Johnny Kidd & The Pirates

In the early 1960s, before the Beatles came along, Johnny Kidd & the Pirates were (briefly) kings of the hill in British rock & roll. Best known for their 1960 hit “Shakin' All Over,” (later covered by the Who and many others), the band sported a flamboyant image, decked out in pirate gear, and played a propulsive mix of '50s rock and R&B. The hits continued for a couple of years, but the band was eventually overtaken by the rise of Merseybeat, and Kidd died in an automobile accident in 1966. The Pirates continued without Kidd for years, eventually becoming the grand old men of UK pub rock.