The British Invasion was aptly named. A story titled “Redcoats Revisiting” in the April 4, 1964, issue of Billboard noted that they held a remarkable 19 spots on the Hot 100 at that time.

The Beatles led the charge, but Peter and Gordon, the Animals, Manfred Mann, Petula Clark, Freddie and the Dreamers, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, Herman’s Hermits, the Troggs, Donovan, and (of course) the Rolling Stones had all topped Billboard’s singles chart by 1966.

American acts like the Supremes valiantly fought back. An astonishing nine of their 12 ’60s-era chart-topping singles were preceded or followed to No. 1 by acts from the U.K. Five of them were No. 1 songs by the Beatles or the Rolling Stones. However, the onslaught was relentless. One of the Supremes’ chart-toppers was actually sandwiched between No. 1 singles by both the Beatles and Rolling Stones.

Which Four Bands Defined British Rock?

Before this era, rock had been dominated by American acts. Now the stage was set for every generation that followed – and they did follow, with subsequent waves in the ’80s and ’00s. But which bands emerged as the ‘Big 4’ of British rock?

The focus here is on bands, so some very worthy individual performers didn’t make the list, including David Bowie, Elton John, and Elvis Costello, among many others. However, even with a tighter selection criterion, narrowing this rich musical legacy to the four biggest contributors inevitably leaves out a number of deserving groups as well.

READ MORE: Top 50 American Bands

Some were simply more popular in the U.K. than they ever were in the U.S. and elsewhere around the world. Others may have only dabbled in rock or worked around the genre’s intriguing edges. Still others were entirely worthy candidates and simply got overlooked. Reasonable rock fans can agree to disagree.

In conclusion, however, the following countdown of the ‘Big 4’ of British Rock includes some undeniable names. They may not be your favorites – in fact, you might be quite tired of them by now – but their cultural impact, musical influence, and blockbuster sales helped them rise to the top of rock.

No. 4. Led Zeppelin

Did they pioneer heavy metal with songs like “Communication Breakdown”? Perhaps. Did they lead the way for ponderous multi-part prog explorations with “Stairway to Heaven”? Probably. Could they blow the roof off an arena with the aptly named “Rock and Roll”? Definitely. That’s the power and magic of Led Zeppelin. They never had an album finish lower than No. 6 in the U.K.; they proceeded to release seven consecutive No. 1 LPs. They’ve also sold more records in the U.S. than superstar acts like Elvis Presley and the Beatles.

Very much an album act, Led Zeppelin helped usher in the long-form era. They moved effortlessly from brawny rock to exotic instrumentation from guitarist/producer Jimmy Page and multi-instrumentalist John Paul Jones, decorating it all with Robert Plant’s opaque and mysterious lyrics. Who knows where it all might have led? Unfortunately, John Bonham’s untimely death ended the group as a creative entity.

No. 3. Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd moved through three distinct eras based on the group’s principal creative forces: Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, and then David Gilmour. Without Pink Floyd, there would be no Radiohead (among others). But by the time Thom Yorke was sheepishly admitting to being a creep, 1973’s diamond-certified Dark Side of the Moon had long since established itself among the Top 5 best-selling rock albums of all time.

They made popular and often significant records across decades, moving from whimsy to cutting social commentary to explorative soundscapes. Here’s how big Pink Floyd was at their peak: The band’s second-best-selling album, 1975’s Wish You Were Here, still sold 10 million copies in both the U.K. and America alone. Through it all, Pink Floyd never lost a uniquely British sense of musical idiosyncrasy and dark humor. Gilmour’s guitar work tied it all together with its guttural yet shimmering tones.

No. 2. Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones became rock stars on the heels of The Beatles while scoring an early U.K. hit single with a cover of their song “I Wanna Be Your Man.” That’s where similarities ended. The Stones were all rough edges; whether that meant their music, attitude or looks was built atop Mick Jagger and Keith Richards’ creative partnership. Friends since childhood, they formed a sturdy band nucleus that quickly pushed out deeply talented contributors like Brian Jones and Mick Taylor.

The Beatles came and went too; however improbably – remained The Rolling Stones. A clever blend of bad-boy swagger, chunky riffs, boozy excess and overt salaciousness helped them top U.K. album charts in every decade from the ’60s through to today’s ’20s. They had more than 40 U.S. Top 40 singles along their journey; The Stones came to define what it means to be a rock band – no matter where they originated from.

No. 1. The Beatles

Just because it’s the most obvious answer doesn’t make it incorrect. They initially presented as squeaky-clean teen heartthrobs; however, The Beatles were actually seasoned rockers from their Hamburg club days who wanted more than just fame. Over just a few years, they broke through every boundary in pop and rock music while setting new standards for sheer ingenuity and blockbuster commerce alongside ear-wormy fun. Together with pioneering producer George Martin, they leveraged studio spaces like conductors leading orchestras.

In any other band context, George Harrison would have been a huge star; however in this one he played second fiddle as John Lennon and Paul McCartney became music history’s best-loved songwriting duo. Sure they’re overexposed and over-hyped; finding them at this spot is hardly unexpected as six decades later nobody has topped their records for Billboard No. 1 singles or most units sold worldwide.

They Hated Their Own Albums