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4 Bands Formed in 1965 That Shaped Rock ‘N’ Roll as We Know It
Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, the Doors and Pink Floyd all formed or began performing under their later names in 1965. Their success helped shape psychedelic rock and the wider sound and culture of rock music, with influence that extended beyond their records.
Jefferson Airplane became closely associated with the late-1960s psychedelic movement through songs such as “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love”. The Grateful Dead grew from a jug band and became a major jam-band institution; the Doors formed around Jim Morrison’s songwriting and Ray Manzarek’s keyboards, while Pink Floyd began as the Pink Floyd Sound with Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Nick Mason.
In short
- Four influential rock bands began in 1965.
- Jefferson Airplane helped define psychedelic rock.
- The Grateful Dead, the Doors and Pink Floyd built lasting legacies.
Explained simply
Psychedelic rock grew in the 1960s, when musicians used unusual sounds, extended performances and imaginative lyrics to explore new ways of making rock music. The movement was linked to a wider youth culture that included experimentation in art, fashion and live performance.
Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, the Doors and Pink Floyd each began in 1965, though their line-ups and musical approaches differed. Their music helped bring psychedelic sounds to wider audiences and influenced later rock groups, while the Grateful Dead’s long live shows also helped establish the jam-band tradition.
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