Episode 244: Roky Erickson

Very High Frequencies takes another trip back through Roky Erickson’s catalog. The Texas psychedelic rock star garnered his initial success as a fifteen year old singer /songwriter with two singles released by his band The Spades. 

In 1966 he cofounded 13th Floor Elevators. Initial album The Psychedelic Sounds Of… was the first album to use the word psychedelic to describe the music they were creating. 

The more polished Easter Everywhere came out in ‘67 and blew minds across the world with its explorations of free thought and third eye mind trips. 

While the hippies loved the band the local police did not. Eventually Roky was busted with one joint. He would plead insanity which backfired badly. The judge sentenced Roky to a prison for the criminally insane. From ‘68 - ‘72 he was subjected to electric shock therapy and powerful antipsychotic drugs. 

After this experience his lyrical output morphed into horror and sci fi themes. Conspiracy theories and myths wove through his songs. VHF-244 (Roky  Erickson)will check out the unusual music Roky released with his many bands throughout his career. 

Despite the odds Roky persevered and had a successful solo career late in his life. Tragic and odd, his story deserves to be heard by fans of alternative music.