{"title":"Roky Erickson","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRoky Erickson was an American singer, songwriter, harmonica player, and guitarist. He was born on July 15, 1947 in Dallas, Texas and sadly passed away on May 31, 2019. Roky was the son of a musician and had two siblings who were also involved in the music industry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout his career, Roky Erickson made significant contributions to the music world with his unique style and talent. He gained recognition for his skills as a singer and songwriter, as well as his proficiency in playing the harmonica and guitar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith his diverse musical abilities and captivating performances, Roky Erickson left a lasting impact on the industry. His legacy continues to inspire musicians and fans alike.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"halloween-live-1979-1981","title":"Halloween: Live 1979-1981","description":"\u003cp\u003eHe needed a band and The Explosives came highly recommended to Roky's manager, Craig Luckin - Introductions were made and rehearsals began. Roky \u0026amp; The Explosives immediately hit it off, musically and personally. They played together in Texas and California from 1979-1981 logging in around 50 shows. 13th Floor Elevators drummer John Ike Walton remarked to Explosives drummer Freddie Steady Krc \"You guys played more shows with Roky than the Elevators did!\" The guys got in the van and barnstormed all over the Lone Star State. Bootleg recordings began to emerge that were sub- quality live performance recordings that everyone was making money off except Roky and The Explosives. Craig and Freddie agreed Freddie would review all the recordings they could fnd from 1979-81. Almost all were in Craig's possession. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUpon final review, Freddie would select the best performance of each song they were playing live from that time period. Some like 'Heroin' and 'I've Just Seen a Face' were called on the spot by Roky at a show, performed once and never played again. After the music was selected, Craig and Freddie went through their personal collection of photos, poster images and added a complete show itinerary from 1979-81. \u003ci\u003eHalloween\u003c\/i\u003e is a loving collection of performances documenting a time of Roky's re- emergence into the rock music world. It was something most thought they would never see after his final days with 13th Floor Elevators, following drug busts and his plunge into mental illness eventually ending in his stay at Rusk State Mental Hospital. This record is a testimony of Roky's personal strength and will to return to performing and songwriting. Long live his music!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wienerworld","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50402213232971,"sku":"1146669","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/9169048f-d8d8-4f47-8512-fa889dcdc569_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726535637"},{"product_id":"all-that-may-do-my-rhyme-2","title":"All That May Do My Rhyme","description":"\u003cp\u003ePlay Loud! re-issues Roky Erickson's 1995 album \u003ci\u003eAll That May Do My Rhyme\u003c\/i\u003e on limited edition white vinyl. Originally released on CD, MC and vinyl in 1995 on Paul Leary’s (Butthole Surfers) Trance Syndicate Records. The original press release noted: \"Trance Syndicate is pleased to present the first studio recording in almost a decade by one of the most gifted, most influential, most inspired singer\/songwriters from the Republic of Texas since Buddy Holly. Roky Erickson is back! performing new songs and a few classics in one of the best studios in Texas, backed by some of Texas’ finest musicians. Roky was head of The Thirteenth Floor Elevators\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Play Loud!","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50403825058123,"sku":"2053019","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_5f552385_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726564187"},{"product_id":"openers","title":"Openers","description":"\u003cp\u003eLegendary Texan psychedelic innovator Roky Erickson formed the 13th Floor Elevators in the mid-1960s, shaking up the local and national music scenes with his astounding debut LP. After spells at psychiatric facilities, Erickson formed the Bleib Alien which became the Aliens, but by the early 1980s was fixated with junk mail. In the convoluted aftermath, 1988’s \u003ci\u003eOpeners\u003c\/i\u003e, released in limited numbers by London’s 5 Hours Back, had Erickson solo on six of the tracks, his anguished, meandering lyrics backed by disjointed acoustic guitar chords, and here contrasted by the swampy power-pop backing of The Explosives on the rest. Another killer!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Survival Research","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50427118616907,"sku":"2025340","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/0637913782879_eefec97e_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726821885"},{"product_id":"five-symbols","title":"Five Symbols","description":"\u003cp\u003ethe 1980 album from former 13th floor elevators' mainman hailed in mojo magazine as a buried treasure kicks of the label's buried treasure series. featuring the original ten tracks plus two additional erickson originals from the period. an insight into the 'scrambled brain' of this rock genius' bizarre and often brilliant solo career. obsessed with sci fi and horror images, this gritty gem covers satan, lucifer, alligators, vampires, demons and zombies along the way. with extensive sleevenotes and an introduction by mojo editor phil alexander.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50435922723147,"sku":"347162","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/9e51cd23-24f2-40ed-aed1-59892351c59a_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726909545"},{"product_id":"the-evil-one-1","title":"The Evil One","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginally released in the UK as the 10 song album \u003ci\u003eFive Symbols\u003c\/i\u003e in 1980 and as \u003ci\u003eThe Evil One\u003c\/i\u003e in 1981 (with 5 songs replaced), this definitive album gathers all 15 songs from the Stu Cook (Creedence Clearwater Revival) late 1977-79 produced sessions. ​Though it was produced at a time when Roky was struggling to cope with drugs and life on the outside, he hit form on his first post Elevators album-proper, 1981's\u003ci\u003e The Evil One\u003c\/i\u003e. It's a masterful collection of songs about zombies, demons, vampires and, yes, even the \u003ci\u003eCreature With The Atom Brain\u003c\/i\u003e. These tracks, inspired by schlock sci-fi and horror movies and coloured by Roky's distinctive, high-pitched vocal and squealing guitar, are among the maverick performer's best. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt the time, Roky explained the album this way: “It’s gonna go back to the ferocious kind of rock ‘n’ roll of the Kinks, the Who and the Yardbirds. It’s the kind of music that makes you wish you were playing it or listening to it for the first time ‘way back when.’” But the record would not reach the mass audience of those bands, its success hampered by erratic release schedules and disastrously awkward press interviews. A year after its release, Erickson would become convinced that a Martian had inhabited his body. He would soon become obsessed with mail, and take to taping it, unopened, to his bedroom walls. Many of Erickson’s demons were yet to show their faces. But the B-movie demons he exorcised on this record gave us one of hard rock’s strangest, most inventive albums\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Light in the Attic","offers":[{"title":"Purple | LP | x2","offer_id":50488944591179,"sku":"1106993","price":47.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/0a9f162e-e318-4c88-b075-cbdffaf4569b_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727633794"},{"product_id":"halloween-ii-live-2007","title":"Halloween II:Live 2007","description":"\u003cp\u003eBest live recording from Roky’s “comeback” era of 2005-2008 with The Explosives. Recorded at the Bowery Ballroom, New York City on April 15, 2007. This double LP is pressed on white vinyl and includes an exclusive live performance DVD - Roky Erickson and The Explosives ‘Return of the Viking’- filmed August 10, 2007 at Oya Fest (Oslo, Norway).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a complete, unedited recording of a fiery performance representative of what Roky Erickson and The Explosives were doing in the 2005-2008 “comeback” years. Excellent song selections and killer performance from top to bottom. Roky is in great voice and the band is in full force. The only official release from this time period.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wienerworld","offers":[{"title":"White | LP | x2","offer_id":50527923831115,"sku":"1147109","price":74.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/88494923-83e8-4825-a6d2-11f1942299c6_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728059132"},{"product_id":"live-at-the-whisky-1981","title":"Live At The Whisky 1981","description":"\u003cp\u003eRoky Erickson and The Explosives had been honing their craft in hot, sweaty clubs all over Texas for a couple of years before this California tour which, along with the Whisky, included the Warfield Theater in San Francisco, Galactica 2000 in Sacramento, the Stone in San Francisco, the Keystone Berkeley in, well, Berkeley, the Bacchanal in San Diego and the Europa in Tucson, AZ on the way back to Texas. But, the Whisky was a special, magic night of music. Roky was on top of his game and the Explosives was a well oiled machine capable of musically \"turning on a dime\" with nary a single apple falling from the cart. The proof in that statement was when, as we were walking on stage to start the show, Roky turned to us and asked \"Do you guys know the song Heroin by Lou Reed?\" We replied \"no\" as we plugged in and Roky launched into, you guessed it, \"Heroin\" by Lou Reed. The results are on this record!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sunset Blvd","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50527928320331,"sku":"1147008","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP - Neon Green Semi-Transparent","offer_id":58214372180299,"sku":"R5350-0783","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/753178e0-49e4-4d42-9980-e0fe865b5ad6_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728059177"},{"product_id":"clear-night-for-love","title":"Clear Night For Love","description":"\u003cp\u003eDallas-born Roger Kynard Erickson, better known as Roky Erickson, is a legend of psychedelic music and culture. Playing piano at five years old and guitar at ten, he dropped out of high school in Austin shortly before graduating, since the school dress code demanded short hair. In 1965, his group, The Spades, made an impact with “We Sell Soul” and the following year, The 13 th Floor Elevators burst onto the scene with debut album The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13 th Floor Elevators, but the band’s non-conformist attitude and open endorsement of drugs such as marijuana and LSD put them in repeated conflict with the authorities. Then, in 1968, during a performance at the San Antonio edition of the World’s Fair, known as HemisFare, Erickson began speaking incomprehensible nonsense on stage, leading to a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and confinement in a Houston psychiatric hospital, where he was forcibly given electroshock therapy. The following year, after being busted with a single joint, Erickson pleaded not guilty by means of insanity, leading to a 3-year stay in Rusk State Hospital, with further electroshock and Thorazine treatments. Following his release Erickson formed a group initially called Bleib Alien, which evidenced a more hard-rock orientation, later renamed The Aliens, though Erickson was also working with Austin’s The Explosives in the same era. Aliens material produced by Stu Cook of Creedence Clearwater Rival was issued by CBS and an independent, 415 Records. Then, in the early 1980s, Erickson became fixated with junk mail and unsolicited letters, writing to lawyers and celebrity figures on a regular basis; in 1985, solo mini-LP\u003ci\u003e Clear Night For Love\u003c\/i\u003e was produced at Music Tracks in Austin by bassist \/ guitarist Speedy Sparks, with former Joe “King” Carrasco and Delbert McClinton drummer, Ernie Durawa, plus Supernatural Family Band alumnus John Reed on guitar. Released by France’s New Rose label in small numbers, the release found Erickson back in semi-psychedelic \/ country rock mode on opening track \u003ci\u003eYou Don’t Love Me Yet\u003c\/i\u003e, the plaintive \u003ci\u003eStarry Eyes\u003c\/i\u003e and the anthem-like title track, while \u003ci\u003eThe Haunt\u003c\/i\u003e is more in swamp\/horror rock vein and \u003ci\u003eDon’t Slander Me\u003c\/i\u003e has heavy blues leanings.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Alternative Fox","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50530377204043,"sku":"1080675","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/d41b9873-18a6-4799-a1cf-49c1cd069892_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728077683"},{"product_id":"all-that-may-do-my-rhyme-5","title":"All That May Do My Rhyme","description":"\u003cp\u003eRoky Erickson is a legend. Former member of the 13th Floor Elevators he was considered the white James Brown. Drug problems and a diagnosed schizophrenia made him an outsider. By the '90s, he was struggling to survive on a $200 monthly Social Security check. In 1990 artists like R.E.M., ZZ Top, and the Jesus and Mary Chain recorded his songs for a tribute album. Erickson performed publicly for the first time in many years at the Austin Music Awards. In 1994 he returned to the studio with guitarists Charlie Sexton and the Butthole Surfers’ Paul Leary to record ALL THAT MAY DO MY RHYME. This record was released on CD, MC and vinyl in 1994 on Paul Leary’s Trance Syndicate label. Read here some notes from the original press release: \"Trance Syndicate is pleased to present the first studio recording in almost a decade by one of the most gifted, most influential, most inspired singer\/songwriters from the Republic of Texas since Buddy Holly.\" \"Roky Erickson is back! performing new songs and a few classics in one of the best studios in Texas, backed by some of Texas’ finest musicians. Roky Erickson: Vocals, guitar Paul Leary: Guitar Charlie Sexton: Guitar Lou Ann Barton: Vocals John Reed: Guitar Speedy Sparks: Guitar Ernie Durawa: Drums Harry Hess: Guitar, harmonica John Hagen: Cello Sumner Erickson: Tuba, vocals Carey Bowman: Guitar All songs written by Roky Erickson\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Play Loud!","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50875474968907,"sku":"2227513","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_eecabca3_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1732263728"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_80d17bbd_thumbnail_4096_f165c12b-b5f2-4c1b-92e5-98d25fe7a4db.jpg?v=1726535620","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/collections\/roky-erickson.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}