Dr. Spec's Optical Illusion
| Dr. Spec's Optical Illuison | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1965-1968 |
| Labels | Flambeau |
| Associated acts | The Gaunga Dyns, The Palace Guards |
| Past members |
|
Dr. Spec's Optical Illusion was an American garage rock band formed in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1965. The group is best known for their single release, containing the songs "Tryin' to Mess My Mind" and "She's the One," which have become cult classics in the garage rock musical genre, and are included on several compilations.
Dr. Spec's Optical Illusion was from the Gentilly Woods subdivision of Gentilly, a section in eastern New Orleans, near Lake Ponchatrain adjacent to the Industrial Canal. The group originally formed in 1965 as the Illusions, supposedly when brothers Kris Sherman (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Scott Sherman (drums) had a jam session with Marshall Clyburn (lead guitar) on Halloween night.
They would shortly thereafter recruit Brice "Pinky" Hatchett (bass guitar) and Rick Stelma (keyboards). The band became a popular live act, performing in the local circuit and winning as contestants in battle of the bands. Sometimes after contests, the group had to contend with retrograde hoodlums who bullied them about the length of their hair and mod clothes, in a local rivalry between "greasers" (sometimes referred by Crescent City locals then as "pits") and the more stylish "frats." In early performances, the Illusions' set list was typically dominated by cover versions of other artists' material ranging from British Invasion songs to R&B standards by artists such as James Brown and Curley Moore. In addition, the band was notorious for their ear-shattering performances, with the local speech and hearing director measuring their cacophony at 140 decibels.
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