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This band of the 1960s British Invasion surprisingly didn't have a No. 1 hit

Many UK bands made an impact in America during the 1960s. One top band never had a No. 1 hit in the United States, which is surprising. Can you guess who?

ByRenee Hansen|
The Who Hollywood Bowl
The Who Hollywood Bowl | Steve Granitz/GettyImages

The 1960s was revolutionary in the world of music. The trend to break from traditional pop into popular music that began in the 1950s continued paving the way for rock and roll to evolve. With this came the British Invasion, which saw many bands crossover to American airwaves, with the first No. 1 coming from the Beatles. One popular British rock band never topped the charts.

The British Invasion began in 1964 with the Beatles' first number one and was followed by a long list of notable bands who make up the unique sound of the era. One of those bands, The Who, formed in 1962 with members lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, drummer Keith Moon, and bassist John Entwistle, would never see a No. 1 hit in the US.

The Who, John Entwistle
The Who File Photos | Chris Walter/GettyImages

Through the years, The Who has released many popular hits, including "My Generation," "Pinball Wizard," "Won't Get Fooled Again," and "Baba O'Riley." The band is one of the first to feature the edgy hard rock sound and the use of synthesizers. Other contributions The Who made to rock music included the power cord, windmill strum, and the use of feedback.

In 1967, they performed at the Monterey Pop Festival, where they released "I Can See For Miles," the band's only top-ten hit in the US. Two years later, this performance and the one at Woodstock would establish The Who as one of the greatest live rock acts.

The band has also made its mark on US TV with their songs featured as theme songs to several CSI series. Their songs have also been featured on The Simpsons and Top Gear, and several movies reference the band and/or use their songs, including Almost Famous, School of Rock, and Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny.

The Who - CSI Theme songs

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation & CSI: Vegas - "Who Are You"
  • CSI: Miami - "Won't Get Fooled Again"
  • CSI: NY - "Baba O'Riley"
  • CSI: Cyber - "I Can See For Miles"

Despite never climbing to the top of the US charts, the band has heavily influenced many bands, including Queen, Green Day, Pearl Jam, and more.

"The one thing that disgusts me about the Who is the way they smashed through every door in the uncharted hallway of rock 'n' roll without leaving much more than some debris for the rest of us to lay claim to."
Eddie Vedder - Pearl Jam
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