The early 1960s music scene was filled and influenced by artists from the previous decade who had found mainstream success during that time, such as Elvis Presley, Dion, Ray Charles and The Everly Brothers.
In 1963 and the years to follow, a number of influences changed the popular music and gave birth to the diversity that we experience with music today.
In 1963 and the years to follow, a number of influences changed the popular music and gave birth to the diversity that we experience with music today.
The british invasion
The 'British Invasion' began in 1963. The British Invasion is the name given to the time in the early 1960s when British rock bands and pop artists found mainstream success in America and the rest of the world. One of the first bands that broke into the United States and started the 'British Invasion' were The Beatles who first found their way into the American music scene in 1963 and found great popularity and fame in 1964. The phenominom that surrounded them was called 'Beatlemania'.
Another British band to conquer the States during the British Invasion were The Rolling Stones. During this time 'the stones' were promoted as bad boys, a gimmick that stuck as a huge part of their overall image. Their music started off as a gruffer, faster pased version of Chicago blues but eventually they pioneered Britain's rock tone and started singing about taboo topics such as sex, drugs and rock and roll. The Stones began calling themseleves 'The worlds greatest rock and roll band' a title that not many argued with, more than 50 years later their music and iconic logo image is still greatly popular world wide. The Rolling Stones have had a huge impact on the rock and roll genre and have done more to define the look, sound and attitude of rock and roll than any other band in the genre's history.
Another great rock band from the 1960s were The Who. Early on in their success the band were quickly part of the 'Mod' movement of the 1960s decade, playing R&B music in stylized tailored suits, before morphing into an unruly proto-punk band, famous for smashing guitars and other instruments at the end of their performances. Eventually the band graduated into high-minded and inventive rock, rising into the height of their fame alongside fellow Brit superbands of the decade such as The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. The band had the privilage to perform at the legendary Woodstock festival in 1969.
All through their everchanging music career, The Who continued to be a huge icon within the Mod scene of the 1960s, with many members of the culture seen wearing the bands logo on their coats, helmets and even on their scooters. Even now The Who's target symbol logo is seen as a huge iconic image in the mod scene and is still worn by modern day 'Mod's'.
The Animals were another British rock band during the 1960s, formed in Newcastle Upon Tyne in the early part of the decade. The band then moved to London in 1964 after finding their fame. The band were renouned for their gritsy, bluesy sound with their deep-voiced front man Eric Burdon. The band are best known for their massive no.1 single 'The House of the Rising Sun' as well as their other well known hits such as 'We Gotta Get Out Of This Place' and 'Dont let me be Misunderstood'. The Animals were also known in the US as part of the British Invasion.