From mid-1966, British pop began to change as it became increasingly involved in cultural exchanges with underground political activity, fashion, art and drugs.

Inspired by the mass gathering of hippies in San Francisco during the 1967 ‘Summer of Love’, Britain began to stage their own ‘love-ins’ and ‘happenings’. Drug experimentation and themes of peace and love became both the catalyst and theme for music, capturing the essence of this period.

The success of The Beatles’ 1967 Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band LP signalled the shift from the 7” single to the 12” album as the main commercial unit of the industry. As pop evolved into rock and equipment developed, music broke out of the small clubs onto the arena circuit and emerging festival scene.

 

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