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Britmania: The British Invasion of the Sixties in Pop Culture

    TwoMorrows Britmania The British Invasion of the Sixties in Pop Culture by Mark Voger 1

    The Beatles bookended the 60s from the beginning till they disbanded. They inspired a generation that grew up from the rubble of a bombed London, they were known at the time as “Blitz Babies.” Teenagers began to emulate the Fab Four. Mark Voger’s Britmania: The British Invasion of the Sixties in Pop Culture from TwoMorrows Publishing explores the bands and pop culture from this era. Before the squeaky-clean Beatles landed on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 to usher in the British Invasion, they had to transform from the dingy origins that they came from along such groups as The Who and The Rolling Stones. However, The Who and The Rolling Stones decided to keep their bad-boy images.

    I was really surprised by Britmania from TwoMorrows Publishing. Generally, the publisher’s focus is mainly on comic book culture. Mark Voger features some of the top rock groups of the time. This is one rich well-written volume of some of my favorite rock groups of the era. If you are into music, this is one book you will enjoy with insightful music history and interviews. Musically, Britain had such a rich offering of music unlike any country, including North America. The body of music that came out of England at that time was just mind-blowing. The book is graphically lush with eye candy from the 60s.

    The groups in Britmania did indeed influence comic book culture both in England and North America. The music spilled over to the cinema where James Bond become a big British export with the music of John Barry. From his Beat Girl days till today, Barry’s music is iconic. Classic TV shows by Gerry Anderson used some of the top themes to come out of England by Barry Gray. The whole nation created some of the best music to ever enter the human ear. From session players to rock groups, music was a way out of a depressed country but yet its greatest defining moment was when The Beatles broadcast all around the world a simple message, All You Need is Love. And it came all crashing down on The Prisoner with the same song. Did the party come to an end?

    The Rolling Stones are still recording 60 years later, The Beatles are still relevant, and James Bond is still a hot property. Britmania, never went away, it is still strong.