Stuff your dad likes: British rock

Jacob Zinn isn’t old enough to give you fatherly advice, but he’s old enough to sneak you into R rated movies.

Jacob Zinn
[contributor]

Ever since the British Invasion of the mid-‘60s, rock ‘n’ roll has not been the same. It’s been better.

That wave rolled into North America like a tsunami and came with electric guitars, mop tops and reckless, six-o’clock-news-worthy misbehaviour.

And your dad loved it. It started with The Beatles versus The Rolling Stones, but soon spread to include other big acts like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Cream.

Imagine being in high school when “Stairway to Heaven” or “Another Brick in the Wall” was first released. If you can’t imagine that, ask your dad—he was a teenager once too, you know.

Maybe your dad was born a bit later and grew up when punk pioneers like The Clash and Sex Pistols were rampaging on London streets. Or maybe he preferred the founding fathers of heavy metal, like Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Motörhead. He might’ve even worn a Union Jack shirt with the sleeves cut off, just like Def Leppard.

Whatever the case, Vancouver has several big-name British musicians coming through, and this may be you and your dad’s last chance to see them.
On Oct. 27, Roger Daltrey, lead singer of The Who, will play a solo performance of the band’s 1969 rock opera, Tommy. The estimated 90-minute set will cover all four sides of the double album, including such classics as “The Acid Queen”, “I’m Free” and “Pinball Wizard”. Just remember that if he sings “My Generation”, he’s talking about baby boomers and flower children.

That same night, renowned instrumental guitarist Jeff Beck plays a sold out Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts, sure to feature “Scatterbrain” and some famous covers of other rock peers and idols.

If your dad grew up in the ‘80s, he might appreciate a little law-breaking, after-midnight-living heavy metal from Birmingham’s Judas Priest. They perform with Thin Lizzy and Black Label Society on Oct. 30 at Rogers Arena on Priest’s farewell Epitaph World Tour.

British rock ‘n’ roll is arguably the largest influence on American classic rock bands. Your dad surely has a Beatles record in the house, so ask him how to use the record player and give it a listen.