Mainly Here
This page is dedicated to those bands and line-ups where the survivors still outnumber those who have passed.
The Birmingham sound of R&B. Spencer Davis was the leader and founder, but the seminal talent was the youngest member, Steve Winwood.
The real sound of The Summer Of Love, from a Southend R&B band that evolved into a prog-rock behemoth.
Buffalo Springfield
The classic, original line-up. More Canadian than American.
Still going. Nostalgia for the nostalgia we had in the 70s for the 50s.
The Rolling Stones
Surely the longest-lived of all rock bands, and still going strong. Greatest rock and roll band ever? Many think so.
Pentangle
Jazz folk, as opposed to the folk-rock for which it paved the way. Four supreme instrumentalists, topped off by exquisite vocals
King Crimson
Where prog-rock started, and where rock composition shifted up a gear
Rock 'n roll excess for sure, but the music was so much more than the heavy metal label often, and lazily, attributed to it
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Pop gold, and the start of (one half of) 10cc.
They made us believe, at least for a short time, in the magic of summer in the city
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Eclectic, a tight group of people with a strong internal ethos, they became leaders of the 60s counter-culture, supported by a fanbase, many of whom toured with them, Probably the most boot-legged band, which the band themselves encouraged.
One of the leaders of the English revolution in progressive rock, not blues-based but drawing from modern classical English music and jazz to create something altogether more symphonic.
They came from the same place as The Stones, and probably had a worse reputation (ask New Zealand), but were definitely prettier. They also produced the first rock opera and kept going for more than 50 years.
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With roots in The Zombies and a slew of other Hertfordshire bands, they had more success with singles than with albums, proving they could write great song, even while aspiring to a sound more in line with prog rock.
Photo credits
The Rolling Stones - BBC
Pentangle - Jac de Nijs for Antefo, available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication
King Crimson (1972 line-up) - public domain, issued in 1974 by Atlantic Records, with no copyright markers
Led Zeppelin (1971) - public domain, promotional photograph issued by Atlantic Records
The Mindbenders - trade ad placed by Fontana Records in Billboard, 18 September 1965, with no copyright markers
The Lovin' Spoonful - trade ad for "Do You Believe in Magic" placed in Billboard, 21 August 1965, with no copyright markers
The Grateful Dead - trade ad for "American Beauty" placed in Billboard, 5 December 1970, with no copyright markers
Pink Floyd - trade ad for "Meddle" placed in Billboard, 30 October 1971, with no copyright markers
The Pretty Things - photographer Joop van Bilsen (ANEFO), made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication
Argent - public domain, source is Nashua Telegraph, 1 December 1973, with no copyright markers
Page last updated 11 April 2024