The Third Bardo was an American psychedelic and garage rock band from New York City, New York. Their name is a reference to the book The Tibetan Book of the Dead.^[1]

The group existed for a brief time in the late 1960s. In 1967 they released their only single, "I'm Five Years Ahead of My Time",^[2] a song co-written by Rusty Evans (a.k.a. Marcus Uzilevsky), a former folk singer and leader of the psychedelic proto-punk band The Deep, and Vicky Pike, the wife of the record's arranger and producer Teddy Randazzo.^[1] "Five Years Ahead of My Time" received some radio exposure until it was pulled for its perceived drug references, and only years later was recognized as a 1960s garage rock classic due to its inclusion in compilations such as the Pebbles garage/psych compilations.

Though short-lived, the band still performed in local Manhattan venues during their existence, including Arthur's Tavern and Ondine. They also appeared on the Cleveland-based television show Upbeat.^[3]

The Third Bardo only had one recording session, which yielded six tracks in all including "Rainbow Life" which was released as the B-side to "I'm Five Years Ahead of My Time". Their technique of Eastern melody and distorted guitar made the single distinctive to the rock scene.^[3]

The band broke up in 1967, soon after recording, and Jeff Monn began a solo career as Chris Moon. He released an album named The Chris Moon Group in 1970.^[4]

• "I'm Five Years Ahead of My Time" b/w "Rainbow Life" (Roulette 4742) 1967

• Lose Your Mind (Sundazed SEP 106) 1993
• The Third Bardo (Sundazed SEP 10-160) 2000

1. "I'm Five Years Ahead of My Time"
2. "Rainbow Life"
3. "Lose Your Mind"
4. "I Can Understand Your Problem"
5. "Dawn of Tomorrow"

• Unterberger, Richie: The Third Bardo at AllMusic