The "British Invasion". A question for you old farts out there.

then I discovered Classical and became a snob.

A happy snob, listening to beautiful music no doubt!?!?!
Live orchestra, worthy of utter snobbery, livin' the dream

In the UK there were definitely cliques in the 60's that determined what music was acceptable - Mods, Rockers, Skinheads, Hippies, Folkies and others. There were all these little countercultures that dressed, wore their hair and used slang differently. In the US you saw that as the British Invasion of lots of Beat and rock n' roll acts. Of course what you listened to at home and with your 'mates' could be very different.

BTW my farts are new!

Beatles vs. Rolling Stones. All others were on the sidelines. I was (am) a Beatles fan. They put out some of the most inventive, groundbreaking music and continually evolved. Each of their albums was a step in a new direction that you could listen to over and over and find something new with each listen.

Two music cliques growing up;

Grateful Dead - pot smoking, mellow hippies (me)

VS.

Lead Zeppelin - alcohol drinking, tough guys

All of those were great groups, but especially The Beatles. My 16 year old son (yes, I’m an old codger with young children) still listens to them all the time and loves their music.

Someone mentioned Paul Revere and the Raiders holding up the American end. There was also the Lovin’ Spoonful, good music and good run in the mid 1960’s.