The British Invasion

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I’m having lunch in a Chelsea restaurant with a sprightly gent of 60-plus. His wits are quick and he’s a fabulous source of softly spoken gossip. He reflects a moment on one especially key evening in his life, early in 1963. ‘If you’re not sure who rock’n’roll belongs to,’ says Andrew Loog Oldham, ‘then it surely isn’t you.’ When Oldham was 19 and London’s sharpest young hustler, he clapped eyes on ...

Source: The Rolling Stones Revealed, by Jason Draper
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 1962–69) This multifaceted ensemble – Paul Jones (vocals, harmonica), Mike Vickers (guitar, woodwinds), Manfred Mann (keyboards), Dave Richmond (bass) and Mike Hugg (drums) – first reached the national Top 20 with 1963’s ‘5-4-3-2-1’. After Richmond was replaced by Tom McGuinness, there was hardly any let-up of hits, both home and overseas, including a US chart topper with ‘Do Wah Diddy Diddy’, despite other personnel changes. Some of the most ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocals, b. 1947) After 1964’s ‘As Tears Go By’ – written by Rolling Stones Mick Jagger (her then-boyfriend) and Keith Richards – climbed high in the UK and US charts, a winning streak was protracted with songs of like lightweight persuasion until Faithfull’s innocent schoolgirl image was tarnished for ever by frank and public opinions on free love and her involvement in Stones drug busts. Nonetheless, she staged a remarkable comeback ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 1962–66, 1975–76, 1983) After million-selling ‘House Of The Rising Sun’ in 1964, Tyneside’s Eric Burdon (vocals), Hilton Valentine (guitar), Alan Price (keyboards), Chas Chandler (bass) and John Steel (drums) racked up further international smashes and, by 1965, music press popularity polls had them breathing down the necks of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Price then left to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Dave Rowberry from ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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Consisting of John Lennon (1940–80) on rhythm guitar, Paul McCartney (b. 18 June 1942) on bass, George Harrison (1943–2001) on lead guitar and Ringo Starr (b. Richard Starkey, 7 July 1940) on drums, The Beatles evolved from Lennon’s grammar school skiffle group The Quarry Men to become the most successful, acclaimed and influential act in the history of popular music. Liverpool Beginnings Born and raised in the seaport city of Liverpool, northwest ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 1958–70) Prior to the issue of an instrumental single, ‘Chaquita’, in 1962, this London combo underwent fundamental personnel reshuffles, resulting in a line-up that remained stable for the rest of its career. Then Dave Clark (drums), Lenny Davidson (guitar), Denis Payton (saxophone), Rick Huxley (bass) and Mike Smith (vocals, keyboards) switched their stylistic emphasis to music with vocals. After a 1964 chart topper, ‘Glad All Over’, and its ‘Bits ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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One of the more popular bands of the ‘British Invasion’ and a considerable influence on both 1970s heavy metal outfits and 1990s groups such as Blur and Oasis, The Kinks went through numerous line-up changes but were always led by singer-songwriter Ray Davies (born 21 June 1944), while his brother Dave (born 3 February 1947) supplied the band’s signature rock guitar sound. Raw Unbridled Energy Born and raised in Muswell Hill, North ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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Mick Jagger and Keith Richards had known each other since they were children – or, known of each other that is, having grown up in the same Dartford estate. More romantically, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards met on a commuter train from Dartford to London in October 1960. An open love of blues and R&B was less common then as it is now, so when Keith, on the cusp of 18, ...

Source: The Rolling Stones Revealed, by Jason Draper
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July First Gig, London Dressed in coats and ties, The Rollin’ Stones (as they were initially called, after a Muddy Waters song) performed their first live gig on 12 July at The Marquee Club, a tiny basement venue on London’s Oxford Street. Playing an hour’s worth of piano-driven R&B, they made £20 between them. The six-piece line-up included future members Mick, Brian and Keith. Ian ‘Stu’ Stewart – future long-term roadie and ...

Source: The Rolling Stones Revealed, by Jason Draper
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January Charlie Watts After declining offers to join the Stones for almost a year, Charlie Watts took Bobbie Korner’s (Alexis’ wife) advice and quit the band Blues By Six to play with the Stones at the Flamingo in Piccadilly on 14 January. Up until then, their drummers had alternated through players such as Mick Avory, Ginger Baker and Tony Chapman; but with the jazz-influenced Charlie taking over full-time, the Stones finally had ...

Source: The Rolling Stones Revealed, by Jason Draper
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January First Major Tour By the end of 1963 Mick and Keith had been introducing more soulful influences to the group, and on 6 January they began their first UK tour of major importance, supporting the Phil Spector-helmed girl group, The Ronettes, on the Group Scene ’64 package tour. Spector himself joined in February to monitor the girls, and was annoyed that Mick and Keith fancied his lead Ronette and girlfriend (and ...

Source: The Rolling Stones Revealed, by Jason Draper
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January The Rolling Stones No. 2; Australian Tour Begins In the same month that they flew to Australia to meet a crowd of 3,000 rioting girls, The Rolling Stones No. 2 was released in the UK (three months previously, 12x5 came out in the US, with a different tracklisting). With another brooding sleeve that made them look like they’d rather fight than hold your hand (the liner notes suggested mugging somebody for ...

Source: The Rolling Stones Revealed, by Jason Draper
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January ‘As Tears Go By’ The Stones’ own version of ‘As Tears Go By’ – the song they wrote as ‘As Time Goes By’ when Andrew Oldham locked them in the kitchen back in 1964 – must have been a shock for an American audience that hadn’t heard Marianne Faithfull’s UK No. 4 release in 1964. Showing a completely different side of the band, it was a very early indicator of the ...

Source: The Rolling Stones Revealed, by Jason Draper
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January Between The Buttons Much overlooked today, Between The Buttons saw the Stones start the new year with an album that had the ambition to match other period classics like The Beatles’ Revolver, or Dylan’s Blonde On Blonde. Building upon the eclecticism of Brian’s additions to Aftermath, it is perhaps one of their most varied albums, though the group came to denounce it. Its variety of songs, however, make it appreciated by ...

Source: The Rolling Stones Revealed, by Jason Draper
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After establishing themselves as mid-1960s contenders for the Beatles’ crown, the Stones – unlike the Beatles – would enter the 1970s and embark upon their almighty middle period. Being part of the Stones’ circle at this point was akin to entering a vortex that led into a slightly inhuman world where anything could, and probably did, happen. Amid scenes of debauchery, Keith began a debilitating heroin addiction that would last the ...

Source: The Rolling Stones Revealed, by Jason Draper
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