Back when acid was mostly known as an experimental drug examined for its exotic effects on consciousness and its potential therapeutic value, Ken Kesey was among the first who came up with the idea of using it to party and explore reality intuitively. After publishing his masterpiece “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, which he wrote on acid, inspired by the acid experiences he had in CIA LSD experiments, Kesey assembled a group of intrepid freakstes around him. Otherwise known as the merry pranksters, this merry group of psychonauts initiated the famous 1960’s acid tests, which were basically the first acid parties. All the while, they shot an experimental psychedelic film, while on acid. But the group couldn’t get its mind around how to edit the film, which was to be edited from hundreds of hours of fragmentary materials. Only in 2011 was it finally released as part of a film called “Magic Trip” about Kesey and his group, and if you have anything more than a fleeting interesting psychedelics I suggest you check it out soon to get better acquainted with Kesey and his group. Above the trailer to the magic trip video. Below, an animation accompanying a conversation with Jerry Garcia from the Grateful Dead, reminiscing about the acid tests. And finally, the acid test graduation film.
“Heaven and Earth Magic” Harry Smith 1962- with music by Deerhoof
7 FebHarry Smith was a pioneering experimental animator, music anthropologist and all around kooky artistic genius.
“Heaven and Earth Magic” was created to be played on multiple projectors with live music, or DJs accompanying the film. The late William Moritz wrote a wonderful article on Harry’s unique persona and artistic pursuits which is archived on the Center for Visual Music website:
The Vanilla Fudge – The beat goes on
14 Jan
1968
- Carmine Appice – drums, vocals
- Tim Bogert – bass, vocals
- Vince Martell – guitar, vocals
- Mark Stein – lead vocals, keyboards
Tangerine Dream – Ricochet
19 NovOn the 11/12/2010, I published Tangerine Dream – Live At Coventry Cathedral 1975 (https://dailypsychedelicvideo.com/2010/12/11/tangerine-dream-live-at-coventry-cathedral-1975/) because I have been smashed by the discovery of this Psychedelic Band.
My interest for Tangerine Dream has never stopped since!
Today I want to share an other gem :
Daisies (1966)
8 NovDaisies is a 1966 Czechoslovak comedy-drama film of the Nová Vlna school. Written and directed by Věra Chytilová, it has a distinct psychedelic feel. The full film used to be available on YouTube but has been removed due to copyright claims. Here is the equally psychedelic trailer.
Tobe Hooper // EGGSHELLS (1969)
29 Oct
Eggshells is an independent low-budget film released in 1969. It is the first film directed by Tobe Hooper. It was written by Kim Henkel and Tobe Hooper (writers of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre).
Tobe Hooper’s first film, Eggshells, released a half decade before The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, has long been considered a lost film, with there being little hope that a print would surface. The film has attracted attention because it is Tobe Hooper’s first film, as well as that of his co-writer, Kim Henkel, and because, by all accounts, it is very much a slice of life and rare record of Austin circa 1968. Against all odds, a print has surfaced. Eggshells will be shown for probably the first time in close to four decades at the South by Southwest Film Festival 09.
“Love Without Sound” by White Noise
19 Oct
The song is taken from the 1969 album “An Electric Storm” by White Noise. The group started as a project between members of the notorious (not only for the Dr. Who theme) BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Among the composers who worked with David Vorhaus on the project was Delia Derbyshire. The state of the art tape manipulation techniques that were used on the album result in a highly psychedelic listening experience (similar techniques have been used on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, but not to the extend that can be found here).
Enjoy!
Mama Cass sings in HR Pufnstuf
10 FebMama Cass, The lead singer of The Mamas and the Papas, reclaims the lost honor of the witch as a symbol of nonconformity with conventional society, with a mesmerizing performance as a witch singing about the power of being different and unique, in spit of everything, in the 1960s cult psychedelic TV show HR Pufnstuf.
The Daily Psychedelic Video 