10 Most Influential British Acts On American Rock

Of course, the Beatles had to make this list. They're responsible for influencing just about every musician who came after. They were the original blueprint for the classic rock band. They wrote the book when it came to a group's trajectory. From fresh-faced, teen idols, through to experimental innovators, and cultural icons - they did it all.

Albums like Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's, and Abbey Road contained tracks that represented the genius of these four Brits; you can find early incarnations of just about every trend in rock, from proto-punk to heavy metal and psychedelia. But arguably, their earlier work had the most significant impact on American music.

During the late '50s and early '60s the American scene was dominated by Elvis Presley. He was the biggest thing in rock 'n' roll and his wild success eclipsed almost every other act in the country. During the early '60s acts like Roy Orbison and the Beach Boys started making headway, pushing rock 'n' roll slowly into the mainstream. But when the Beatles landed in '64, they brought with them a tsunami of renewed enthusiasm for the genre. It kick started the first British Invasion of America, encouraging everyone from Brian Wilson, to Bob Dylan, to up their musical game.