A documentary on the greatest rock band of all time is due in theaters next year. I speak not of The Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin, but The Who. The last time The Who released a movie--1979's The Kids Are Alright--it played at a theater in my hometown, and I heard rumors of local teenagers ripping up the seats and generally trashing the place. Who music does that to you. Alas, I was too young to partake then; I am too old to partake now.
Oscar-winner Murray Lerner will direct the film, which has a long and eventful story to tell. The Who introduced feedback to rock records, the smashing of instruments, and the destruction of hotel rooms. They produced the earliest rock opera in the track A Quick One, followed by multi-record conceptual pieces in Tommy, the canabalized "Lifehouse" project, and Quadrophenia--the official album of angry, disaffected youth. The Guinness Book of World Records proclaimed The Who "the loudest band on Earth." The foursome headlined Monterey and Woodstock. On Won't Get Fooled Again, Roger Daltrey delivered the most memorable scream in the history of rock. On My Generation, he delivered the most memorable line in the history of rock: "I hope I die before I get old." Keith Moon obliged, succumbing to chemicals at age 31. Three years ago, bassist John Entwistle joined him in rock 'n' roll heaven, where eleven Who fans from Cincinatti watch them play.
The Who always stayed relevant, from spearheading the mid-'60s British Invasion along with The Kinks, to perfecting the concept album in the '70s along with Pink Floyd, to stamping their influence on punk rock, to serving as a staple of early MTV (Who can forget early-'80s Townshend demanding: "I want my MTV!"). And then, in the wake of their drummer's death and the underappreciated post-Moon efforts--Face Dances and It's Hard--they called it quits. Thankfully, they returned as an occassional touring unit seven years after their first "final" concert in '82. Between 1989 and 2002, I had the privilege of seeing Who reunion shows five times. It may not be the same as seeing them in 1975, but hey, I was two then and Roger Daltrey is ageless anyhow. And now, with their rhythm section in a better place, the original Who reunites on the silver screen. "Rock is dead they say. Long live rock."
As Daltrey recently said: "there is no other band that sounds like the Who".
He's right. They were/are unique and sounded pretty darn good at the 9/11 concert a few years ago.
In my six CD changer in my car, I've never removed No. 6 - Who's Next. Probably the finest rock album of all time.
Was lucky enough to see them up close and personal at the old Music Hall in Boston in 19.....scary.
Also, a one hit wonder band called Blue Cheer (Summertime Blues) was supposed to the be loudest band ever but the EWo were certainly loud.
While there is no disputing the genius of The Who, Unfortunately the band has actually receded into the background of nostalgia – Dinosaur Rock. The true hallmark of all good bands is to remain current by progressing (See Neil Young, Santana or even the Allman Brother Band).The Who has issued little if any new material in the last 20 years. That hasn’t stopped them from cashing in on tours of their repackaged hits. First there was the Tommy Tour then the Quadrophia tour, then a Farewell tour followed by the Reunion tour. They even played the night John Entwistle died. Talk about cashing in.
I remind you of the accidental itroduction of feedback by John's A-string in the beginning of "I Feel Fine" as well. He basically set his guitar down on a speaker when he recognized and liked the slow hum and purposely got it down. It might have preceeded The Who, but you're right, they originated it as a form.
The Who rule. I was just hyperlinking someone a pic of Keith Moon to illustrate a point today. (My point was Neal Peart is a "libertarian" and and Keith Moon was a "libertine.")
This movie sounds excellent.
I think someone has my copy of The Kid's Are Alright.
The Kinks also lay claim to introducing feedback, so this whole issue is a murky and disputed one.
The Thamesmen, an early precursor to the Spinal Tap, invented feedback with their song, Gimmee Some Money" in 1964. The song featured the fuzz box guitar sounds of Nigel Tufnel and great drumming from the late Stubby Peeps. Tap into America.
Yes, but you have to have your amplifier set to its maximun volume level of "11" to get that effect.
I can't wait to see this flick at the Capitol Theatre. Myself and about 30 of my closest bloks from the brick jungle are gonna rock that place to it's very core.........then take a bus to the center and break some windows. Did I mention I'm 39?
Pete Townshend likes touching little boys....just another tragic tale of hollyweird sickos
There's not 'spaning it (Can't Explain)? Male rock icons who have lovely female groupies lined up to do whatever they want, and they either want other men or boys.
Suppose that's a whole 'nother discussion.
They see us on stage with tight trousers and we’ve got, you know, armadillos in our trousers. I mean, it’s really quite frightening, the size. They run screaming.
