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6 Bands Formed in 1967 That Shaped Rock ‘N’ Roll as We Know It Today
Six influential rock bands formed in 1967, a year the article argues deserves attention alongside the more prolific year of 1968. Their later music helped shape several strands of rock, from British blues and progressive rock to horn-led pop rock.
Fleetwood Mac began as a British blues group, while Blue Öyster Cult started as Soft White Underbelly after a critic offered to manage the band. Genesis helped bring progressive rock to a wider audience; Jethro Tull stood out for Ian Anderson’s flute; Chicago developed from the horn-and-keyboard-led Big Thing; and Three Dog Night recorded songs by other writers and had more than 20 US Top 40 hits in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
In short
- Six notable rock bands formed in 1967.
- They helped shape blues, prog and horn-led rock.
- Three Dog Night scored over 20 Top 40 hits.
Explained simply
In the late 1960s, rock was branching into different styles, including blues-based guitar music, progressive rock and songs arranged around brass instruments. Bands formed in 1967 went on to explore several of these sounds.
Fleetwood Mac began as a British blues group, while Genesis and Jethro Tull became associated with progressive rock. Chicago grew from a group called Big Thing and built its sound around horns and keyboards; Three Dog Night became known for recording songs written by others.
Blue Öyster Cult began as Soft White Underbelly, a name given before a critic offered to manage the band. Together, these groups show how varied rock had become, and how bands could shape the music in different ways.