British Invasion Rock
tagStarted 1963Peak 1964-1967Last big hit 1969From United Kingdom
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The 60s British beat boom that conquered America: tight two-and-three-minute pop-rock built on Merseybeat harmonies, R&B-derived riffs, ringing electric guitars and sharp-suited charm. Ranges from the Beatles' melodic invention to the Stones' blues snarl and the Who's mod aggression, all jangle, backbeat and instantly memorable hooks.
History
Sparked by the Beatles' February 1964 arrival in the US and Ed Sullivan appearance, the Invasion saw British groups dominate American charts. Built on Liverpool's Merseybeat and London's R&B clubs, it ran 1964-67 before psychedelia and the album era transformed it. It became the foundational template for nearly all British guitar rock that followed.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Invasion
- https://www.allmusic.com/style/british-invasion-ma0000002632
- https://www.britannica.com/art/British-Invasion