Top 20 most influential BRITISH rock bands

[Deb]

and also one of my faves what I forgot(slap on wrist) Nazareth..in their own way they did help to shape how the rock scene developed too in Britain, as well as some other countries in Europe.

Yes, can't forget Nazareth. LOL almost wore out my Nazareth's greatest hits album back in the day.

A few good ones came out of Canada too.

Rush
Triumph
April Wine
The Guess Who
Loverboy
Steppenwolf
BTO
Bryan Adams
Aldo Nova
Sebastian Bach
Nickelback

[Marc S]

RockinDeano

WTF is up with this thread? UK bands? Who gives a shit?

You do like to goad the superior race, fuck, we gave you your 'culture'?

[AR]

Humble Pie

[styxman]

and also one of my faves what I forgot(slap on wrist) Nazareth..in their own way they did help to shape how the rock scene developed too in Britain, as well as some other countries in Europe.

Yes, can't forget Nazareth. LOL almost wore out my Nazareth's greatest hits album back in the day.

A few good ones came out of Canada too.

Rush
Triumph
April Wine
The Guess Who
Loverboy
Steppenwolf
BTO
Bryan Adams
Aldo Nova
Sebastian Bach
Nickelback

Can't think of anything to wind you up Deb..Canada does export good music

[Matthew]

and also one of my faves what I forgot(slap on wrist) Nazareth..in their own way they did help to shape how the rock scene developed too in Britain, as well as some other countries in Europe.

Yes, can't forget Nazareth. LOL almost wore out my Nazareth's greatest hits album back in the day.

A few good ones came out of Canada too.

Rush
Triumph
April Wine
The Guess Who
Loverboy
Steppenwolf
BTO
Bryan Adams
Aldo Nova
Sebastian Bach
Nickelback

Can't think of anything to wind you up Deb..Canada does export good music

What...even Loverboy?

[styxman]

and also one of my faves what I forgot(slap on wrist) Nazareth..in their own way they did help to shape how the rock scene developed too in Britain, as well as some other countries in Europe.

Yes, can't forget Nazareth. LOL almost wore out my Nazareth's greatest hits album back in the day.

A few good ones came out of Canada too.

Rush
Triumph
April Wine
The Guess Who
Loverboy
Steppenwolf
BTO
Bryan Adams
Aldo Nova
Sebastian Bach
Nickelback

Can't think of anything to wind you up Deb..Canada does export good music

What...even Loverboy?

Even they had their moments Matt

[Little Lenny]

Anybody who is interested in rock music generally (not just Journey or er... Journey) should give a shit.

Marty

Marty said "shit."

Yup, and it made me cringe as I said it

nice to see there are some gentlemen on here, and I mustn't forget that includes my other half Shaggy

[Little Lenny]

and also one of my faves what I forgot(slap on wrist) Nazareth..in their own way they did help to shape how the rock scene developed too in Britain, as well as some other countries in Europe.

Yes, can't forget Nazareth. LOL almost wore out my Nazareth's greatest hits album back in the day.

A few good ones came out of Canada too.

Rush
Triumph
April Wine
The Guess Who
Loverboy
Steppenwolf
BTO
Bryan Adams
Aldo Nova
Sebastian Bach
Nickelback

That Guitar That Manny Charlton played and Dan McCAfferty's voice what a combination! Still listen to them today one of my biggest influences as a youngster when all my friends where listening to the Bay City Rollers and The Osmond's etc, I was listening to this stuff thanks to my older sisters having such good taste

[lights1961]

Following on from the top American bands thread, it got me thinking about the influence of British bands on the rock genre, particularly in the early years. I'm specifically talking about classic/melodic/heavy rock bands. Here's my starting list, in no particular order:-

Black Sabbath
Bad Company/Paul Rodgers
Deep Purple
Free
Pink Floyd
Queen
Def Leppard
Cream
Fleetwood Mac (although it took two Americans to bring the band into the mainstream)
Whitesnake
The Who
Led Zeppelin
UFO
Rolling Stones
The Police
Rainbow
Thin Lizzy
Iron Maiden
Genesis
Judas Priest
Mott the Hoople/Ian Hunter

These are bands who not only achieved commercial success but heavily influenced their peers and often shaped the music that came after them.

I'm sure I've missed one or two, and I almost put AC/DC in there as they are almost British (The Young brothers were born in Scotland and they are now fronted by a Geordie)

Any more suggestions?

Marty

IF THE BEATTLES SANK, no one else would have made the invasion...

Rick

[Little Lenny]

Following on from the top American bands thread, it got me thinking about the influence of British bands on the rock genre, particularly in the early years. I'm specifically talking about classic/melodic/heavy rock bands. Here's my starting list, in no particular order:-

Black Sabbath
Bad Company/Paul Rodgers
Deep Purple
Free
Pink Floyd
Queen
Def Leppard
Cream
Fleetwood Mac (although it took two Americans to bring the band into the mainstream)
Whitesnake
The Who
Led Zeppelin
UFO
Rolling Stones
The Police
Rainbow
Thin Lizzy
Iron Maiden
Genesis
Judas Priest
Mott the Hoople/Ian Hunter

These are bands who not only achieved commercial success but heavily influenced their peers and often shaped the music that came after them.

I'm sure I've missed one or two, and I almost put AC/DC in there as they are almost British (The Young brothers were born in Scotland and they are now fronted by a Geordie)

Any more suggestions?

Marty

IF THE BEATTLES SANK, no one else would have made the invasion...

Rick

which shoes how influential they were

[Matthew]

Saxon I liked too but I regarded them as followers not innovators.

Who do you think they were 'following', Marty? I can see the influence of AC/DC and Judas Priest to some extent but I reckon the three Saxon albums released between 1980-1981 were every bit as innovative as the other NWOBHM bands- and much more so than Def Leppard in particular who I think 'followed' the US bands and created new nothing at all.

[Marc S]

Matthew
Who do you think they were 'following', Marty? I can see the influence of AC/DC and Judas Priest to some extent but I reckon the three Saxon albums released between 1980-1981 were every bit as innovative as the other NWOBHM bands- and much more so than Def Leppard in particular who I think 'followed' the US bands and created new nothing at all.

And Matt, we KNOW Saxon!

[NealIsGod]

Spinal Tap.

[Matthew]

Matthew
Who do you think they were 'following', Marty? I can see the influence of AC/DC and Judas Priest to some extent but I reckon the three Saxon albums released between 1980-1981 were every bit as innovative as the other NWOBHM bands- and much more so than Def Leppard in particular who I think 'followed' the US bands and created new nothing at all.

And Matt, we KNOW Saxon!

You know it Marc! They've still got it!

[Matthew]

Spinal Tap.

Coincidentally....Harry Shearer based the character of "Derek Smalls" on Steve Dawson from Saxon....

[Marc S]

They were still booing them when we came on. Priceless

[Mark H]

Great thread...brings back memories

1st concert I ever attended... The Sweet, 1972, Free Trade Hall in Manchester... me mum took me cos I was only 10.
I was most shocked that they were a proper rock band live, away for the poppy singles - way better than I expected.

Within a year, I'd seen them again twice, Wizzard, TRex (and keep it quiet .. the Glitter Band)... still draggin me mum along.

Within another 2 I'd seen Rush, Skynyrd, UFO, Lizzy & The Scorpions... I can feel a Streisand moment coming on......Memories

Speaking of Canadian exports...anybody heard of Harem Scarem...discovered them a couple of years ago, although they've been going for years, and have written some of the best AOR I've ever heard. Their last album...Human Nature.... is right up there with the best in the genre.... in Journey terms probably only eclipsed by Escape and Frontiers.

[Matthew]

They were still booing them when we came on. Priceless

Who Marc? Not Saxon I hope!

[Matthew]

Their last album...Human Nature.... is right up there with the best in the genre.... in Journey terms probably only eclipsed by Escape and Frontiers.

Steady on...it's not THAT great....

[Rocker Chic]

Speaking of Canadian exports...anybody heard of Harem Scarem...discovered them a couple of years ago, although they've been going for years, and have written some of the best AOR I've ever heard. Their last album...Human Nature.... is right up there with the best in the genre.... in Journey terms probably only eclipsed by Escape and Frontiers.

Love, love, love Harem Scarem...

However, not so in love with Human Nature. Has some good moments, but doesn't grab me like most of their others and I *SO* wanted it to. I positively love the S/T, Mood Swings, Weight of the World, Higher, and Karma Cleansing. Voice of Reason is a bit darker and less popular, but still good, IMO.

It's so sad that they are calling it quits after MR Fest/FireFest IV. Melodic Rock Fest will be the first *and* last time I will ever see them...

[Mark H]

Speaking of Canadian exports...anybody heard of Harem Scarem...discovered them a couple of years ago, although they've been going for years, and have written some of the best AOR I've ever heard. Their last album...Human Nature.... is right up there with the best in the genre.... in Journey terms probably only eclipsed by Escape and Frontiers.

Love, love, love Harem Scarem...

However, not so in love with Human Nature. Has some good moments, but doesn't grab me like most of their others and I *SO* wanted it to. I positively love the S/T, Mood Swings, Weight of the World, Higher, and Karma Cleansing. Voice of Reason is a bit darker and less popular, but still good, IMO.

It's so sad that they are calling it quits after MR Fest/FireFest IV. Melodic Rock Fest will be the first *and* last time I will ever see them...

Only revently discovered them and only got Human Nature - must get the rest of the back catalogue - but HN has impressed me more than any album I've bought in the last 5 years. The track 'Caught up in your world' has become one of my all time favs.

[Little Lenny]

Speaking of Canadian exports...anybody heard of Harem Scarem...discovered them a couple of years ago, although they've been going for years, and have written some of the best AOR I've ever heard. Their last album...Human Nature.... is right up there with the best in the genre.... in Journey terms probably only eclipsed by Escape and Frontiers.

Love, love, love Harem Scarem...

However, not so in love with Human Nature. Has some good moments, but doesn't grab me like most of their others and I *SO* wanted it to. I positively love the S/T, Mood Swings, Weight of the World, Higher, and Karma Cleansing. Voice of Reason is a bit darker and less popular, but still good, IMO.

It's so sad that they are calling it quits after MR Fest/FireFest IV. Melodic Rock Fest will be the first *and* last time I will ever see them...

Only revently discovered them and only got Human Nature - must get the rest of the back catalogue - but HN has impressed me more than any album I've bought in the last 5 years. The track 'Caught up in your world' has become one of my all time favs.

I like 'Dagger' actually

[Gordon from Edinburgh]

WTF is up with this thread? UK bands? Who gives a shit?

Everyone does really - cos we all like at least one of those bands - Clapton was a strong influence on Schon and EVH - and ask JSS what he thinks of Queen and you could be there for ages - the first invasion changed music for ever - and there was NEVER a bigger rock band then Zep.........

[ohsherrie]

This is an interesting and informative thread guys. Thanks for all the info.

I couldn't begin to answer the original question in the topic other than to agree that none of them were likely to have much of an impact if it hadn't been for the Beatles forging the way. I can say though, that the British invasion bands that had the biggest impact on my taste in music are:

The Beatles
The Bee Gees (yes, they are English, not Australian)
The Kinks
The Yardbirds
The Moody Blues
Manfred Mann
The Animals

(never could stand the Stones)

[Little Lenny]

This is an interesting and informative thread guys. Thanks for all the info.

I couldn't begin to answer the original question in the topic other than to agree that none of them were likely to have much of an impact if it hadn't been for the Beatles forging the way. I can say though, that the British invasion bands that had the biggest impact on my taste in music are:

The Beatles
The Bee Gees (yes, they are English, not Australian)
The Kinks
The Yardbirds
The Moody Blues
Manfred Mann
The Animals

(never could stand the Stones)

There are so many British Bands from that era, it's just hard to single out a single one, our music has certainly had an impact. Even the Sex pistols had an impact on music, The clash, The Stranglers, the UK Subs, The Buzzcocks, Souixsie and the Banshees etc...some shape changing music has just come out of this wee Island

[ohsherrie]

..some shape changing music has just come out of this wee Island

That's the biggest "wee Island" on this Earth in a lot more ways than just music.

[Little Lenny]

..some shape changing music has just come out of this wee Island

That's the biggest "wee Island" on this Earth in a lot more ways than just music.

I know but British people don't like to brag.......LOL

[Ehwmatt]

Most if not all of hte bands I'd suggest have been mentioned...

The "British Invasion" was highly influential, especially on Canadian supergroups like the Guess Who and BTO (Randy Bachman is a consummate Beatles fan). Also, don't forget Neil Young came from Canada as well!

[Little Lenny]

Most if not all of hte bands I'd suggest have been mentioned...

The "British Invasion" was highly influential, especially on Canadian supergroups like the Guess Who and BTO (Randy Bachman is a consummate Beatles fan). Also, don't forget Neil Young came from Canada as well!

Sounds like there is a commonwealth thing going on here, what with all the canadian groups being mentioned too , Love Bachman Turner Overdrive, Harem Scarem, shame they have decided to call it a day after Firefest but Shaggy and I will be seeing them there

[Ehwmatt]

hehe, i'm not even canadian... just very well-versed on The Guess Who, Burton Cummings, and Randy Bachman and by consequence, a lot of what the early Canadian rock scene was like. Tons of great bands/songwriters!