& other fables

A lthough The Beatles obviously took the States by storm, since then there have been several huge UK bands who have completely failed to translate their success. Obvious exceptions include Whitesnake, Pink Floyd, Def Leppard, freakish, short-lived triumphs by the likes of Wang Chung, Right Said Fred and Jesus Jones, and latterday triumphs by The Prodigy and, of course, Radiohead. However, several big bands from T-Rex, Slade, The Jam, Madness, later the likes of Suede and Blur and more recently The Darkness have all failed in a territory that represents 40% of the world's market, making it a costly nut not to crack. 

What these bands have in common is a distinct fascination with their English culture and environment, and whilst America seems happy to export tales of Seattle, Broadway, Detroit, New York and so on to us - and we happily involve ourselves in it - the reverse is rarely true. Mention Primrose Hill or Camden and suddenly all interest dries up.

--David Nolan