The image is iconic — hordes of fangirls screeching for a glimpse of four young musicians in matching suits and haircuts
By: JP Chabot
Four young men appeared onstage, and the screams completely drown out the very music the girls came to hear. “The British Invasion,” a cultural infusion of popular rock music from musicians across the Atlantic, began its first wave in the 1960s, and the impact of this rock hurricane is felt to this day.
Music executives in 1963 discovered that The Beatles could be marketed to teens, particularly girls, a demographic that remains a powerhouse that continues to shape popular culture.
Several other popular Brit pop sensations followed in the wake of The Beatles’ fame, including The Who, The Zombies and The Rolling Stones. None of them matched The Fab Four’s influence, but they conquered young America.
Many of the bands were initially inspired by American music such as soul and rhythm and blues, with these cycles have continued through the decades.
“British Invasion” has been applied since then to other cultural imports. The “British Comic Invasion” saw a number of influential comic book writers like Alan Moore and Grant Morrison. British TV has become popular in America with shows like Doctor Who and Sherlock.
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