Rediscovering 13th Floor Elevators guitarist Stacy Sutherland.
The resurgence of the â60s psychedelic rock scene has been in full swing in Texas since the turn of the millennium. The phoenix perhaps rising for good with Roky Ericksonâs return to public life in 2005 after his long battle with mental illness.
Ericksonâs 13th Floor Elevators are widely considered the major influence on the scene then and now. Yet Erickson remains the only household name. The Elevatorsâ lead guitarist, Stacy Sutherland, was among the first devotees to a heavy, echoed fuzz sound by way of the Echoplex. This sound, more than the LSD-inspired lyrics of the â60s, is the glue that binds the psych rock scene of today with the past. Sutherland sadly passed before his time, accidentally shot by his wife in 1978. But austin.comâs Fred Mitchim recently caught up with Elevatorâs bassist (â66-â67) Ronnie Leatherman to recount stories of Sutherland, his music, and the spirit behind the generous guitarist who âalways seemed one step from finding whatever he was looking for.â
Check out this interesting audio interview by Fred Mitchim of the 13th Floor Elevators Bass Player Ronnie Leatherman about Stacy Sutherland!
