The Beatles tour Japan and inspire group sounds

June-July 1966: Number 25 in our series of the 50 key events in the history of world and folk musicIn 1966, the Beatles toured the far east. The Japanese started to form bands that adopted the same line-up – drums, bass, lead guitar and a John Lennon figure doubling up on rhythm guitar and keyboards – all squeezed into tight suits singing three-part vocal harmonies. The genre, known as group sounds, would inspire countless garage rock curios, with 45s by the Tigers and the Tempters now selli...

Read full article Share article