Jon Surely the likes of Little Richard, Eddie Cochran, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis must have had that same kind of effect? Compared to what had gone before R'n'R must have been pretty shocking. Even when Sid did his updated versions of Something Else and Come on Everybody those songs still sparkled - imagine hearing them in the 50s?
Music has always thrown up rebels, even back to the classical days, moving forwards there were the Beatles, Stones, the whole Hendrix thing so I don't think shock is anything new. What is new in the UK is this establishment reaction to protest and dissent. I can't see it ending well. Could be a long hot summer.