producer Leland Rogers and one by Tommy Hall.
Rogers’s liner notes were a straight forward list of thank yous. Tommy Hall’s on the other hand were attempt to explain the concept of both the band and the album.
