The British Invasion: 1963-1969

In 1963, rock ‘n’ roll was, well… rolling nonstop. But very soon, almost overnight, a wave of change was about to take place. From across the Atlantic, in merry England, rock ‘n’ roll had taken hold and the epidemic had infected British youth across the UK. The sound was very similar in many ways, but there was something different, something more adult about it. Whatever it was, American kids (especially girls) jumped on it. At first just a single sound, this music, along with the bands that created it, would grow, evolve, alter and forever affect pop music. This musical movement would create new music genres and influence thousands.

Four guys from Liverpool, England, “The Beatles”, led the way and would be at the forefront of it all. Not just other British bands but the entire music arena during the ’60s and ’70s. Songs like “Please Please,” “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” and “Hard Days Night” had teenage girls swooning, crying and they fainted. Not since Elvis Presley, with his great looks, unmistakable voice and gyrating hips, has there been a show like this. The older people were duly upset but couldn’t do anything. The Beatles, along with bands with names like “The Zombies”, “The Animals”, “The Kingsman”, “The Hollies”, “The Kinks” and the “Rolling Stones”, had conquered the United States. Then there were the songs, tunes like the melodic Hollies, ‘Bus Stop’ and The Kinks’ fast-paced rocker ‘You Really Got Me’, which gave fans more variety in their choice of style, which led to the growing appeal . In 1965, Rolling Stones lead guitarist Keith Richards struck 15 unforgettable guitar strings at the beginning of ‘Can’t Get No, (Satisfaction), and a No. 1 classic was born. The song was also an example of how the lyrics were becoming more sexually explicit.

The Rolling Stones were a prime example of bands beginning to follow this pattern. Although not only the British. The American band, the “Doors”, with lead singer Jim Morrison at the helm, were considered very racy. And Morrison’s antics on stage were becoming something of a legend, getting him arrested at a few shows.

In addition to a morale curve, America was rapidly changing, ‘growing up’ so to speak. Of course, growing pains came with this in the form of the sudden death of a young and popular president, an often violent civil rights movement, an unpopular war, and growing mistrust of government. Bands like the Beatles and the Hollies, who had started out young and somewhat giggly, were now grown up and singing about the hits of the day. The Who’s hit ‘My Generation’ spoke of the widening gap between young hip generation and the old fogies, who refused to give up their old ways. The Beatles’ ‘Revolution’ was a blatant anti-government and anti-war anthem. The British invaders were beginning to branch out in different directions. The Beatles on a more self-aware theme, love yourself and others, while the Rolling Stones made their way to a harder sound. Right at the end of the ’60s, a late arrival to the invasion would appear with a hard rock and psychedelic sound that would please present and future lovers of this forceful sound. The group was Led Zeppelin. With outstanding and charismatic lead singer Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page at the helm, Led would seduce and delight with sexy, quirky lyrics and yes… that unmistakable sound that caught your eye and wouldn’t let go.

So, alas, the music that came to us from across the pond and the artist who brought it, delighted us, made the girls scream, changed the music and influenced the present, the future, the musicians and the artist. Oh, and yeah, maybe he corrupted us a bit along the way. He came, he conquered and he never left. He probably never will.