Psychotic Reaction

"Psychotic Reaction" is an early garage rock song released by the American rock band Count Five in 1965, and also the title of their only album. Guitarist John "Sean" Byrne was sitting in a Health Education class in his freshman year at San Jose City College in California, learning about psychosis. His friend Ron Lamb leaned over and whispered: "You know what would be a great name for a song? Psychotic Reaction."(YouTube) Byrne had been writing a tune in his head that day, and used the title to finish it, with the entire band given writing credit. The song hit number five on the Billboard charts.

The song contains a repetitious rhythm that eventually changes to a faster beat, an electric guitar playing a hypnotic melody going up the scales.

This song was popular in the Vietnam War era, and appears in the game Battlefield Vietnam.

Read more about Psychotic Reaction:  Cover Versions

Famous quotes containing the words psychotic and/or reaction:

    This is not a psychotic episode. This is a cleansing moment of clarity.
    Paddy Chayefsky (1923–1981)

    More and more, when faced with the world of men, the only reaction is one of individualism. Man alone is an end unto himself. Everything one tries to do for the common good ends in failure.
    Albert Camus (1913–1960)