1 of 1- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline 
When Rock Groups Did Psychedelic TV & Radio Spots
The late 1960s was definitely a different time. It was an era where Turn On, Tune In & Drop Out was standard advice for many. But even though the hippie generation often decried the pursuit of money, some of them didn't seem to mind making a little of it by doing the odd radio or TV commercial.
It may be impossible to imagine a group like The Jefferson Airplane doing a song of praise to Levi's Jeans, but they did it in a radio spot during the height of their fame.
Then there's the Rolling Stones. What product did they endorse as the purveyors of everything cool? Cigarettes? Fancy cars? Nope. As they might have said in Get Smart during that era, "Would you believe Kellogg's Rice Krispies?" It's sad but true.
And they weren't the only ones.
"Nothing represented this mass sell-out quite as adeptly as the various bizarre advertisements and radio jingles that emerged towards the end of the decade, seeing the likes of Jefferson Airplane, The Mothers of Invention, Cream, and even The Rolling Stones using their radical output to advertise everything from breakfast cereal to denim jeans."
Psychedelic marketing: The weird world of counterculture and radio ads
- Paul Jeffries
- Member
Offline
Re: When Rock Groups Did Psychedelic TV & Radio Spots
In 1988, Robert Plant used "Tall Cool One" to describe a bottle of Coke that gets tossed across the stage to him. Good thing he's a good catch!
PJ
ClassicHitsOnline.com...Classic hits done right!
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: When Rock Groups Did Psychedelic TV & Radio Spots
It seems to be Coca-Cola used a lot of contemporary music stars in its ads (mostly, if memory serves, for radio.) But I don't remember that one at all. Thanks for posting.
- •
Thread Starter- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: When Rock Groups Did Psychedelic TV & Radio Spots
Here's one from The Who, of all people. Looks like The Who Sell Out was more than just an album title!
And even the Moody Blues got into the act.
- •
Thread Starter- Paul Jeffries
- Member
Offline
Re: When Rock Groups Did Psychedelic TV & Radio Spots
RadioActive wrote:
It seems to be Coca-Cola used a lot of contemporary music stars in its ads (mostly, if memory serves, for radio.) But I don't remember that one at all. Thanks for posting.
I know technically it's not from the Psychedelic era, but the tune borrows samples from Robert Plant's Led Zeppelin days, most notably "Whole Lotta Love", "Black Dog", "Custard Pie" and "The Ocean", so I guess it kind of counts. 
PJ
ClassicHitsOnline.com...Classic hits done right!
- Paul Jeffries
- Member
Offline
Re: When Rock Groups Did Psychedelic TV & Radio Spots
Here's one from The Who, of all people. Looks like The Who Sell Out was more than just an album title!
As was "We're Only In It For the Money" by The Mothers of Invention, apparently!
PJ
ClassicHitsOnline.com...Classic hits done right!
- Fitz
- Member
Offline
Re: When Rock Groups Did Psychedelic TV & Radio Spots
The Who did apparently sell out to the USAF and Great Shakes.The Yardbirds also did Great Shakes:
Cool Airchecks and More:
- Fitz
- Member
Offline
Re: When Rock Groups Did Psychedelic TV & Radio Spots
This one was actually on a garage rock comp I have that came about 12 years after the commercial ran on the radio:
Cool Airchecks and More:
- Shorty Wave
- Member
Offline
Re: When Rock Groups Did Psychedelic TV & Radio Spots
This one was actually on a garage rock comp I have that came about 12 years after the commercial ran on the radio:
It’s the now sound! Works with any amplifier! Loved this ad, thanks for sharing Fitz!
- Shorty Wave
- Member
Offline
Re: When Rock Groups Did Psychedelic TV & Radio Spots
In 1988, Robert Plant used "Tall Cool One" to describe a bottle of Coke that gets tossed across the stage to him. Good thing he's a good catch!
PJ
I remember this ad as MuchMusic aired the crap out if it! Pretty sure there was a :30 version as well.
- Shorty Wave
- Member
Offline
Re: When Rock Groups Did Psychedelic TV & Radio Spots
These are the types of threads I really enjoy! Thanks to all who have contributed, some classic here, you made my morning!
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: When Rock Groups Did Psychedelic TV & Radio Spots
Turns out there are a lot of bizarre commercial appearances from famous rock stars - including people you might never expect, including Alice Cooper, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Paul Stanley of KISS (in a commercial I'm told never actually aired) and - God help us - Ozzy Osbourne, in a spot you have to see to believe.
- •
Thread Starter- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: When Rock Groups Did Psychedelic TV & Radio Spots
If you can stand a few more, imagine David Bowie and Tina Turner together in the same spot. (You don't have to imagine it - it's in the video below.) Then there's Eric Clapton, who drank in the bucks for Michelob. And Kiss' Gene Simmons, who did the deed for Dr. Pepper.
And finally don't miss Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl singing the praises of Canada in a remarkable Crown Royal spot.
- •
Thread Starter- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: When Rock Groups Did Psychedelic TV & Radio Spots
And then there's Ringo Starr & The Monkees - together again for the first (and only?) time!
- •
Thread Starter- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: When Rock Groups Did Psychedelic TV & Radio Spots
This article appears to show that classic rock and Super Bowl ads still appear to go hand-in-hand. If artists appeared in weird spots in the past, it seems that trend has shifted somewhat to a more modern form of music that affirms its ongoing popularity - and its nostalgic value.
"...Forty percent of the spots in the Super Bowl prominently featured music. Of those, half featured a Classic Rock or Classic/Adult Hits title. That’s a great ratio, once again proving the general appeal of the music."
(Note: some of these as did not air in Canada, but you can see all of them embedded in the story. I certainly loved the horse and the eaglet Budweiser commercial, as did most viewers.)
Super Bowl Ads Prove Classic Rock Still Sells
- •
Thread Starter