The 13th Floor Elevators
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Founder | Roky Erickson, Tommy Hall, Stacy Sutherland |
| Defunct | 1969 |
| Headquarters | Austin , United States |
| Products | Albums, singles |
Number of employees | 5–7 (varied lineups) |
The 13th Floor Elevators were a rock group originating from Austin, Texas, founded by guitarist and lead singer Roky Erickson, electric jug player Tommy Hall, and guitarist Stacy Sutherland. Their active years spanned from 1965 through 1969, during which they produced four albums and seven singles released via the International Artists label. Their initial single, "You're Gonna Miss Me", climbed to number 55 on the Billboard charts in 1966.
Recognized as trailblazers of psychedelic rock, the Elevators were the earliest band to identify their sound with this genre—a term likely introduced by Tommy Hall—featured on their business cards as early as January 1966. Known proponents of LSD, the group encountered legal difficulties, culminating in Erickson’s arrest for drug possession in 1969, which effectively dissolved the band. Their inclusion on the 1972 compilation Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968 solidified their reputation as forerunners to punk rock. Their legacy has influenced a wide array of modern musicians.
In 2009, International Artists released Sign of the 3-Eyed Men, a comprehensive ten-CD set containing mono and alternate stereo versions of their original albums alongside two discs of previously unreleased material and rare live recordings.
Formation
The 13th Floor Elevators emerged onto the Austin music scene in December 1965, joining contemporaries such as the Wig and the Babycakes, soon followed by Shiva's Headband and the Conqueroo. The band’s formation occurred when Roky Erickson departed from the Spades to collaborate with Stacy Sutherland, Benny Thurman, and John Ike Walton, who had been performing under the name the Lingsmen. Tommy Hall played a pivotal role in assembling the lineup, contributing as both lyricist and electric jug player. The band’s name originated from drummer Walton’s suggestion of "Elevators," with Clementine Hall adding "13th Floor," alluding to both the frequently omitted thirteenth floor in buildings and "M," the thirteenth letter of the alphabet symbolizing marijuana.
1966–1967: Psychedelic Sounds and Easter Everywhere
In January 1966, producer Gordon Bynum recorded two songs with the group for his Contact label: Erickson’s "You're Gonna Miss Me" and Hall-Sutherland’s "Tried to Hide." The single was later reissued by International Artists. Throughout spring 1966, the band extensively toured Texas, appeared on local television programs, and began gaining recognition beyond Texas by summer. "You're Gonna Miss Me" reached number 55 on Billboard’s national chart in October 1966. This achievement enabled them to tour the West Coast, appear on national television shows hosted by Dick Clark, and perform at prominent San Francisco venues including The Fillmore and The Avalon.
Following their signing with International Artists, their debut album, The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators, was released in November 1966. It found success within countercultural circles, helped by Tommy Hall’s liner notes endorsing LSD as a path to expanded awareness. During their California tour, they performed alongside Quicksilver Messenger Service, the Great Society (with Grace Slick), and Moby Grape.
Returning to Texas early in 1967, they released the single "Levitation" and continued live shows. Their sophomore album, Easter Everywhere, arrived in November 1967 and featured a rendition of Bob Dylan’s "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue." Prior to recording this album, Walton and Leatherman left due to conflicts regarding International Artists’ management and disagreements over Hall’s advocacy for LSD; Danny Thomas took over drums while Dan Galindo assumed bass duties. Although Walton and Leatherman contributed to some tracks on Easter Everywhere, they were not credited. Despite substantial studio investment, sales were disappointing—approximately 10,000 copies sold compared to roughly 40,000 for their debut—and no reissues followed its initial pressing.
Around this timeframe, Erickson briefly contemplated adding future cult figure Townes Van Zandt as bassist; however, despite Van Zandt’s enthusiasm to join, he was ultimately not accepted.
1968–1969: Bull of the Woods and dissolution
While the band was unable to duplicate their nationwide acclaim, they maintained a significant role within the Texas rock community. Chris Gerniottis, former frontman of Zakary Thaks, highlighted the Elevators' unique influence and their lasting effect on local musicians during the late 1960s. After "Slip Inside This House" gained traction regionally, an edited single version was issued in early 1968 and became a staple on Houston radio stations.
The departure of bassist Dan Galindo, who joined another International Artists act called the Rubiayat, marked a lineup change. Duke Davis temporarily filled the bassist role before original member Ronnie Leatherman returned in mid-1968. In spring 1968, the group began work on a new album initially named Beauty and the Beast, but progress was impeded by an unstable lineup and erratic conduct from Tommy Hall and Roky Erickson. Their live shows suffered from diminished energy as Erickson frequently missed performances due to medical treatments. The last concert featuring the original lineup took place in April 1968.
International Artists released a Live album in August 1968, primarily composed of 1966 demo recordings enhanced with audience noise. By this time, the original incarnation of the 13th Floor Elevators had effectively ceased to exist, leaving guitarist Stacy Sutherland as the principal member. Sutherland penned material for studio sessions that culminated in the dark and intense posthumous album Bull of the Woods. Although initially met with lukewarm reception from fans, it has since garnered critical acclaim and is regarded by some as their finest effort. These recordings featured Sutherland on guitar, Leatherman on bass, and Danny Thomas on drums, with Erickson and Hall contributing to only a few tracks due to health complications and legal difficulties. The band played several Texas shows in late 1968 until a December article in Rolling Stone declared them defunct. International Artists compiled these tracks, adding horn arrangements with assistance from Thomas, and released Bull of the Woods in March 1969. The label’s final Elevators release was a mid-1969 reissue of "You're Gonna Miss Me."
Singer Janis Joplin shared close ties with Clementine Hall and the band, having opened for them at an Austin benefit event and contemplating joining before relocating to San Francisco to become part of Big Brother and the Holding Company.
Persistent drug use and legal issues caused ongoing distress that took a toll on members both physically and psychologically. In 1969, when faced with felony marijuana charges, Roky Erickson chose psychiatric hospitalization over incarceration, effectively bringing the band's activities to an end.
Partial reunions occurred after 1969: Sutherland and Leatherman performed Elevators material at Ingram’s Ol' Dog Saloon in April 1977; another reunion happened at Austin’s Liberty Lunch in 1984 featuring Erickson, drummer John Ike Walton, bassist Ronnie Leatherman, and guitarist Greg Forest substituting for Sutherland; Tommy Hall did not participate.
On May 10, 2015, Erickson, Hall, Leatherman, and Walton reunited for a special 50th Anniversary performance at Austin Psych Fest (Levitation 2015), with Fred Mitchim and Eli Southard handling guitar duties originally performed by Stacy Sutherland.
Musical style
The group’s sound has been characterized as an unconventional blend of spiritualism paired with raw R&B. In their early years, Roky Erickson and Stacy Sutherland played Gibson ES-330 electric guitars. Sutherland’s pioneering application of reverb and echo effects, combined with a blues-infused, acid rock guitar tone, anticipated the styles later adopted by bands such as ZZ Top, Butthole Surfers, and the Black Angels. Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top has noted that their guitars were processed through Fender Blackface Twin Reverb amplifiers, Fender Reverb Units, and the Gibson Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone pedal.
A unique aspect of their sound was Tommy Hall’s electric jug—a traditional crock-jug equipped with a microphone that captured vocalized sounds entering the jug’s mouth, producing effects of echo and distortion rather than conventional jug tones. During the recording sessions for the Easter Everywhere album, a microphone was positioned inside the jug to amplify this distinctive effect.
Guided by Hall’s influence, the band frequently incorporated the use of LSD during performances and recordings, merging psychedelic experiences into both their artistic output and lifestyle. Their creative work drew on intellectual inspirations such as the teachings of Gurdjieff, Alfred Korzybski’s General Semantics, Timothy Leary’s psychedelic philosophies, and Tantric meditation practices.
The 13th Floor Elevators are widely acknowledged as forerunners in the development of psychedelic rock. Mark Deming from AllMusic observed that they likely preceded most of the San Francisco bands who later brought the genre to worldwide prominence. Bill Pearis at BrooklynVegan recognized them as true pioneers in psychedelic music rather than mere imitators or trend followers.
Band members
The founding lineup of the 13th Floor Elevators featured vocalist and guitarist Roky Erickson, electric jug player Tommy Hall, and guitarist Stacy Sutherland. The rhythm section experienced several changes: drummer John Ike Walton and bassist Ronnie Leatherman were replaced in July 1967 by Danny Thomas (drums, piano) and Dan Galindo (bass), establishing what is considered the classic Elevators formation. Hall served as the principal lyricist and conceptual visionary, while Sutherland and Erickson also contributed lyrics and composed music, later collaborating with Thomas on intricate arrangements. Hall’s electric jug remained a hallmark of their sound throughout. For their final studio album Bull of the Woods, Ronnie Leatherman rejoined alongside Thomas and Sutherland.
- Roky Erickson – lead vocals, guitar, songwriter (1965–1968, 1984, 2015) (deceased 2019)
- Tommy Hall – electric jug, vocals, songwriter (1965–1968, 2015)
- Stacy Sutherland – lead guitar, vocals, songwriter (1965–1969) (deceased 1978)
- John Ike Walton – drums (1965–1967, 1984, 2015)
- Benny Thurman – bass, vocals (1965–1966)
- Ronnie Leatherman – bass, vocals (1965–1966, 1967, 1968, 1984, 2015)
- Danny Galindo – bass (1966–1968) (deceased 2001)
- Danny Thomas – drums, vocals, arrangements (1967–1969)
- Duke Davis – bass (1968)
- Fred Mitchim – guitar, vocals (2015)
- Eli Southard – guitar (2015)
Additional contributors:
- Powell St. John – songwriter ("Slide Machine," "You Don't Know," "Monkey Island," "Take That Girl," "Kingdom of Heaven," "Right Track Now")
- Clementine Hall – wife of Tommy Hall; collaborated on vocals and songwriting with Erickson ("Splash 1," "I Had to Tell You")
Timeline
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Roky Erickson
Following his plea of insanity on drug-related charges in 1969, Roky Erickson was institutionalized in a psychiatric facility for three and a half years, during which treatment methods likely exacerbated his condition. After the breakup of the 13th Floor Elevators, Erickson embarked on an intermittent solo career that was hampered by exploitative management and restrictive contracts, limiting both his artistic freedom and financial gains. He experienced a resurgence in the 1990s, particularly after the tribute compilation Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye was issued, showcasing musicians influenced by him and the Elevators. Erickson's album All That May Do My Rhyme was released through Trance Syndicate, a label owned by King Coffey of Butthole Surfers, who remarked it represented Erickson's first receipt of royalties. By the year 2001, with his brother Sumner overseeing his affairs, Erickson's health improved significantly; he obtained better medical care and renegotiated contracts to secure rightful royalty payments. The compilation I Have Always Been Here Before, released in 2005, gathers his post-Elevators recordings with proper royalty compensation. In 2010, he collaborated with indie group Okkervil River to produce True Love Cast Out All Evil. Erickson passed away in Austin on May 31, 2019.
Stacy Sutherland
Stacy Sutherland established the Houston-based group Ice, which remained limited to local gigs without issuing any official recordings. After confronting heroin addiction challenges, he was incarcerated on drug-related charges in 1969. Following his release, Sutherland struggled with alcoholism but sporadically engaged in musical endeavors, occasionally collaborating with former members of the Elevators. Tragically, he was shot and killed by his wife during a domestic altercation on August 24, 1978. He is interred in Center Point, Kerr County, Texas.
Danny Galindo
During the 1970s, Danny Galindo played bass in Jimmie Vaughan's band Storm, based in Austin, Texas. He passed away in 2001 due to complications arising from Hepatitis C.
Danny Thomas
After departing from the 13th Floor Elevators in 1968, Danny Thomas performed alongside blues legend Lightnin' Hopkins. Between 1970 and 1997, he contributed to bands such as the Lou Curry Band, Dogmeat, Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith, and Bessie's Dream. Beyond music, Thomas operated a delivery business named Gophers, Inc., and previously held an accounting position at Carolinas Medical Center. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife Juanette and their three children, one of whom is author Jason V. Brock.
Benny Thurman
Benny Thurman was active with multiple bands, most notably Mother Earth alongside Powell St. John and Plum Nelly during the 1970s. He died on June 22, 2008, at the age of 65.
Tommy Hall
Tommy Hall lives in downtown San Francisco. In the 1980s, rumors circulated that he was Texas outsider musician Jandek; however, these claims have been disproven. Hall became a committed Scientologist in the 1970s but has since distanced himself from the music industry, stating he no longer identifies as a musician.
Ronnie Leatherman
Bassist Ronnie Leatherman resides in Kerrville, Texas and occasionally performs with local acts as well as fellow Elevator John Ike Walton.
John Ike Walton
Drummer John Ike Walton also made Kerrville, Texas his home.
Legacy
The influence of the 13th Floor Elevators extends across multiple generations of musicians. The pioneering punk band Television performed their track "Fire Engine" live during the mid-1970s. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, artists such as Primal Scream, the Shamen, Lime Spiders, the Jesus and Mary Chain, and Spacemen 3 recorded covers of their songs. Notably, 14 Iced Bears incorporated an electric jug on their single "Beautiful Child," while The Black Angels referenced the Elevators in their song "Sunday Afternoon."
In 1990, a tribute album titled Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye: A Tribute to Roky Erickson featured contributions from 21 contemporary artists including R.E.M., ZZ Top, Richard Lloyd, and Primal Scream—one of the earliest tribute compilations dedicated to Erickson’s work. In 2005, SXSW hosted a panel focusing on the music of both the Elevators and songwriter Powell St. John.
The Australian band Radio Birdman covered "You're Gonna Miss Me" on their 1978 album Radios Appear. Echo & the Bunnymen recorded a version of "Reverberation" in 1990. Space-rock group Spacemen 3 covered "Roller Coaster" twice; its vocalist Pete Kember later revisited "Thru the Rhythm" with his project Spectrum.
Primal Scream included a cover of "Slip Inside This House" on their album Screamadelica, while Norwegian band Madrugada, New York noise rock band Oneida, and electronic group The Shamen also recorded versions of this song. Deniz Tek from Radio Birdman paid tribute to Roky Erickson with "Lunatics at the Edge of the World" on his 1996 release Le Bonne Route.
The track "You're Gonna Miss Me" gained renewed attention through its inclusion in the 2000 film High Fidelity and appeared in a Dell Computers commercial for their XPS laptop in 2006. In that same year Jesse Lacey of Brand New credited Roky Erickson as an inspiration for their song Degausser. Additionally, Paul Drummond published Eye Mind: The Saga of Roky Erickson and The 13th Floor Elevators.
In 2009, HBO’s series True Blood featured "You're Gonna Miss Me" during a key scene involving Lafayette Reynolds and Tara Thornton.
The band’s legacy extends into the stoner rock genre influencing groups like Queens of the Stone Age, Nebula, and Names and Faces.
Actor Johnny Depp expressed admiration for the Elevators during a 2004 Esquire interview, highlighting Roky Erickson’s groundbreaking role in psychedelic rock and noting his impact on Robert Plant.
Texas-based Parquet Courts covered “Slide Machine” on their 2014 album Content Nausea. Ray Wylie Hubbard referenced the band in his song "Screw You, We're from Texas," released in 2003. On January 19, 2014, "The Kingdom of Heaven (Is Within You)" was featured in episode two of True Detective.
In 2020 Paul Drummond issued an extensive visual chronicle of the group through Anthology Editions that includes rare photographs, artwork, interviews, press clippings, and archival materials.
Numerous tribute bands honor their music today: these include the John Ike Walton Revival featuring Walton himself; Tommy Hall Schedule; Acid Tomb with members from The Alice Rose; and Sumner Erickson’s Texcentrics performing many Elevators songs.
Studio albums
| Title | Album information |
|---|---|
| The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators |
|
| Easter Everywhere |
|
| Bull of the Woods |
|
Selected compilation albums
| Title | Album information |
|---|---|
| Live[nb 1] |
|
| The Best of the 13th Floor Elevators |
|
| Absolutely the Best of the 13th Floor Elevators |
|
- Live: I've Seen Your Face Before (1988)
- 13 of the Best (2022)
Box sets
| Title | Album information |
|---|---|
| The Collection |
|
| 4 CD Box Set |
|
| The Psychedelic World of the 13th Floor Elevators |
|
| The Complete Elevators IA Singles Collection |
|
| Sign of the 3 Eyed Men |
|
| The Albums Collection |
|
| Music of the Spheres |
|
Singles
| Title | Year released | Highest chart positions | Album name | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 | Bubbling Under Hot 100 | Cashbox | |||
| "You're Gonna Miss Me" "Tried to Hide" |
1966 | 55 | — | 50 | The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators |
| "Reverberation (Doubt)" "Fire Engine" |
— | 129 | — | ||
| "I've Got Levitation" "Before You Accuse Me" |
1967 | — | — | — | Easter Everywhere |
| non-album single | |||||
| "She Lives (In a Time of Her Own)" "Baby Blue" |
— | — | — | Easter Everywhere | |
| "Slip Inside This House" "Splash 1" |
1968 | — | — | — | Easter Everywhere |
| The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators | |||||
| "May the Circle Remain Unbroken" "I'm Gonna Love You Too" |
— | — | — | Bull of the Woods | |
| non-album single | |||||
| "Livin' On" "Scarlet and Gold" |
1969 | — | — | — | Bull of the Woods |
See also
Bibliography
- Drummond, Paul, with a foreword by Julian Cope. Eye Mind: The Story of Roky Erickson and The 13th Floor Elevators (Process Media, 2007),
- Drummond, Paul. 13th Floor Elevators: A Visual History. (Anthology Editions, 2020), p. 328. ISBN 978-1-944860-11-0
External links
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