Roky Erickson: The Evil One 12″

Description

Celebrating a creative purple patch by a singular performer, Light In The Attic is to reissue the three albums issued by ROKY ERICKSON in the 1980s: The Evil One (LITA 097), Dont Slander Me (LITA 098) and Gremlins Have Pictures (LITA 099). Together, theyre a chance to pick up a missing jigsaw piece in the history of American rock n roll in deluxe packages.__As the core member of the 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS and an undisputed pioneer of psychedelic rock, the 60s were thrilling times for Erickson. His band riding high in their native Texas and beyond, the howling single Youre Gonna Miss Me was his calling card, but Ericksons 60s ended in the stuff of nightmares. Under sharp scrutiny by the authorities due to the bands well-expounded fondness for psychedelic drugs, Erickson was found with a single joint on his person. Pleading not guilty by reason of insanity to avoid prison, he was sent to the Rusk State Hospital for the criminally insane, where he was treated with electroconvulsive therapy and Thorazine treatment. Erickson pulled through his three and a half years at Rusk, and even put together a band while incarcerated. THE MISSING LINKS contained Roky plus two murderers and a rapist.__Released from the institution in 1974, Roky found his legend had grown while hed been away?not least because Youre Gonna Miss Me was included on 1972s Nuggets compilation. He formed a band, THE ALIENS, and set about honing a hard rock sound that placed the psychedelic garage blues of the Elevators firmly in the last decade. 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, 1981s The Evil One. Produced over a period of two years by STU COOK from CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL, its a masterful collection of songs about zombies, demons, vampires and, yes, even the Creature With The Atom Brain. These tracks, inspired by schlock sci-fi and horror movies and colored by Rokys distinctive, high-pitched vocal and squealing guitar, are among the maverick performers best. CD includes a 48-page booklet, Vinyl includes a 20-page booklet, download card and a Side D etching by artist TRAVIS MILLARD.