British bands began to gain popularity in 1960s, first in Britain and then worldwide. British bands had a new rock and roll sound and their English accents made it exotic. The band that is credited with starting the British Invasion was, of course, the Beatles.

Beatle-mania had begun to spread over the country in the end of 1963. Young adults and music fans alike were counting the days before the Beatles debuted in America on the Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964. The group of four boys for Liverpool: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, created an absolute hysteria and a musical as well as social revolution in America. Girls were screaming, crying, and even passing out at their concerts. Boys grew their hair long and started wearing high-heeled boots and collarless jackets. Many parents condemned the Beatles for their long hair and fast music. However their children continued to listen and bought more and more Beatles records and the Beatles produced 18 records from 1964 through 1969.

The Beatles revolutionized music, with the incredible writing team of Lennon and McCartney, creating simple lyrics, four-part harmonies, and instrument lines. They also revolutionized the way people thought about music. Suddenly they had opened a whole new door for British bands to break into the US music scene.

Other new British Bands were Gerry and the Pacemakers, the Kinks, the Who (Album My Generation), the Hollies, Hermanπs Hermits (≥Canπt you Hear My Heartbeat≤, ≥Mrs. Brown Youπve Got a Lovely Daughter≤, ≥Thereπs a Kind of a Hush≤), and the Rolling Stones. The Stones were known for their vulgar, sex oriented, energetic songs. They had topped British charts in 1964, but it wasnπt until the song ≥(I Canπt Get No) Satisfaction≤ was released in 1965 that they grabbed the attention of Americaπs youth. The Stones released ten albums from 1964 through 1969.

The British invasion opened a fresh door of sound for the US and the bands changed the tone of music forever.

≥The Who≤ ≥Hermanπs Hermits≤