Although as grammar-school boys, Townshend and Entwistle played with Daltrey since 1962 first with
the Detours and then - following the era's mod trend - as the High Numbers they didn't manage
to really get off the ground. Until one late 1964 night at the Royal Oldfield Hotel, a young kid
from the audience told them that he could play the drums much better than their drummer. And he
proved it by demolishing the drum kit at the concert interval !
The kid was Keith Moon who naturally joined them immediately , and the Who were formed.
An accidental breaking of Townshend's guitar at the Railway annoyed him so much one night that
he proceeded to smash it to bits. The audience's reaction was such, that the rest of the group
smashed their instruments in front of a delirious crowd ! A new tradition was just born. A finale
to concerts which meant to be the Who's trademark through the years...
An early 1965 single I Can't Explain, boosted by their appearance on 'Top of the Pops' (famous
UK TV musical show) marked their first entrance in the Top Ten (#8).
Within a few months their second single -Anyway,Anyhow,Anywhere - made #10 and was even used
as the theme song to TV's ever popular show 'Ready, Steady, Go'.
Could their 3rd single also be a success after these two ?? It became a lot more than that ..
My Generation was adopted by the era's angry youth as their national anthem (Hope I die before
I get old) and reached #2 on the charts !
Despite their (My Generation) LP doing well on both sides of the Atlantic it wasn't all 'wine and
roses' for the group; severe financial problems (the smashing of their equipment costing more than
they were actually earning) were topped by personal clashes over leadership and constant threats
of splitting up (the latter continued for 20 years...).
Success however continued, with their next 1966 singles breaking the charts - Substitute at #5,
I'm a Boy at #2 and Happy Jack at #3, and the same followed in 1967 with Pictures of Lily at
#4 and I Can See for Miles at #10.
The Who have moved away from 'mod' and after a brief 'pop-art' phase (Union Jack jackets,longer hair,etc)
they adopted a semi-hippy look through the late 60's. They appeared in the USA on TV's 'Murray the K' show
and toured the States extensively as a support group to Herman's Hermits. Acceptance on the
other side of the Atlantic only came though after their explosive (smoke bombs and stage destruction) appearance
at the Monterey Pop Festival.
Until the release of Tommy the Who were mainly a 'singles' band. Their LPs A Quick One and
The Who Sell Out (cover with Daltrey sitting in a bath of baked beans..) never did particulary
well.
But in 1969 they released their double-LP Tommy : a 'rock opera' concept album,
chronicling the adventures of a deaf,dumb and blind boy. From now on the Who music became more politically,
socially and spiritually thought-provoking. Daltrey became more of a front-man, and the band toured for two
years performing Tommy live at various European and American opera houses, including the N.Y.
Metropolitan Opera - where they received a 20 minute standing ovation ! The "Who" image during this era
was now long blond curly-haired Daltrey in leather fringe twirling his mike, and Townshend in his white
boiler suit doing scissor leaps; this was their scene at Woodstock as well, the latter
confirming their future success in the USA.
In 1970 they released Live at Leeds, a fine example of live Who concert; they have long been considered
one of the top five live acts in rock 'n' roll. Few can match their intensity and versatility, and
very few moments in rock are more universally moving than their See Me,Feel Me finale.
Despite their hard work, their next LP project Lifehouse fails, but remains were salvaged to make Who's Next their
first to feature synthesizers, frequently used thereafter.
Their next major project, Quadrophenia, was underrated at the time (criticized for over-orchestration) but was finally appreciated
in 1979 when repackaged as movie soundtrack for their film of the same name.
By 1975 all four Who members had made solo albums - but no new Who material was being recorded. It seemed that nothing could match the success
of Tommy; in 1975 it was Ken Russel's 'Tommy" film starring Roger Daltrey which brought the band whole new following,
rather than their new LP Who by Numbers - an album poorly received, addressing problems of ageing. They hit the road again
over 1975-76, selling out soccer stadiums everywhere. With a three year interval in recording, their next
album Who Are You in 1978 logically became their greatest seller after Tommy.
The untimely death of Keith Moon on September 7, 1978 forced the Who to consider folding, but by early
1979 they continued with their new drummer Kenney Jones (exSmall Faces and Faces). The press were now calling 1979
The year of the Who. Extensive touring and two successful Who films The Kids Are Alright which was a biography of the band, and
Quadrophenia, with their accompanying soundtracks, put the Who back in business. However the year ended tragically
when 11 fans of theirs were crushed to death at a Cincinatti concert on December 3, 1979. Despite considering to disband, they
continued their USA tour well into 1980.
Face Dances in 1981, their first new material in three years, was found to be innovative by some, however most considered it wrong for the Who. Despite
an entry in the US Top-20, the band was now being largely ignored in the UK. Townshend was driven to drink and drugs by family and band problems combined, and
the feeling was that the Who had finished. He managed to go straight though by early '82, and their next LP It's Hard in conjunction with succesful U.S.
touring proved that the band was still strong. However within 1982, they decided to call it a day, going out in style with the US "Farewell Tour"- grossing 40 million Dollars.
They regrouped in 1985 for "Live Aid" at Wembley, and have been getting together since, when occasion called for it.
The Who were undoubtedly one of the greatest bands of the 60's/70's, a potent mixture of rebel sensibility and explosive creativity.
On top of the sky is a place where you go if you've done nothing wrong,
If you've done nothing wrong.
And down in the ground is a place where you go if you've been a bad boy,
If you've been a bad boy.
Why can't we have eternal life, and never die,
Never die?
In the place up above you grow feather wings and you fly round and round,
With a harp singing hymns.
And down in the ground you grow horns and a tail and you carry a fork,
And burn away.
Why can't we have eternal life, And never die,
Never die?
Heaven and Hell
Dedicated..
