The Piper at the Gates of Dawn was British rock band Pink Floyd’s first and only LP spearheaded by the creativity and peculiarity of frontman Syd Barett. Consisting of eleven tracks, the material on this album ranged from psychedelic pop to long-winded acid rock instrumentals.
The record was produced between February and May of 1967 by Norman Smith. It was released in the summer of 1967, also known as the “Summer of Love,” which saw a rise in experimental drug use and psychedelic artists rising up the charts.
This album served as a prime example of an era that was defined by the counterculture, but it also marked the downfall of Syd Barrett. During Pink Floyd’s promotional tour, he experienced severe mental breakdowns and bouts of schizophrenia which ultimately led to his removal from the band.