Who else but the Who

**misery guts** Sat Feb 15, 2014 1:44 pm

Though in existence from the early 1960s, it was only in February 1964, 50 years ago, that they changed their name to:

THE WHO

With the power in guitar and songwriting of Pete Townshend, the power of singing from Roger Daltrey, the power on drums of Keith Moon, and the quiet stolid power of John Entwistle, they went on to rock the 60s with a series of stirring pop singles, before producing several landmark albums in the 1970s. Though things inevitably went quieter after Moon's death in 1978, they still carried on and though Entwistle is now gone too, whilst Daltrey and Townshend remain, the Who will still rock on.

I Can't Explain

My Generation

Won't Get Fooled Again

Who Are You?

Tea and Theatre

alien

**misery guts** Mon Feb 17, 2014 8:15 am

Rockpalast: The Who
A near-2-hour concert from 1980 featuring the classic British rock band in good form, playing most if not all of their big hits, and a few of the lesser ones. It's amazing to see Roger Daltrey running on the spot during the long outro of Who Are You? an hour into the concert and seemingly bursting with energy. The encore was a bit of a letdown, a couple of uninspiring covers, although at least they did See Me Feel Me as well.

The Who: Tommy & Quadrophenia Live
Mix of concert footage with guest singers like Elton John, Billy Idol and Phil Collins, plus some commentary from Townshend & Daltrey. The first 1/3 was stuff from 'Tommy' (quite good), then 1/3 on 'Quadrophenia' (better than I expected), and finally some of their other hits. Overall, quite an entertaining show, I'm warming to the Who more & more

**misery guts** Mon Feb 17, 2014 8:19 am

Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
Long 2+hour overview of the chequered history of one of British rock's greatest bands, through their highs and lows. Another excellent and thorough account, pulling no punches.

Listening to You: The Who at the Isle of Wight
Legendary gig from 30th August, 1970, with the rock band in a peak phase, closing off with material from 'Tommy'. Good show.

The Who: The Vegas Job
Hour & half concert from 1999. The stamina and endurance of Daltrey in particular, but also Pete Townshend remains a marvel, and the songs remain classics, too.

**misery guts** Mon Feb 17, 2014 8:22 am

Quadrophenia: Can You See The Real Me?
I wasn't that taken with the film, but this doc about the album was pretty good. Pete Townshend explains the thinking behind the album in some detail, and there's interesting footage of the trouble they had with touring it. And they don't really mention the film version. And if you need a documentary years later to explain something, there's something wrong somewhere.

The Who: Live at Electric Proms
From their 2006 show, this featured many classics, along with material from then-new album 'Endless Wire', including unusual set-stopper 'Tea & Theatre'. Always watchable.

**misery guts** Mon Feb 17, 2014 8:33 am

The Who on Quadrophenia
Half-hour chat to Daltrey & Townshend to promote an imminent UK tour of the album. The quirk with bands like this is to realise how lucky they are that this is the surviving half of the band.

The Who: The Making of 'Tommy'
A solid hour explaining why it was a make-or-break time for the band as they moved from a singles pop act to a major albums rock group. Townshend explained how the story veered at times away from his strict concept, and how he felt these changes improved the thing. Daltrey's input shows how vital a part of the band he is.

**misery guts** Mon May 19, 2014 9:41 am

I read Pete Townshend's impressive autobiography, "Who I Am", which managed to combine a nerdy interest in dates and events, with the lyrical wordsmith inherent in being a songwriter of several decades' activity. He has some wry comments about addictions & failings, both his own and other peoples'. He expresses appropriate levels of regret for mistakes made and some observed and not prevented. It helps the band story that he and Roger are the survivors. Anyway, the book is worth it for both the diehard and the casual reader with a passing awareness of the band's huge musical legacy.

**misery guts** Mon Jun 30, 2014 10:09 am

They're celebrating their 50th anniversary with a typically sensible idea:

The Beginning of the Long Goodbye Tour

They will play nine venues, beginning in Glasgow on November 30 and ending at London’s O2 on December 17.

“This is the beginning of the long goodbye,” said Daltrey.

Townshend composed a statement to sum up his feelings about touring at his age: “Trying to stay young. Not wearing socks. Growing a great big Woodcutter’s beard. Might even wear a check shirt on stage and get a tattoo of a Union Jack. Always a fashion victim.

“But under no illusions. We are what we are, and extremely good at it, but we’re lucky to be alive and still touring.

They've done well to endure, and it's fortunate for the band that these two are the survivors (though probably entirely fitting).

**misery guts** Fri Sep 26, 2014 11:56 am

They've cooked up their first new song for 8 years:

Be Lucky

Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey are marking 50 years together as The Who with a two-CD hits collection that includes “Be Lucky,” their first new song in eight years. The Who premieres the track today over the airwaves in Britain and online with Speakeasy.

The tune evokes The Who of old, with a taut riff that gives way to bursts of roaring guitar from Townshend and full-throated vocals from Daltrey. They are backed by Pino Palladino on bass, Zak Starkey on drums and Mick Talbot, formerly of Style Council and Dexys, on keyboards.

Townshend and Daltrey are donating royalties from the song to Teen Cancer America, a charity the pair started in 2011 to benefit teens and young adults with cancer in the United States. The non-profit organization is an offshoot of Teen Cancer Trust, which Townshend and Daltrey founded 22 years ago in Britain.

**misery guts** Mon Oct 06, 2014 10:52 am

The South Bank Show Originals: Pete Townshend
From 1985, when Pete was working on a solo album, "White City", and still trying to push formats, to justify himself. He derides ageing rockers are glorified Morris men, which may seem more ironic almost 30 years later. He talked of rock's "golden age" being over, which is debatable, too. His book "Horse's Neck" also got a mention, together with his literary work for Faber & Faber. Whether there'll be a follow-up on him now is an intriguing one.

**misery guts** Fri Dec 19, 2014 2:11 pm

They've had to cancel/postpone some shows because Daltrey is having vocal problems Shocked

The Who: Up Close & Personal
Unlike many of these shows, this comprised solely of audio clips of all 4 main guys from various interviews (many with journo Steven Rosen). Because the band themselves were talking, it made a fresher spectacle than can sometimes be the case. They all came across as articulate and considered, though the clear sliding scale from Pete through Roger and John down to Keith was not a problem. It told their story only up to "Who's Next" anyway.

**misery guts** Sat Apr 11, 2015 11:45 am

Music In Review: The Who 1964-1967
Basically, just the first 2 LPs, though enthusiastically applauded for their hit singles, even if the first had more than the second. Early signs of experimentation pointing the way to later triumphs, & so on.

**misery guts** Sun May 17, 2015 7:49 am

The Who - Videobiography 1964-1967
I'd love to know whether there was any actual difference between this and the MIR show above. Much of the footage is identical, perhaps all of it. The first album seems more notable for its singles, whilst the second shows evolution of their format, as they grow towards the album force they will in the 1970s.

**misery guts** Wed Jul 08, 2015 9:40 am

The Who @ Glastonbury
They headlined the Pyramid stage on the last night this year with a hearty set from Who Are You? through to the closure of Won't Get Fooled Again. Roger and Pete were both in fine form, and had plenty of great material to get through. Will they be back? Time will tell.

**misery guts** Fri Jul 17, 2015 7:31 am

Classic Albums - Who's Next
From 1999, thus with John Entwistle alongside Pete & Roger, producer Glyn Johns and manager Chris Stamp. More colourful contributions came from ever-reliable PR Keith Altham, American journo Dave Marsh, and pal Irish Jack. Though the genesis might have been troubled, the end result was the classic case of victory from the jaws of defeat.

Pete Townshend's Classic Quadrophenia
From the Royal Albert Hall, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra glueing the story together, helped by a strong central effort from Alfie Boe, ably assisted by Pete Townshend himself, Phil Daniels himself for one number, and Billy Idol as the Ace Face. The crowd cheered every time Idol appeared, and despite his age, he looked as near as Sting, c. 1979, as you could hope to see. A really enjoyable show, a lot more than I found the film.

**misery guts** Sat Sep 19, 2015 7:58 am

The US leg of their 50th anniversary tour has been postponed because Roger Daltrey is suffering with viral meningitis

the dates are now being rescheduled for Spring 2016.

Get well soon, Rog Shocked

**misery guts** Sun Dec 06, 2015 11:10 am

Tommy
Rock opera directed by maverick Ken Russell. For about 2/3 of it, a fairly wacky look at the dangers of poor communication, especially where family love is concerned. The end bit, with the holiday camp, suddenly veers off in a quite different, and less satisfying, direction. The three central cast members are all excellent, and the celebrity musical cameos are a wild mixture (Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Elton John and Paul Nicholas).

**misery guts** Wed Mar 16, 2016 9:48 am

The Who: Live in Hyde Park
From their gig last summer, this lengthy show on the Great Oak Stage did feature some backstage chatter with Roger and Pete, plus one-offs cameos from Paul Weller and Johnny Marr, but mainly featured a wide-ranging performance of classic material, from a band who seem as powerful now as they ever were.

Lambert & Stamp
A 2014 doc recounting the band's time under the co-managership of Kit Lambert & Chris Stamp, with Roger, Pete and Chris Stamp doing most of the talking, but some good archive of Kit Lambert too. The duo's chalk & cheese relationship proved a great boon, and their idiosyncratic approach to management meant they achieved more than they otherwise might have done. The success of "Tommy" ended their financial woes, but also spelt the end of unity for the team, and Kit & Chris got sacked in 1974, in some legal acrimony. But Roger smoothed things over, and they all seem friends now (Kit having died a long time before). A refreshing spin on the usual story, helped as ever by great, passionate talkers.

**misery guts** Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:10 am

The Who - Live at Shea Stadium 1982
A heady 2+ hour shift from the gang, braving heavy rain and a boisterous crowd to deliver a great show. Their encore was mostly old time covers, not just "Summertime Blues", but a John Entwistle-sung version of "I Saw Her Standing There" and finishing on "Twist and Shout".

**misery guts** Thu Apr 21, 2016 8:07 am

They're still keen:

The Who confirm Mega-festival

It seems the baby boomers are going to be treated to the greatest celebration of their musical heroes ever seen in one spot. Last weekend, the organisers of the Coachella festival in California announced plans to put on a three-day mega-festival with just two acts per night: Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney on the first, the Rolling Stones and Neil Young on the second, and the Who and Roger Waters on the third.

Now the Who’s Roger Daltrey appears to have confirmed the story. “I think it’s us and Roger Waters on the same day,” he told the Canadian media company Postmedia Network. “It’s a fantastic idea for a festival. It’s the greatest remains of our era.”

The show is believed to be taking place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California – the Coachella site – from 7-9 October. However, Daltrey sounded a note of caution about the possibility of tickets not reaching the artists’ hardcore fans – such a lineup would be popular with both touts and with corporate entertainment departments. “I hope a lot of normal fans can get tickets before they get snatched up,” he said.

**misery guts** Thu Jun 09, 2016 7:23 am

But they're less keen on a sequel to Quadrophenia:

The Who criticise 'ridiculous' Quadrophenia sequel

Rock band The Who have attacked plans to make a sequel to Quadrophenia, the cult film based on their rock opera.

Set around the clashes between rival gangs in 1960s Brighton, the original starred Sting, Ray Winstone, Phil Daniels and Toyah Wilcox.

Reports of a sequel surfaced last month, with Wilcox among those rumoured to reprise their roles.

But Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey have denied involvement, calling the project "a blatant attempt to cash in".

In a strongly-worded statement, they said: "For the avoidance of doubt, this project isn't endorsed by The Who, Who Films, Universal or any of the other rights owners of the original."

Apparently, it's based on a book "inspired" by the film Rolling Eyes

**misery guts** Mon Feb 06, 2017 7:37 am

Discovering: The Who
A pretty rapid run-through from the band's formation and trouble finding a name. They had money worries, but solved that by moving from singles-heavy to album-heavy work, and changing managers. They made 2 more albums after Keith Moon had died, and one more after John Entwistle had gone. They will continue as long as Roger and Pete want to.

**misery guts** Mon May 08, 2017 7:45 am

Brian Johnson's A Life on the Road: Roger Daltrey
New series of old rock anecdotes starts with the Who frontman, interviewed at Bush Hall, Shepherds Bush, London. Daltrey talks about their American tours in 1967, having great blue collar crowds, the daftness of having to support Herman's Hermits, how crap motels could be, the spectacle of huge food, how Hendrix learned tricks from Pete Townshend, why the deaths of friends kept him from serious drugs (and was in a band with 3 addictive people anyway), arriving at Woodstock by car, meeting Brian in 1973 when Geordie were on TOTP, how 20,000 is an optimum audience size, the need for hearing aids, how the thrill of stage performance makes up for the mundanity of travel, and that he feels Keith and John are still on stage with them now. He's always good value is Roger.

**misery guts** Wed Sep 13, 2017 7:49 am

Sensation - The Story of the Who's Tommy
A 2013 run-through of the story, from the evolution of the band from singles to albums, the thinking that went into this album, how its live reception sold the record, and Woodstock immortalised them. I was interested in Townshend's idea that Tommy is hypnotised/traumatised by what he sees in a mirror, and when the mirror is broken, he comes out from the spell - which makes me think of the countless selfies I've seen taken in mirrors. But anyway...

**misery guts** Wed Oct 25, 2017 7:08 am

Quadrophenia - Live in London
The Who performing the hits from this 1973 album, at Wembley Arena in 2013. It worked pretty well without the visuals of the film, but there were clear tributes to John Entwistle and especially Keith Moon.

**misery guts** Fri Aug 03, 2018 6:36 am

Tommy - The Who: Live at the Royal Albert Hall
From Apr 2017, a gig in support of the Teenage Cancer Trust, amongst other reasons, as Pete & Rog (and Pete's son) sang the songs, some of which I recognised.

Roger is also following Pete into the autobiography game, with his own tome due out next month Cool

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