13th Floor Elevators

Pioneers of Psychedelic Rock Music

The 13th Floor Elevators were a pioneering psychedelic rock band from Austin, Texas, formed in late 1965. The group is often credited with coining the term "psychedelic rock" and was led by the enigmatic Roky Erickson on vocals and guitar, Tommy Hall on electric jug, Stacy Sutherland on lead guitar, Benny Thurman on bass, and John Ike Walton on drums. Their debut album, "The Psychedelic Sounds of The 13th Floor Elevators," released in 1966, is regarded as one of the first works to encapsulate the psychedelic sound. The band's music was characterized by Erickson's powerful vocals and Hall's distinctive electric jug, which added an otherworldly quality to their sound.