The Word (Live)The 13th Floor Elevators

The 13th Floor Elevators

The 13th Floor Elevators is an American rock band from Austin, Texas, formed by guitarist and vocalist Roky Erickson, electric jug player Tommy Hall, and guitarist Stacy Sutherland, which existed from 1965 to 1969.

They are often credited as one of the first psychedelic bands in the history of rock n' roll. According to the 2005 documentary You’re Gonna Miss Me, Tommy Hall is credited with coining the term “psychedelic rock”, although artists such as the Holy Modal Rounders and the Deep had used the term “psychedelic” to describe their music earlier. Their contemporary influence has been acknowledged by 1960s musicians such as Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Peter Albin of Big Brother and the Holding Company, and Chris Gerniottis of Zakary Thaks.

Their debut 45 “You’re Gonna Miss Me”, a national Billboard No. 55 hit in 1966, was featured on the 1972 compilation Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968, which is considered vital in the history of garage rock and the development of punk rock. Seminal punk band Television played their song “Fire Engine” live in the mid-1970s. In 2009 the International Artists released a ten CD box set entitled Sign of the 3-Eyed Men, which included the mono and new, alternate stereo mixes of the original albums together with two albums of previously unreleased material and a number of rare live recordings.