Psych rock pioneer and all around overall underground rock titan Roky Erickson passed away today (5/31/19) at age 71. Erickson co-founded the 13th Floor Elevators in late 1965 and continued to record music with them until 1969, when Roky was arrested for the possession of one “marijuana cigarette” and accordingly sent to the Rusk State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, where according to one source, “he was subjected to electroconvulsive therapy and Thorazine treatments and held until 1972.”
Erickson bounded band and then later went on to record two seminal albums with the Aliens (Roky Erickson and the Aliens and The Evil One) and he was elevated to cult status but later disappeared. in September of 2005 Erickson performed his first full-length concert in 20 years at the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival with The Explosives with special guest and longtime associate Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Erickson has made other appearances over the years, but not often enough. More details on Erickson’s passing as we hear them…
