Mod

In the early 1960s, English bands influenced as much by American R&B and Soul as by rock 'n' roll mushroomed across England. Among these were a clutch of kids who called themselves Mods. Recognizable in their Sta-prest trousers and streamlined suits, their sharp, clean fashion sense carried over into their wiry, stylized music. The Kinks, Small Faces and the Who played stuttering, amphetamine-fueled, R&B- inspired rock 'n' roll, cranking out the classic Mod singles "Who'll Be the Next In Line," "What'cha Gonna Do About It?" and "My Generation," respectively. Mod never fully caught on Stateside, however, and within in a few years Psychedelia (notably fueled by the Small Faces' "Ogden's Nut Gone Flake" and the Who's 1969 psych-epic Tommy) would sweep the pop world, drowning Mod out altogether. The style would make a return appearance in the following decade, as the success of the Jam and the Who's 1979 film Quadrophenia re-ignited the popularity of Mod music, Vespa scooters and seersucker shirts.