The Beatles were the original 'boy band'. "They worked hard to create the squeaky clean image needed in the early 60s, but at the same time were happy to move with the times and always on the cutting edge of fashion, musical experimentation, lifestyle choices and of politics." Del Irani, (2014) explains that it was interesting to see them expand the boundaries of what a pop/rock song could be with the 'Wall of Sound' and the introduction of things like the Indian sitar instrument into their music. Interestingly enough, a band called the Monkees were manufactured, complete with their own zany TV show which attempted to be the American answer to the Beatles. Certainly other bands like the Rolling Stones took note of them but they went in a rather different direction, certainly with their lyrics which were a little less classy and intellectual than the Beatles lyrics. With that being said, the album in which inspired most bands to follow in The Beatles footsteps would more than likely have be their eighth album, 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'. It was the soundtrack of ‘summer love’ but its appeal was timeless. In Britain, the album hit #1 and remained #1 for a total of 27 weeks. Quite similar to this was America where the album remained #1 for 15 weeks. The Beatles have had a great influence on pop culture in the way of what it truly means to be a band. Previous to The Beatles, there was a lot of “Johnny O’Kieffe and the DJ’s” and “Buddy Holly and the Crickets”. There was always that front person. When The Beatles made their debut, it made a real impact as they were a ‘group’. Everyone was singing, everyone was dancing, there was never a lead person as everyone was equal. This change in pattern that The Beatles created is what has distinguished how bands operate nowadays.
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