America’s musical roots got a major bloody boost with the 1960s British Invasion. England has been a steady source of groups and artists, which are collected here. By no means definitive, the idea is to give an accounting of the brilliant musical gifts Great Britain has shared with the world.
British Invasion/Beat Music/Pop
The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
The Who
The Kinks
Tom Jones
Herman’s Hermits
The Dave Clark 5
The Animals
Petula Clark
Manfred Mann
Peter and Gordon
Freddie and the Dreamers
Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders
The Troggs
Spencer Davis Group
The Hollies
The Searchers
Cilla Black
Gerry & the Pacemakers
Small Faces
The Creation
Badfinger
Cliff Richard
The Zombies
British Blues/R&B
John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
The Yardbirds
Fleetwood Mac
Graham Bond
The Pretty Things
Cream
Rod Stewart
Bluesology
Long John Baldry
Blodwyn Pig
Steampacket
Free
Savoy Brown
Ten Years After
Hard Rock
Led Zeppelin
Deep Purple
Rainbow
Jeff Beck Group
Queen
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Humble Pie
The Faces
Bad Company
The Darkness
Jet
Whitesnake
Uriah Heep
Glam Rock
David Bowie
Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry
T. Rex/Marc Bolan
Mott the Hoople
The Sweet
Gary Glitter
Slade
Be-Bop Deluxe
The Move/Roy Wood
Mick Ronson
Ian Hunter
Electric Folk
Fairport Convention
Pentangle
Steeleye Span
Sandy Denny
Fotheringay
The Incredible String Band
Donovan
Strawbs
Roy Harper
John Martyn
Singer-Songwriters
Elton John
Steve Winwood
Cat Stevens
Kate Bush
Nick Drake
Frank Turner
Lily Allen
Laura Marling
Pub Rock
Graham Parker & The Rumour
Ducks Deluxe
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Dr. Feelgood
Nick Lowe
Dave Edmunds
Rockpile
Brinsley Schwartz
Bees Make Honey
Punk Rock/New Wave
Sex Pistols/Public Image Limited
The Clash
The Damned
The Stranglers
The Slits
The Police
The Vibrators
Generation X/Billy Idol
XTC
The Jam/The Style Council
Buzzcocks
Joe Jackson
The Mekons
UK Subs
The The
The Only Ones
The Exploited
Tom Robinson Band
New Model Army
Squeeze
Talk Talk
Fine Young Cannibals
The Housemartins
Scritti Politti
Prog Rock
Yes
Pink Floyd
Genesis
Jethro Tull
King Crimson
Soft Machine,
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
The Moody Blues
Traffic
Electric Light Orchestra
Supertramp
Gentle Giant
Caravan
Camel
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
Judas Priest
Iron Maiden
Motorhead
Saxon
Def Leppard
UFO
Samson
Tygers of Pan Tang
Girlschool
Venom
New Romantics
Visage
Ultravox
Duran Duran
Spandau Ballet
Culture Club
Adam and the Ants
Indie Rock
Aztec Camera
Orange Juice
The Housemartins
James
The Smiths
Primal Scream
The Wedding Present
Soup Dragons
Jesus and Mary Chain
The Cult
2 Tone/Reggae
The Specials
The Selecter
The Beat
Bad Manners
Pato Banton
Steel Pulse
Madness
UB40
Aswad
Maxi Priest
Post-Punk/Goth
Siouxie and the Banshees
Psychedelic Furs
Bauhaus
Love and Rockets
Joy Division
New Order
Gang of Four
The Cure
The Sisters of Mercy
Fields of the Nephilim
Synthpop
Depeche Mode
Erasure
Soft Cell
Yazoo
A Flock of Seagulls
Tears For Fears
New Order
Pet Shop Boys
OMD
Thomas Dolby
Thompson Twins
Howard Jones
Heaven 17
Human League
British Soul
Sade
Swing Out Sister
George Michael
Simply Red
Lisa Stansfield
Soul II Soul
Amy Winehouse
Duffy
Adele
Madchester/Dreampop/Shoegazing
Stone Roses
James
Happy Mondays
Charlatans UK
My Bloody Valentine
Lush
Slowdive
Cocteau Twins
The Chameleons
Inspiral Carpets
Britpop/Post-Britpop
Oasis
Blur
Suede
Pulp
Elastica
Supergrass
Radiohead
The Verve
Travis
Stereophonics
Cornershop
Starsailor
Catherine Wheel
World Party
Kula Shaker
Coldplay
Drum and bass/Trip hop
The Prodigy
Chemical Brothers
Massive Attack
Portishead
Fat Boy Slim
Roni Size
Goldie
Basement Jaxx
—Baron Dave Gil de Rubio
