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


In school as a young teen ager, we has two groups....the Beatles fans and the Dave Clark Five fans, which I was one of.  In your youth did you have different cliques (I am thinking high school) based on what bands/singers they liked?  I was also in the minority by being a Del Shannon fan.  (yes, I am a dinosaur! ).  Thankfully I aged into Jazz and Classical for the most part, but did enjoy some popular music in the 80s.   And you?
    




jusam
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.
Apple Music has a nice “British Invasion” playlist. I was also surprised occasionally to see that somebody I thought was American was British. The only clique I recall — in jr. hi, since I’m so old —  was Beatles vs. Stones. Or maybe the folks who liked The Beach Boys as a genuine US group. Or Dylan if they were self-consciously hip. In college a friend introduced me to classical music and as a result I have a 10-year gap in my popular music experience, regardless or which side of the pond they came from.
I've never understood the Beatles craze, personally.  With a few exceptions, they fit my description of bubble gum pop drivel (yes, I know I'm in the minority - as my wife fondly reminds me).  Grateful Dead? Well, now, no good coma would be complete without GD accompaniment.

Now, The Stones, Kinks, Humble Pie (...talkin 'bout black Lebanese..), Led Zep, Black Sabbath, Strawbs, Tull, Gentle Giant, Steeleye Span, Bloodwyn Pig...*That* was the British Invasion to me. Still listening to them 50-odd years later, still good tunes, although symphonic metal is my newest love.
As always, YMMV. Listen to what speaks to you.
Rolling Stones at age 9 was my favorite, everyone else was into the Beatles. Replaced by Jefferson airplane at age 13. Liked the Doors also. 
At age 16, I was a clique of one in my Catholic HS listening to “(It’s a Chill Wind That) Blows Against the Empire” by Paul Kantner (R.I.P.) and PERRO (Planet Earth Rock & Roll Orchestra. 
My crowd were Rolling Stones fans because we were rebellious and and close to being juvenile delinquents. The Beatles were all so well scrubbed and that didn't go over well. When they went psychedelic I really liked them. We had a sadistic music teacher in school, an ex Marine, who made a big show of ripping up any Beatles memorabilia he found on students.