The Pretty Things were one of rock's most influential yet enduringly underground bands, emerging from the British blues boom of the early 1960s. Formed in 1963 by guitarist Dick Taylor, who had just left an early incarnation of The Rolling Stones, and charismatic vocalist Phil May, The Pretty Things were known for their raw blues-influenced sound and wild stage antics, which earned them both critical acclaim and notoriety. Over the years, their style evolved from hard-edged R&B to psychedelic and concept albums, notably creating one of the first rock operas with their seminal 1968 release "S.F. Sorrow."

Throughout decades of shifting musical tides, The Pretty Things remained active, continuously releasing music and performing live. Their latter studio works, like "Balboa Island" (2007) and "The Sweet Pretty Things (Are in Bed Now, Of Course...)" (2015), and live recordings, such as "Resurrection (S.F. Sorrow Live at Abbey Road)" and the acclaimed compilation "Live at the BBC," illustrated the band's ability to retain their essential garage-rock spirit while also embracing a more reflective and acoustic-driven sound in their later years. Despite founding member Phil May's death in 2020, the band's legacy is preserved through a rich discography that documents over half a century of trailblazing music history.

Genres

British Blues

British Invasion

Protopunk

Psychedelic Rock

Related Artists

The Rolling Stones

The Who

The Kinks

The Animals

The Yardbirds

Cream

The Troggs

Them

Fleetwood Mac

Pink Floyd

Van Morrison

The Doors

Latest Release

Live at the BBC

The Pretty Things

Album - 111 Tracks - Released May 28, 2021