Legendary British Bands And Their Impact On The Global Music Industry

British music has and continues to have a profound impact on the global scene from the charisma of Freddie Mercury in Queen to the wholesome charm of Ed Sheeran. From The Beatles in the 1960s, who transformed popular music and culture sparking the "British Invasion," which led to the global success of bands like The Rolling Stones and The Who to the emergence of the likes of Oasis and Blur during the “Britpop” era of the 80s and 90s.

Not only has it been the musicians that have influenced the industry, but many genres also owe their growth to the music of the UK. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones set a new stage for rock, The Sex Pistols and The Clash were pivotal in the punk movement and acts like Duran Duran were key players in New Wave. More recently bands like Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, and Florence + The Machine have exemplified the evolution of indie pop and rock and we can’t forget Stormzy, Dizzee Rascal and the rise of grime… fam.

But let’s focus on the best British groups. Why? I’ll tell you. National Album Day is this weekend- the 19^th to be exact, and this year the focus is on (any guesses?) “Great British Groups.” (Is that “great British groups” or “Great British Groups?”. I’d like to think that there’s some executive somewhere going “Lol. Punny.” But I digress). It’s no secret that British music has been key to how music has shaped over the years, and we’d like to dive into a few of them with you:

The Beatles

In a lot of ways, The Beatles invented modern music as we know it. They took the world by storm with catchy tunes and those iconic haircuts that started what would be seen these days as tragic trend. The Beatles gave us classics like "Hey Jude" and "Let It Be" and with their innovative songwriting, vocals, and experimentation with various musical styles, from rock to classical and even incorporating the sitar (even today, that would be seen as a bold move). The Beatles were also pivotal at the time in the spread of youth cultures and have a timeless appeal that continues to be celebrated today.

Queen

Led by the iconic Freddie Mercury, Queen is renowned for their ability to blend genres because why choose one genre when you can have them all? Adding their theatrical performances and Mercury’s unparalleled stage presence and vocal range, it’s easy to see why they were and continue to be such an anomaly. Their genre-blending is exemplified in anthems like "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "We Will Rock You.” They were innovative in how they merged visuals with music and their unapologetic embrace of individuality allowed them to connect with people all over the world. They pushed boundaries both on stage and off, with Freddie Mercury’s personal life being the topic of many stories and speculation. He was a rockstar through and through, and the world loved him for it.

Oasis

The Gallagher brothers with their unapologetic swagger, bad boy attitudes and well-documented sibling rivalry, Oasis defined the Britpop era. Led by Liam and Noel Gallagher, who could sing just as passionately as they could argue over their morning cup of tea, Oasis gave us anthems like "Wonderwall" which captured the essence of a generation and has become a karaoke favourite. Oasis along with Blur and their years-long chart rivalry make up the soundtrack of the 90s and revitalized British rock, influencing a wave of bands that followed.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones formed in 1962 and 24 albums later are still as great as they’ve ever been, with their latest album coming just last year and proving that Mick Jagger still very much has the moves (like Jagger). Hits like "Paint It Black" have become anthems and The Rolling Stones became a quintessential rock band, surviving decades of change, new musical trends, leather trousers and more of that 70s hair. They’ve managed to outlast most of those who rose with them, and their continued significance makes it almost hard to believe that they have been making music since the most advanced technology was the rotary phone.

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd are known for their mind-bending concept albums and live shows that made audiences feel like they’d just stepped into a surreal dream. If Queen were innovators of musical-visual pairing and The Beatles genre-blending, then Pink Floyd were innovators of how musicians did live shows. Pink Floyd employed elaborate stage lighting, visual effects, sound, lighting and other stage technology that set standards in the industry. With their lyrics, they tackled heavy themes like mental health and society and their innovative sound and flair for theatrics have influenced the countless artists that followed.

The influence of these iconic British groups and others like them that could fill pages upon pages from The Who, The Smiths, Coldplay, Radiohead, Black Sabbath, The Kinks, The Clash, The Jam, Joy Division, Deep Purple, Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys, Are You Still Reading, The Cure, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and literally so many more is nothing short of monumental. They have shaped not only the sound of modern music but also the cultural landscape around the world.

Who are your favourite British group?

Keep reading about music:

• Unannounced and Unforgettable: A Look Into Some Of The Best Surprise Albums Of The Past Decade

• 5 Of Our Favourite Must Have Vinyl

For movies:

• 4 Vampire Movies That You May Not Have Seen (And 2 You Probably Have)

• 5 Of Our Favourite Collector's Films