The Creation

One of the most powerful and forward-thinking British bands of the 1960s, the Creation fused mod style to a freakbeat sound in a manner that anticipated psychedelia, and boasted a sonic impact that was matched in their day only by the Who. Rooted in the adventurous guitar work of Eddie Phillips and the impassioned vocals of Kenny Pickett, the Creation also incorporated the influence of pop art in their music, and they attracted a loyal cult following. However, the group's popularity in Europe far outstripped their following in England or the United States, and the sole LP they issued in their original incarnation was a collection, We Are Paintermen, that appeared only in Germany and Denmark. They broke up in 1968 but would cut a pair of solid reunion albums in the '90s, 1993's Lay the Ghost and 1996's Power Surge.