Roky Erickson — lead vocalist and principal songwriter for the psychedelic band the 13th Floor Elevators and one of the leading lights of Texas rock — died Friday in Austin. He was 71.
Erickson’s death was confirmed by his brother Mikel to Bill Bentley, who produced the all-star 1990 Erickson tribute album “Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye,” which included performances by R.E.M., ZZ Top, Doug Sahm and other stars.
“Roky lived in so many worlds, you couldn’t keep up with him,” Bentley told Variety. “He lived so much, and not always on this planet.”
Erickson specialized in a stormy, nightmarish brand of rock. His otherworldly original songs were often inspired by his favorite horror movies (a collection of his lyrics was published in 1995 by Henry Rollins’ book company 2.13.61). His intense, piercing yowl was the focal point of the Elevators’ seething 1966 single “You’re Gonna Miss Me.” A magnum opus of garage rock, it was featured on Lenny Kaye’s influential 1972 compilation “Nuggets.”
The band released four albums of churning psychedelia for Lelan Rogers’ independent label International Artists between 1966 and 1969; its first two collections, “The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators” and “Easter Everywhere,” are acknowledged classics of psych-rock.
After the band folded — due in no small measure due to Erickson’s drug habits and escalating mental illness — the singer embarked on a lengthy solo career that was interrupted by periods of institutionalization.
He released a scathing series of singles flashing horror and sci-fi imagery — “Red Temple Prayer (Two Headed Dog),” “The Interpreter,” “Starry Eyes,” “Bermuda,” “Don’t Slander Me” — during the ‘70s and ‘80s, and issued several solo albums, one of which, “Roky Erickson and the Aliens,” was issued by CBS.
While best known for his snarling garage-rockers, some of Erickson’s most memorable songs were haunting ballads like “You Don’t Love Me Yet” and “I Have Always Been Here Before,” whose heart-wrenching melodies belied the torment hinted in the lyrics.
Erickson’s battle with mental illness was chronicled in the affecting 2007 documentary “You’re Gonna Miss Me.”
In later years, he toured regularly, backed by such acts as the Black Angels, and could often be found performing on his favorite holiday, Halloween.
Born Roger Kynard Erickson in Austin, Texas, on July 15, 1947, Erickson was a high school dropout who formed his first group, the Spades, at 18. The group scored a local hit with the single “We Sell Soul,” and cut the original version of “You’re Gonna Miss Me.”
The 13th Floor Elevators teamed Erickson with the aggressive guitarist Stacy Sutherland and Tommy Hall, who played an ululating, amplified jug. Their debut “Psychedelic Sounds” LP included their signature hit and “Fire Engine,” which became a signature tune in the early repertoire of the New York punk band Television.
The Elevators were a popular Austin act but fell apart thanks to Erickson’s instability, brought on by literally dozens of LSD trips. He was committed to psychiatric hospitals in Austin and Houston, undergoing involuntary electroshock therapy.
He groped his way back to performing in the ‘70s, and some of his best recordings of the period were produced by his Austin contemporary Sahm and Creedence Clearwater Revival bassist Stu Cook. He toured backed by the Austin bands the Explosives and the Aliens (which featured another jug player, Bill Miller).
The ‘80s proved fallow for Erickson, who was sidetracked for a time by charges, later dropped, that he had stolen mail from his neighbors. He lived for several years with his mother in near destitution.
But projects like the Sire/Warner Bros. tribute album and the ardent fandom of younger rock musicians kept him in the public eye; a strong 1995 album, “All That May Do My Rhyme,” was released by Butthole Surfers drummer King Coffey. He appeared at the ACL festival in Austin that year for his first live date in 20 years.
After slowly weaning himself off medication employed to control his schizophrenia, Erickson worked U.S. stages regularly. He became a semi-regular at the South By Southwest Music Festival, and in 2015 he reunited with surviving members of the 13th Floor Elevators at Austin’s Levitation Festival, which was named after an Elevators song.
His survivors include another brother, Sumner, and son Jegar. (variety.com)
And here´s is a strange solo album from the Eighties:
More or less, Roky Erickson playing folk rock. Definitely a far cry from anything he ever did with the 13th Floor Elevators. Liked his covering the two Buddy Holly songs here – “True Love Ways” and “Peggy Sue Got Married”, the so-so “I Look At The Moon”, “Don’t Slander Me”, the emotional “Mine Mine Mind”, the rocking “Two Headed Dog” and one TFE tune “May The Circle Remain Unbroken” (off the band’s less appreciated third lp ‘Bull Of The Woods’). Looks to be the title’s initial ten tracks + four added bonus cuts. Overall, not bad, but an okay pick. (Mike Reed)
Judged on its own as a music recording this is pretty rough. This is a Roky Erickson collectors album most interesting from the historical perspective. Recorded on a cheap portable recorder in a motel room, this album is upfront and claims no pretention. This is not a typical Roky Erickson collection of songs. There are some cover versions of old rock standards and some Roky tunes not often found.
Very informal, ragged playing that sounds like something just slapped together on the spur of the moment. And I guess that’s exactly what it is.
Four stars for being kind of an interesting exploration of this legendary artist. Three stars and maybe less from anybody who doesn’t know who he is and just wants to hear some music. In other words, not everyone will get a kick out of this album and I doubt that anyone would put it on their list of favorites. (Arlee Bird)
I love this record. However, no one else seems to. Its bare, its minimalistic. Just Roky and acoustic guitar. Some of his songs, some Buddy Holly covers, some others. Hardly exciting, but very intimate. Very interesting to hear Holly’s songs covered by Roky acoustically and finger-picked at that, love it. But, it took a while for me to crack into it. If you want a different side of Roky (acoustic) I’d highly recommend this. But if you’re looking for 13th Floor or Two-Headed Dog or Night of the Vampire with all their energy and electricity, perhaps pass on this one. (Colin)
Front + back cover of the “Mine, Mine Mind” EP
I add another rare EP from this period and on “Mine Mine Mind” you can hear the heavy side of Roky Erickson … what a great trip !
This EP was later re-released under the titel “2 Head Dogs”.
Front + back cover of the “2 Headed Dog” EP
Personnel:
Roky Erickson (guitar, vocals)
Tracklist:
01. The Singing Grandfather (Erickson) 3.59
02. The Times I’ve Had (Erickson) 2.31
03. That’s My Song (Erickson) 1.03
04. True Love Ways (Holly/Petty) 3.40
05. Peggy Sue Got Married (Holly) 2.02
06 Mighty Is Our Love (Erickson) 4.16
07. I Look At The Moon (Erickson) 2.45
08. Don’t Slander Me (Erickson) 2.39
09. May The Circle Remain Unbroken (Erickson) 2.33
10. The Singing Grandfather (Reprise) (Erickson) 3.34
+
The Mine Mine Mind EP (1987):
11. Mine Mine Mind (Erickson) 2.39
12. Click Your Fingers Applauding The Play (Erickson) 3.20
13. Two-Headed Dog (Erickson) 3.22
14. I Have Always Been Here Before (Erickson) 2.44
*
**
Roky Erickson (July 15, 1947 – May 31, 2019)
Unfortunately, I don´t know very much about the Jazz Fiddlers …
Tracklist:
Vladimir Samoylovich Horowitz (October 1 [O.S. September 18] 1903 – November 5, 1989) was an American classical pianist and composer born in the Russian Empire. He was acclaimed for his virtuoso technique, his tone color, and the excitement engendered by his playing. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of all time. (by wikipedia)
This live recording at the Montreux Jazz Festival is the last of the glorious 1980s albums by the polish trumpet virtuoso / composer Tomasz Stanko and his Freelectronic ensemble, here consisting of keyboardists Janusz Skowron and Tadeusz Sudnik and bassist Witold Szczurek. Stanko is in top form and in a great mood, which is evident by the happy atmosphere captured herein.
Alternate frontcover
INXS (pronounced “in excess”) were an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. The band’s founding members were bassist Garry Gary Beers, main composer and keyboardist Andrew Farriss, drummer Jon Farriss, guitarist Tim Farriss, lead singer and main lyricist Michael Hutchence, and guitarist and saxophonist Kirk Pengilly. For twenty years, INXS was fronted by Hutchence, whose magnetic stage presence made him the focal point of the band. Initially known for their new wave/pop style, the band later developed a harder pub rock style that included funk and dance elements.
This album has some really all-time definitive best versions of several songs. Unsquare Dance is outstanding. Brubeck did nothing in 4/4 time. The audience is clapping, in time, the band picks up on it, rests for two beats, making the audience part of the music and then picks up the song on the next beat. This was improvised, not planned. That’s Jazz!
Kontsert (/kɒntˈsɛərt/) (Russian: Концерт, [kɐnˈt͡sɛrt], commonly read as Kohuept or Kohliept, English: Concert) is the second live album by Billy Joel, released in 1987. The album was recorded during the Soviet leg of Joel’s 1987 The Bridge tour. This album was co-produced by Jim Boyer and Brian Ruggles, and mixed by Jim Boyer.
