Backwoodsman, I don't think one can understate the influence of blues music on English music, at least in the last 60 years. nearly every band in what us Murkins call the British invasion were steeped in the Blues.
Jagger and Watts met as members of Alexis Korner's Blues band. John Mayall's Bluesbreaakers introduced us to Clapton, Mick Taylor and the three founding members of Fleetwood Mac. Pink Floyd named their band after two bluesmen and if the Animals weren't Blues who was? Zepelin covered many Blues standards. I could go on and on but I won't even mention Baldry, Gallagher and Auger. One could argue that British bands of that era had a heavier Blues influence than American bands.