Top 10 Classic British Bands to Crack the U.S. - Californian Reacts

What is the BEST concert you have ever been to? I want to know!

Queen is a them not a he (even though he was great) 🇬🇧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 ✌ ALL THE BEST FROM THE U.K

They missed, of the top of my head, Genesis, Bee Gees, ELO, Dire Straits, Radiohead, Coldplay , Depeche Mode, Fleetwood Mac, Wings, Duran Duran, Def Leppard, Supertramp, plus another 1000 bands

Where’s ELO,where’s Deep Purple,where’s The Kinks,where’s Supertramp,where’s The Moody Blues,where’s Rainbow,where’s Whitesnake,where’s……well,you get the picture. The sheer amount of musical brilliance coming from this Little Rock in the North Atlantic is astonishing. Pride.

I live in the UK and haven't listened to much new stuff since the 90s but I know what was big over here since I was born in 1964, the year of the British Invasion. So great British bands/Artists not mentioned off the top of my head in that period ( the best period )...The Kinks, The Small Faces, The Yardbirds, The Animals, The Hollies, Fleetwood Mac, Marc Bolan, ELO, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Sweet, Slade, Genesis, Status Quo, Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, Motorhead, Judas Priest, The Sex Pistols, Stiff Little Fingers, Stranglers, The Jam, Squeeze, The Buzzcocks, Spandau Ballet, Dire Straits, Supertramp, Jethro Tull, Yazoo, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, The Eurythmics, Tears For Fears, The Smiths, Echo and the Bunnymen, Simple Minds, UB40, Madness, The Specials, Simply Red, Ocean Colour Scene, Blur, Pulp, Suede and Oasis. I've probably missed a few legends, let alone good bands.

What is more incredible to me as a Brit is not how many great British bands have 'cracked' the US, but how many haven't. I mean, it is mind-blowing to me that so many Americans have never even heard of a bands as influential as The Stone Roses, Blur and The Jam ... even Pulp, despite the fact Jarvis attempted to deck Michael Jackson at an award ceremony! In fact, name a huge British band and chances are they never made more than a few ripples Stateside

6:08 Queen is not just Freddie - It's not just "he" it's they. They were/are all incredible, creative musicians and song writers that contributed to Queen's success. Freddie was an incredible singer and front man but many of the big hits were written jointly by Brian May and Freddie Mercury with many also written with or by John Deacon and Roger Taylor.

Born in 1960 the best concert I ever went to was Queen at Wembley in 1986. I lost all my photographs from that day as my parents lost them when moving though I found a badly taken one the other day!

The US dominate solo music for just being the dominating country, but band wise they can't beat UK bands

The true strength of Queen was that they all wrote songs. From any, & every genre. They all played multiple instruments. Allowing them to play & sing whatever style of music they wanted. Blues, punk, rock, Prog rock, metal, Jazz, funk, Opera. You name it. They could play it.

Born in the early 50's and the music wasn't good for youngsters. The 60's was an explosion and it woke everyone up. So many groups and many of them are still going 60 years later. That's longevity, that's class.

Great selection of bands, but so many left out: Genesis,Fleetwood Mac, Dire Straights to name a few. Born 1951 I grew up in the 60s/70s music era. Favourite concert Led Zep, 1971 at Southampton Uni, Stairway to Heaven etc. Favourite live band Pink Floyd, seen them 7 times.

The simple fact is that the British Bands have been the greatest! especially from the 60s/70s. Best concert I ever went is hard to say as I've been to so many, but Thin Lizzy comes to mind at Newcastle City Hall in 1976, not the biggest venue but the atmosphere was fabulous!

Years ago I was With my family on holiday at a wonderful area in Devon. We were in a caravan on a hill, we had herd Led Zeppelin were staying in this tiny hotel at a cute little beach. So one night there was going to be 80shooting 💫 stars. So we got a bone fire 🔥 going and only the young teens like me and my brother stayed up watching the sky. 2 men turned up sat down by the fire, one had a guitar 🎸. Yep you got it we all sang Stair Way To Heaven, unbelievable but all true, probably the smallest gig David has done.I wish I’d been older to have really appreciated it.

The Animals definitely need a listen they are from North East of England just up the road. Recommend House of the Rising Sun

fun fact. My auntie was in the cavern club when the beatles played before they were famous. Paul asked her could she lend him money for a drink, he said he'd pay it back when he's rich and famous. Shes still waiting......

I have seen Pink Floyd in concert many times. The first time was particularly memorable. It was in Earl's Court and they performed 'Dark Side Of The Moon' just prior to the vinyl release. As you can imagine, the audience was spellbound - absolutely brilliant

E.L.O....the Electric Light Orchestra. Got to be in any list of great bands. Best gig in recent times in 2014 Jeff Lynne's E.L.O at Hyde Park and again in 2017 at Wembley Stadium, London with Jeff Lynne close on 70 years of age. 😊

I was lucky to see Queen about a dozen times. Fantastic concerts!

It was a great list, the only problem is it wasn't big enough lol. Iron Maiden only getting an honorable mention is a great example, highly influential and still able to play sold out world tours to this very day.