Guest
Artist: Roky Erickson and The Aliens Album: “I Think of Demons / The Evil One“ Genre: Hard Psychedelic Rock Release year: 1980/81 Country: USA *** Roky Erickson (Roky Erickson) former singer of The 13th Floor Elevators, guitarist and poet. In 1968, due to inadequate behavior, he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia during a speech, and he was sent to a psychiatric hospital in Houston, where he received electroconvulsive therapy. In 1969, accused of possession of marijuana, Erickson wanted to go to a psychiatric hospital, and not to jail prison terms. Erickson pleaded not guilty to the cause of insanity, charges related to marijuana were dropped, and he was placed in a psychiatric hospital Rusk, where he was again subjected to shock therapy. While in the hospital, Erickson wrote innumerable poems and songs, and when he came out, in 1975, he was determined to embark on a solo career. His first single was called “Starry Eyes” b / w “Two Headed Dog” was recorded with a band called “Bleib Alien”, and was released in 1975. In 1977, Rocky released two singles: one on Rhino records, “Bermuda” / “The Interpreter”; and one on France’s Sponge, “Mine Mine Mind”, “I Have Always Been Here Before” and “Click Your Fingers Applauding the Play”. The lyrical content focused more on the secret topics, hinting at demonology and cosmology, having more intimacy with horror films. The group was then renamed Roky Erickson and Aliens. The period between 1977 and 1980 was spent working with Stew Cook (Creedence Clearwater Revival), who produced Rocky's album. Erickson recorded 15 new songs with producer Stu Cook, a former bassist for Creedence Clearwater Revival. These songs were released in two “overlapping” records: “I Think of Demons” (CBS UK, 1980) and “The Evil One” (415 Records, 1981). Cook played bass on two tracks: “Sputnik“ and “Bloody Hammer“. Here both records are combined into one album in a so-called manner so that there are no repetitive tracks. The album is wonderful, both in the idea and in the performance. Embodying the goal of psychedelic music is to expand the mind through music and not drugs, the album is a full-fledged experience of creating a world overflowing with demons, goblins, bats, vampires, etc., captured not by kino, but on the sound tape, effects not received when watching a midnight horror movie, and while listening to music. *** Roky Ericson - vocals, rhythm guitar Duane Aslaksen - lead guitar, backing vocals Ben Miller - electric autoharp Stu Cook- bass (6, 12) Steve Burgess - bass Fuzzy Furioso (John Oxendine) - drums Andre Lewis - synthesizers (02,03,05,07,09,10) Brian Marnell - backing vocals () Link Davis - Hammond organ (05) Scott Matthews - drums (06) Jeff Sutton - drums (12)
