WORDS BY JULIE BURNS
The embryonic Beatles, with Johnny Hutch sitting in on drums
GETTY IMAGES
In the 50s, the difference between colourful, musically blooming America and drab, post-ration Britain was dramatic. Stateside, the latest and greatest rock’n’roll was shaping the nation’s youth culture. The UK, meanwhile, was still emerging out of a more strait-laced swing era. The ‘old guard’ of musicians were, generally speaking, neither willing nor able to play the new rock’n’roll music. It took a lot of trial and error to even get to the first British touchstones: Tommy Steele and Terry Dene, and a swift swerve into skiffle. It was all a bit down-home and diluted.