art rock

1968
Pink Floyd Gilmour announced as member

In January 1968, Blackhill Enterprises announced Gilmour as the band’s newest member, intending to continue with Barrett as a nonperforming songwriter.

King Crimson released

The trio signed to Deram Records and recorded one album, The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles and Fripp , released in 1968.

Pink Floyd Barrett photoshoot

In a January 1968 photoshoot of Pink Floyd, Barrett appears detached, staring into the distance.

Pink Floyd return to Abbey Road

In 1968, Pink Floyd returned to Abbey Road Studios to complete their second album, A Saucerful of Secrets , which they had begun in 1967 under Barrett’s leadership.

The Who touring Australia and New Zealand

The group started 1968 by touring Australia and New Zealand with the Small Faces . The groups had trouble with the local authorities and the New Zealand Truth called them “unwashed, foul-smelling, booze-swilling no-hopers”. After an incident that took place on a flight to Sydney , the band were briefly…
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The Who continued to tour

They continued to tour across the US and Canada during the first half of the year.

The Who started to attract attention

By 1968, the Who had started to attract attention in the underground press . Townshend had stopped using drugs and became interested in the teachings of Meher Baba .

The Who The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus

By the end of the year, 18 months of touring had led to a well-rehearsed and tight live band, which was evident when they performed “A Quick One While He’s Away” at The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus television special. The Stones considered their own performance lacklustre, and the…
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The Velvet Underground last recording sessions

Tensions were growing: the group was tired of receiving little recognition for its work, and Reed and Cale were pulling the Velvet Underground in different directions. The differences showed in the last recording sessions the band had with John Cale in 1968: three pop -like songs in Reed’s direction (“Temptation…
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The Velvet Underground swiftly recorded their third album

After several months of shows in the US, the band swiftly recorded their third album The Velvet Underground in late 1968 at TTG Studios in Hollywood, California .