Episode 139: The Origin Story of Psychedelia (Classic)
With news of Ken Kesey’s bus Further returning to San Francisco, we’re revisiting one of our classic episodes.
Today we’re taking a trip through the looking glass.
We return to our series kickoff on psychedelia by discussing its origins, the impact on a generation of pop culture and its lasting effects. Psychedelia’s origins are messy, fascinating, and full of odd little historical crosscurrents. We discuss science, bicycle rides and the first official album of psychedelic music.
So, ask the bartender for a couple of Psychedelic Frogs—and to see if they can stop the walls from dripping rainbow colors—as we chase the white rabbit through the window and back into the bar.
E X T R A S :
(Top to bottom): Albert Hofmann—the chemist who invented LSD—in his laboratory, a poster for a Bicycle Day in San Francisco
(Top to bottom): Aldous Huxley, the cover of the first edition of Huxley’s The Doors of Perception
(Top to bottom): Timothy Leary and Neal Cassady on Ken Kesey’s bus Further, Kesey riding on Further (photos by Allen Ginsberg)
Additional Links
Psychedelia history (Wikipedia article)
What is LSD? (DEA website entry with images!)
Albert Hofmann (Scientific American article)
Aldous Huxley (neh.gov article)
Timothy Leary (Britannica article)
Ken Kesey (UCLA article)
The 13th Floor Elevators (Allmusic entry)
More to Enjoy…
“Psychedelic Pink” Pink Panther cartoon (YouTube video)
“The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators” - Full album (YouTube video)
“You’re Gonna Miss Me” - 1966 live performance (YouTube video)
