Because after the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, this is the most important British rock group and one of the most important to emerge in the "British Invasion" of the 1960s. Because they had an important debut album, because they were initially known for schtick, and because their reputation is now based not on the schtick but on the music they produced.
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So about The Who. Many groups who are still performing have websites which they use to, among other things, tell the history of the band in exactly the way they want to. And this is, in fact, appropriate timing, because the lead singer of the Who, Roger Daltrey, will celebrate his 70th birthday on Saturday, March 1. So Happy Birthday, Roger.
Anyhow, the Who came together as a band in late 1963 and early 1964, like the Rolling Stones, in London. Not Liverpool, London, but as a "mod" group. Four guys,: Daltrey for the vocals, Pete Townshend on guitar, John Entwhistle on bass, and Keith Moon on drums. And VERY quickly, they had their first hit. Yes, this is a response to the Kinks. Jimmy Page is playing rhythm guitar on this. And if there are ANY more recognizable opening chords . . .
Impossibly young, no? Then, in, as they remember, September 1964,
Pete smashes his first guitar – by accident – at the Railway Hotel in Harrow. In his frustration he deliberately reduces it to splinters, thereby igniting the most exciting live act pop has ever seen. A week later at the same venue, Keith smashes his drum-kit to demonstrate solidarity.
For that (the schtick), we go to their closing number at Monterey Pop (1967), and the second song I intended to play anyway.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience came on stage right after that, so it's no wonder Hendrix set his guitar on fire at the end of their set.
A tremendously ambitious group, The Who released the rock opera Tommy in the summer of 1969. Rolling Stone lists it as #96 in the 500 Top Albums of all time:
"Rock opera" is one way to describe this exploration of childhood trauma, sexual abuse, repression and spiritual release. Here's another way: the slash and thunder of "My Generation" blown wide open. Driven by Keith Moon's hellbent drumming, the Who surge and shine, igniting the drama in Pete Townshend's melodies.
I could do a diary simply on this, but here's my favorite song from it. From the 1975 movie version, the song, repeated over the end credits.
I think I might have mentioned that I listened to three albums over and over again while I was writing my honors thesis at Cornell in the spring of 1971, and Who's Next? was one of them. Two songs from this album. The first, as a tribute to one of our most regular visitors.
The second, because it's simply one of the greatest rock and roll songs of all time. Rolling Stone has it at #134 on the 500 top songs, but that list has always been suspect to me because the #1 song is Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone. As The Offspring would say, "Right, Yeah."
Anthemic for SO many good reasons. Admittedly, Pete Townshend thinks it's cautionary, and it is, but really . . . Besides, it's an internet meme, because it's used over the titles of CSI: Miami.
I ws thinking of a song from their 1982 album, It's Hard, because the album has so many good things on it, but really. I don't think I should ask you to listen to anything after Won't Get Fooled Again.
Influential. Right up there with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Embed away, since I REALLY just scratched the surface.
And now for the stuff that makes this Top Comments:
TOP COMMENTS, February 26, 2014: Thanks to tonight's Top Comments contributors! Let us hear from YOU when you find that proficient comment.
From brillig:
So there's been pie, and meta, and a whole lot of DBAD, and an apology. Within that comment section came this pearl of wisdom from Arilca Mockingbird.
From Eyesbright:
This comment from niemann in Laura Clawson's diary, "Republicans squirm over Arizona anti-gay bill," is perfect!
From Lily O Lady:
liberaldregs adds to the Orwellian lexicon in Liberty Equality Fraternity and Trees' diary about the definition of "wealthy seniors."
From TerryDarc:
singe tells it like it is in Greg Dworkin's Abbreviated Pundit Roundup.
From your intrepid diarist, Dave in Northridge:
Floyd Blue delivers a GREAT interpretation of the Arizona religious discrimination bill in the comment section of Matt Bors' cartoon, Arizona discrimination, Leviticus style. I'd also like to honor David54's contributions to the thread.
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