British Bands
One of the best British Bands to follow the Beatles. The Kinks, Pete Quaife, Ray Davies, Dave Davies, and Mick Avory, an early British invasion successThe British Bands that Followed the Beatles to World Domination!
All of a sudden, British rock bands were in demand!
Its hard to imagine now the huge effect the Beatles had on music, and our lives. So many young people were influenced, not only by their music, but by their lifestyle.
Many were so influenced, that music became their lives.
As the Beatles continued their world domination, record companies, promoters and the buying public could not get enough of Britain's new music.
And, in England, music became a real option for young musicians to see a career ahead of them.
Over a short time, the jazz clubs that had became skiffle clubs now became beat clubs.
British Groups beat was now the in thing. Most skiffle groups switched to buying cheap guitars and getting drummers. We couldn’t get
enough of them.
Some of these bands came and went, some stayed a while, others stood
the test of time and made a real contribution the world of music.
The floodgates were open, music and the times had changed......forever!
So, who were the most popular British bands?
Of course, following the original British Invasion bands was not always an easy task. Some never quite made it out of the U.K. The Honeycombs came and went. They went on a long Asian tour, ensuring everyone back home had forgotten them by the time they returned. The Mojo's, The Merseybeat's the Fourmost, all really good bands did not break out of England.
But a lot did tours of the U.S. and came back the better for it!
So along came Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck Group, Badfinger, Sutherland Brothers, Kinks, Small Faces, and others. This is not a definitive study of the era. Just what music influenced me, from my experience as record rep, record shop owner, and music lover.
Badfinger in happier times. Peter Ham, Mike Gibbons, Tom Evans and Joey MollandSo, first, we will have a look at one of my real favorite British bands, Welsh actually, Badfinger. Not many British bands have had as promising a career end so tragically. Signed by Apple, helped along by Paul and George, they were badly ripped off by management and spiraled out of control. A great bad, and a tragic story.
The Troggs, Ronnie, Chris, Pete and (front) Reg.Then all of a sudden, The Troggs, from absolutely out of nowhere, with Wild Thing! Wild thing was a simple, riff with great vocals, that one could not get out of your head. And, more great hits were to follow.
Probably their biggest hit was better known sung by someone else. "Love Is All Around" , a Reg Presley song, was recorded by the Troggs in October 1968, and was a top 10 hit in the US and UK.
Then, in 1994, Wet Wet Wet recorded "Love is All Around" for the soundtrack of the film "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and it was an international hit staying at the top of the UK charts for 15 weeks!.
The Who in full flight. John Entwistle, left, Roger Daltry, vocalist, Keith Moon behind the kit, and Pete Townshend, taking flight, on the right.And THE mod band of the sixties, The Who arrived with the stunning "My Generation". They developed into one of the most consistant and prolific bands of the era, with Pete Townshend's unique writing skills. And, he gave us the first rock opera, on "A Quick One" and the "Tommy" album.
Plus, one of the most exciting and unique drummers of all time, Keith Moon. A great drummer, and tragic story, Keith was the power behind the band.
Another Status Quo classic stance: Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster and Francis Rossi giving 110%.And...the exciting Status Quo, who went from glam to boogie and just kept on rockin'. Quo were one of the best live acts I have seen. They came to Adelaide three times, and were superb every time.
It is somthing to witness in a Quo concert when Francis Rossi would yell "When I count to Three, I want you all to BOUNCE!) They then played a rip roaring bouncy ear shattering number as the audience jumped up and down, as the Quo men also bounced, jumping 4 feet in the air around the stage!
One of the first psychedelic bands to emerge in the late 60's, Pink Floyd was also one of the first to introduce light shows, and projected slides ant their shows. Named originally "Pink Floyd Sound" by Syd Barrett, the band went on to score 2 No. 1 albums in the US, and several top 10 albums in the UK and US in the 70's.
Dire Straits
One of the most successful bands to come out of the UK, the band was formed in South London when John Illsley met David Knopfler. David introduce John to his brother Mark, and they started jamming together.
Mark knew of drummer Pick Withers, and the band was formed.
Named Dire straits after their precarious financial state, they got a break when Charlie Gillett's radio show Honkey Tonk featured the band.
The first album "Dire Straits" was the first in a line of great successful albums in both the US and UK
Enjoy this site? Share with friends!
