One of the most influential bands in forging the merger of psychedelic rock and acid rock with the blues rock genre was the British power trio Cream, who derived a massive, heavy sound from unison riffing between guitarist Eric Clapton and bassist Jack Bruce, as well as Ginger Baker's double bass drumming.Charlton (2003), pp. 232–33 Their first two LPs – Fresh Cream (1966) and Disraeli Gears (1967) – are regarded as essential prototypes for the future style of heavy metal. The Jimi Hendrix Experience's debut album, Are You Experienced (1967), was also highly influential. Hendrix's virtuosic technique would be emulated by many metal guitarists, and the album's most successful single, "Purple Haze", is identified by some as the first heavy metal hit. Vanilla Fudge, whose first album also came out in 1967, has been called "one of the few American links between psychedelia and what soon became heavy metal," and the band has been cited as an early American heavy metal group. On their self-titled debut album, Vanilla Fudge created "loud, heavy, slowed-down arrangements" of contemporary hit songs, blowing these songs up to "epic proportions" and "bathing them in a trippy, distorted haze".
One of the most influential bands in forging the merger of psychedelic rock and acid rock with the blues rock genre was the British power trio Cream who derived a massive heavy sound from unison riffing between guitarist Eric Clapton and bassist Jack Bruce as well as Ginger Baker's double bass drummingCharlton (2003) pp 232–33 Their first two LPs – Fresh Cream (1966) and Disraeli Gears (1967) – are regarded as essential prototypes for the future style of heavy metal The Jimi Hendrix Experience's debut album Are You Experienced (1967) was also highly influential Hendrix's virtuosic technique would be emulated by many metal guitarists and the album's most successful single "Purple Haze" is identified by some as the first heavy metal hit Vanilla Fudge whose first album also came out in 1967 has been called "one of the few American links between psychedelia and what soon became heavy metal" and the band has been cited as an early American heavy metal group On their self-titled debut album Vanilla Fudge created "loud heavy slowed-down arrangements" of contemporary hit songs blowing these songs up to "epic proportions" and "bathing them in a trippy distorted haze"