The Underlying Truth About the UK’s Dominance in Rock Music

The 1960s and 1970s were a time of great musical innovation, and the UK was at the forefront of this movement, producing some of the greatest rock bands of all time. From The Beatles to Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones to The Clash and The Police, the UK was a breeding ground for talented musicians who revolutionized the industry. As America was a leader in the music scene with over 4 times the population at the time, people may be surprised by the dominance of the UK’s music at the time. Let’s take a look at what influenced this era of music.?

The most significant factor for the UK's dominance in rock music was the acceptance of African American music by young people in Britain. Influenced by blues musicians that were imported into the country, the music resonated with the younger generations in the UK. Conversely, in the US, music created by African Americans was not as accepted by white audiences and many parents kept it away from their children. This led to a standstill in the dissemination of blues to white audiences in the US. However, in the UK, the young generations saw this music as their own and sought to emulate it. They created their own sound by modifying existing blues structures and themes and incorporating other parts of English music, resulting in a poppier, and more positive rock and roll.?

The British Invasion saw a flood of English blues-based bands, such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who, which then became popular in America. The dominance of British rock bands resulted in record labels and music publicists jumping on any band from Britain that sounded popular at the time. Being British helped sell records, and for a short period of time, American rock and roll record companies either sought out British Bands and ignored American groups, or attempted to create American bands that sounded just like British groups.?

Many people may note the dominance of British rock music in the 1960s and 1970s, but few realize it was greatly influenced by the greater acceptance of African Americans in the UK compared to the systemic, underlying racism that occurred in the US. The modification of existing blues structures and themes let music in the UK flourish, creating an era of music that many still consider as the greatest ever.