British Invasion Page

The now-defunct BritInvasion Discussion List was started so that fans of the British Invasion groups of the 1960s, from The Beatles to The Who to even Herman's Hermits, would have a place to share opinions and ideas about this period of music. I would recommend to those interested in discussing the British Invasion (or any other type of music) to join the Steve Hoffman Music Forums. I can be found there under the name "glittering-girl". See you there!

New! Our tribute to the classic 1965 film Pop Gear, with screen captures and film info.

Check out the list of British Invasion Links.

British Invasion Cast of Characters:

The Beatles

Dance-hall band from Liverpool that became "bigger than Elvis", as their tragically doomed manager, Brian Epstein, predicted. Basically made the British Invasion possible and made America safe for similarly accented groups.

 

 

 

The Who

Pseudo-mods from Shepherd's Bush, London, who smashed guitars, mangled drum kits, endangered their own hearing, and perfected the rock opera. Broke up in 1982; numerous reunions since.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(The) Pink Floyd

Cantabrigian pop-psych combo, known for such gems as "See Emily Play" and The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. After departure of main songwriter Syd Barrett due to LSD-related mental problems, band morphed into dull prog-rock money-making machine.

 

 

 

The Rolling Stones

London-area hard rock/R&B group. Still looking for "Satisfaction" long after the end of the British Invasion era.

Herman's Hermits

Cute? Annoying? Whatever the case, they must have been into "Something Good" with several mid-1960s hits.

 

Freddie and the Dreamers

Gimmicky Mancunian combo led by the one and only Fred Garrity. Hits included "I'm Telling You Now", "Do the Freddie", and even "Susan's Tuba"(!).

Dave Clark Five

At one point seen as the biggest "threat" to The Beatles, the DC5 were led by (of course) drummer Dave Clark, who turned out to be a better businessman than musician. Their many hits included "Glad All Over', "Bits and Pieces", and "Catch Us If You Can."

The Animals

Newcastle-upon-Tyne R&B group led by soul shouter wanna-be Eric Burdon. Hits included the classic "House of the Rising Sun", "We Gotta Get Out of This Place", and "It's My Life."

The Kinks

Hailing from Muswell Hill, London and led by the battling Davies brothers, the Kinks' music ranged from proto-punk to pop-oriented satire to "progressive" conceptual material. Their memorable tracks include "You Really Got Me", All Day and All of the Night", "Waterloo Sunset", and "Lola".

The Yardbirds

R&B/psych-pop group produced guitar legends Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. Notable recordings: "For Your Love", "Heart Full of Soul", "I'm a Man", "Over Under Sideways Down", and Five Live Yardbirds (one of the great live albums of all time).

The Zombies

Relatively brainy Hertfordshire group recorded several moody jazz-tinged pop gems, including "She's Not There", "I Want You Back Again", "I Love You", "Just Out of Reach", and "Time of the Season".

The Pretty Things

Perhaps the "poor man's Rolling Stones", but also produced the pioneering rock opera S.F. Sorrow.

Dusty Springfield

The former member of the folk trio The Springfields was probably the outstanding female vocalist of the British Invasion; her many hits included "The Look of Love" and "Son of a Preacher Man".

Petula Clark

Thirty-something pop chanteuse achieved surprising fame as a "rock-n-roll" artist during the British Invasion. Hits included "Downtown", "My Love", and "Don't Sleep in the Subway".

The Searchers

Only non-Brian Epstein-managed Liverpool act of any consequence, their pioneering "jangly guitar" enlivened such classics as "Needles and Pins", "Love Potion Number Nine", and "Sugar and Spice".

Lulu

Scottish lass who, with and without her backing band The Luvvers, hit with "Shout" and "To Sir, with Love".

Manfred Mann

A group and a person (South African Michael Lubowitz), these jazzy sophisticates, with the help of lead singers Paul Jones and (later) Mike D'Abo, produced such classics as "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", "5-4-3-2-1", "Quinn the Eskimo", and "My Name Is Jack".

The Hollies

Underrated Manchester group, famous for their exquisite harmonies. Their many '60s hits included "Look Through Any Window", "Bus Stop", "Pay You Back with Interest", and "Carrie-Anne". Despite Graham Nash's departure to join CSN(Y), the Hollies' hitmaking continued into the '70s.

©1999-2003 Emily Jackson

(Are you free? If you're unanimous in that, perhaps you'd like to visit my other site, the "Are You Being Served?" Virtual Video Vault. You might even like to check out the AYBS?-Beatles connection page there.)