At the heart of the Electric Collage was the use of projected media to create stunning visual effects. Artists would use projectors and other lighting equipment to cast images and patterns onto large screens, while musicians would provide a live soundtrack to accompany the visuals. The result was a truly immersive experience that transported viewers to otherworldly realms.
Perhaps the most famous example of the Electric Collage was the light show that accompanied the rock bands Vanilla Fudge, The Byrds, Santana, Led Zepplin, Allman Brothers, Jimi Hendrix and many other sucessful bands of the era. They also were present at Atlanta Pop Fesitvals 1 and 2 plus the Dallas Pop Festival. The band would perform in front of a large screen that was filled with swirling, psychedelic imagery that pulsed and shifted in time with the music. The effect was nothing short of stunning, with the audience members feeling as though they had been transported to a different dimension entirely.
But the Electric Collage was not just limited to rock concerts. It was also used in experimental films and art installations, with artists pushing the boundaries of what was possible with light and sound. In many ways, the Electric Collage was a precursor to the modern-day music video, with its use of visual storytelling and immersive effects.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Electric Collage was the way in which it was able to create a sense of synesthesia in the viewer. Synesthesia is a phenomenon in which the stimulation of one sense leads to the automatic stimulation of another sense. In the case of the Electric Collage, the visual and auditory stimuli worked together to create a heightened sensory experience that was unlike anything else.
Arthur C. Clarke, the famed science fiction author and futurist, would no doubt have been intrigued by the Electric Collage. Clarke was known for his fascination with technology and the ways in which it could be used to enhance human experience. He was also a pioneer of science fiction cinema, having written the screenplay for Stanley Kubrick's iconic film, 2001: A Space Odyssey.
In many ways, the Electric Collage was a manifestation of Clarke's vision for the future. It was a blending of technology and art that pushed the boundaries of what was possible, and it paved the way for new forms of creative expression that continue to thrive to this day.
As we look back on the Electric Collage from our vantage point in the 21st century, it's clear that its impact was profound. It was a moment in time when technology and creativity came together to create something truly remarkable, and its influence can be seen in everything from music videos to virtual reality experiences. It was a glimpse of what the future could be, and it continues to inspire artists and technologists alike to this day.
The 1960s were a time of great experimentation, both in music and in the visual arts. The psychedelic light show was the perfect expression of this experimentation, combining music and visual art to create a truly immersive experience for the audience. These shows were often accompanied by the music of artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, and The Doors, to name just a few.
The visual art of the psychedelic light show was a reflection of the times. It was a time of great social and political upheaval, and the artists of the era sought to express their discontent through their work. They used bright colors, abstract patterns, and trippy visual effects to create a world that was both otherworldly and yet familiar at the same time.
In many ways, the psychedelic light show was a precursor to modern visual art forms like music videos and live concert visuals. It showed that music could be more than just a sound, that it could be a full sensory experience that engaged both the eyes and the ears. And while the era of the 1960s may be long gone, the legacy of the psychedelic light show lives on, inspiring artists and musicians to this day.
So if you ever have the chance to attend a psychedelic light show, do yourself a favor and go. Immerse yourself in the swirling colors and abstract shapes, and let the music of Jimi Hendrix transport you to another world. It's an experience you won't soon forget.
What were "light shows" and why did they appear at this time? To know more about visual music light shows of the 1960's you have to know what the times were like back then. Marshall McLuhan had written the "Medium is the Massage" a few years back and the new TV culture was cranking up.
In the 1960's television was having a major effect on society for the first time. It had a profound influence on the youth culture. They were the first TV generation to mature and they expected visual media. The visual music light show was a natural addition to music concerts.
"The times they are a changing" sang Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. By 1966 peace and love was becoming a dominant theme among young people, intellectuals and artists while the Vietnam war was at it's peak. There was a great divide in the country as people had to be either "for or against war". Free speech and personal freedoms were being challenged while the government was running the unpopular Vietnam war which was though of by many as being sponsored by large corporations. Black people were being oppressed openly. The hippies and their culture appeared among young people and was in direct opposition to the status quo of the corporations. Many university students had enough of the status quo and protested openly.
Music was a big part of the revolution for the young people. And many people came to expect a light show at a music event. Light shows were a new medium that was exclusively owned by the new culture. The Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd had one as part of their show.
What made the Electric Collage different than the other major light shows in the United States was their unique media library. Their media was produced exclusively by them for their visual music show. Using many experimental film techniques and inventing a few of his own Steve produced "technology pushing" media. The Electric Collage had superior technical and creative capabilities that made their light show several notches above the "garage light shows".
The content was not only visual music, it was an "alternative underground TV channel" for the new culture. Since there were only 3 networks TV media was easily controlled by corporate interests. The light show filled the vacuum with current events for the counterculture blended into the visual music imagery.
The Electric Collage was spontaneous visual music, movie style special effects, underground television and MTV all rolled into one. A jam session of light and sound.