“All this new stuff they call rock ’n’ roll, why, I’ve been playing that for years now”: How Sister Rosetta Tharpe kickstarted the British blues-rock explosion – in 1957

Sister Rosetta Tharpe performs in the UK in 1964.

Muddy Waters unquestionably had a tremendous influence on the British blues-rock revolution of the 1960s. Hell, the most famous blues-influenced combo of them all – the Rolling Stones – named themselves after one of Waters' songs. 

Waters first came to the UK in 1958, surprising audiences expecting the acoustic blues of an earlier generation with his aggressive Telecaster work, and angering some of the conservative-minded music critics in attendance. Though he often met with a cool reception at the time, the ripple effect from the few aspiring guitarists who enjoyed Waters' performances – and were inspired by them – has often been credited as the first spark in the eventual British blues boom.