Roky Erickson

The Profile

American singer-songwriter from Austin, Texas; co-founder and voice of the 13th Floor Elevators and a pioneer of psychedelic rock. After struggles with mental health and institutionalization, he returned to recording and performing, including the 2010 album True Love Cast Out All Evil with Okkervil River. He died in 2019.

Lead singer of the 13th Floor Elevators; underwent institutionalization and electroconvulsive therapy; key albums include The Evil One and Don’t Slander Me; True Love Cast Out All Evil (2010) was produced by Will Sheff with Okkervil River as the backing band.

The reviews celebrate Roky Erickson’s psychedelic fire, his raw voice, and songs that swing from rock’n’roll to folk-blues. They revisit institutional struggles, electroshock, and his Martian mythos. A big focus is the 2010 comeback with Okkervil River and the intensity of Don’t Slander Me and All (That) May Do My Rhyme. Overall tone: fervent praise for a singular cult icon.