The Who

I don’t remember the first time I heard The Who but I DEFINITELY remember the impression they made on me the first time I saw them.  Back in the late 70s there was a TV movie on the ABC network called “The Heroes Of Rock and Roll”, hosted by The Dude himself, Jeff Bridges, that celebrated the birth of the genre up to 1979 or so.  My parents were both music fans so I got to stay up late and check out some fantastic artists and great music.  About halfway through the show they showed footage of the Monterey Pop Festival and it was The Who’s performance that completely captured my attention- all psychedelic light show, crazy clothes, manic energy, and destruction.  It was a snippet from “My Generation” and what I’ll always remember is Keith Moon kicking the drums over and see the bass drum rolling on its side, with “WHO” prominently displayed on the screen, slowly rocking back and forth.  I thought… now THAT’S rock and roll!

Anthemic, bombastic, workmanlike, and chaotic but yet sometimes displaying the occasional warm and delicate sensibility…   sheesh, how do you describe The Who?  Four disparate personalities, each bringing their own style and flair to the proceedings, came together in the early 60s with a goal in mind to play “Maximum R&B”:  Roger Daltrey brought the brawn ‘n bravado with the lead vocals; John Entwistle generated musical muscle on bass (and occasional French horn!); the irrepressible Keith Moon displayed comic relief and manic panic on the drums; and Pete Townshend added the icing on the cake by crafting some of the most iconic songs (and slashing rhythm guitar parts) of the era.  The band quickly morphed from an R&B covers band that identified with the Mods of the era to one that created their own blueprint by writing original material that captured the feelings of disaffected youth (via songs like the aforementioned “My Generation”) and eventually moving on to more challenging subject matter via the “rock opera” (displayed on songs like “A Quick One” and albums such as Tommy and Quadrophenia) while at their creative zenith.

Before I get too far ahead of myself, let’s talk about my love for the band.  Shortly after catching the aforementioned ABC movie, I recall hearing “Won’t Get Fooled Again” on our school bus as we were traveling to a basketball game-  I was just enthralled with the intro synth line and the utter havoc that ensued throughout the song.  My world, in that eight and a half plus minutes, was once again turned upside down and I had to hear more.  Shortly thereafter I pestered friends to borrow their 8 tracks or albums or cassettes of the band, eventually going on to grab copies of Who’s Next, The Kids Are Alright, Live At Leeds, Who Are You, and Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy.  One of my best friends had the original The Who’s Greatest Hits and Hooligans on LP that we wore out from constant play. 

As a live unit The Who was often an unstoppable force, especially from roughly 1968 through 1973 with the occasional gem afterwards.   As covered in my favorite bassists/drummers, the duo of Entwistle and Moon are my top rhythm section of all time-  the former rooted to one spot on stage but with fingers flying across the fretboard and the latter non-stop movement behind the kit, all arms and legs flailing wildly.  Both musicians are totally unique with a sound and fury that’s often imitated but never quite duplicated (sadly, Moonie died before I got into the band and Entwistle died just months before I got to see The Who in concert).  Roger Daltrey came into his own as a live performer around the Tommy era, immediately becoming a formidable and commanding presence on stage while belting out the songs and whipping the microphone around like a mad cowboy.  And Pete Townshend…  like Moon/Entwistle, Townshend has his own unique style on the guitar, one minute manic strumming a la a flamenco player and the next minute windmilling his arm as he hammered out one power chord after another.

Genius compositions, manic intensity, ace playing…  The Who are icons and deserve their spot high on this list.  While Moonie and The Ox are missed, Rog and Pete still do the occasional tour as they continue to carry the flag into their 70s- “hope I die before I get old”?  Nah, not yet gentlemen…  not yet.

Favorite albums:  Who’s Next, Live At Leeds, Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy 

Favorite songs:  Won’t Get Fooled Again, Baba O’Riley, The Real Me, Eminence Front, My Generation, Love Reign O’er Me, Anyway Anyhow Anywhere, Young Man Blues, Who Are You, I Can See For Miles