One of the cultural aspects that the city of London is known for and in fact has become legendary is its contribution to the development and popularity of rock and roll, which has affectionately been titled the British Invasion. The 1960s saw a tremendous amount of musical and cultural transition occur in this country and London has frequently led the way with major social trends in the United States, for instance the Puritans were popular there and then imported to the States. Okay, that was a bit of humor but it was also true. Meanwhile the contributions England has made to the American music scene cannot be overstated, or appreciated.
The Beatles are the most famous example of bands that arrived in the States as part of the British Invasion . In fact, they are commonly considered to be the essence of it. Their historic arrival in the US and subsequent appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show are an unforgettable and amazing part of this country’s history and the transition it initiated can never be returned from. I Want to Hold Your Hand was the first song of the Beatles that had aired on the American radio and from that moment, fans went wild and never returned.
Other bands that were associated with music from England during the following couple of years include major names like The Rolling Stones.
This is another major world band that has been an essential part of the American music scene since they first arrived here. The band formed in 1962 and Mick Jagger has been the man face, voice and force behind the band’s fame and popularity since that time. They continue to perform to sellout crowds and their music is heard throughout the country on a daily basis. There were many other bands and musicians that were part of this invasion and Donovan, The Kinks, Petula Clark are just a few of them. Since that time Americans have visited London with the hopes of finding some of these musical greats.