The Who started life as a Mod Beat group in the early sixties with the heavy riffed and highly original ‘I Can’t Explain’. For a number of years they were largely a singles act with a series of diverse and distinctive numbers that headed into the psychedelic market as well as developing an explosive stage act which featured the auto-destruction of equipment and sometimes each other.
As the sixties culminated in the development of the youth counter-culture the Who were one of the bands who made the transition into the Hippie culture and scored hugely with the Rock Opera ‘Tommy’. They weren’t the first Rock outfit to do a Rock Opera – The Pretty Things had that distinction with their SF Sorrow. By this time the Who had established themselves as the most exciting act on the circuit. Their antics were on everyone’s lips. They had it all.
Keith Moon was the most incredible drummer. Not only was he extremely technically proficient but also projected an extremely visual and lively image. Seldom has anyone obscured behind a huge kit managed to become the leading showman of the group. Keith, with his flailing arms, huge personality, popping eyes and pouting mouth managed just that. Not only did he sound great but you couldn’t tear your eyes off him.
Pete Townsend on guitar had to pull out all the stops to stay with him and get a little attention for himself. He became one of the most sensational guitarists and leading exponent of that combined rhythm and lead. He filled in all the riffs and blazed out scorching lead runs and did it all while leaping half a mile in the air with bent knees or wind milling his arms like a demented propeller or performing a series of antics that rivalled Jimi Hendrix. It usually ended in him smashing his guitar and gouging it into the amps and mic-stand. The cost of repairing and replacing equipment almost bankrupted them but it certainly got the crowd going.
Roger Daltry, with his long corkscrew hair flying, bright blue eyes and microphone antics not only had the voice but also commanded the stage in a way that caught the eye. He strut around with the tassels on his jackets flying, his chest bare and fling the microphone out like a lasso in a circle over the audience hauling it back in and catching it. It was awesome.
John Entwhistle had obviously long ago decided that there was more than enough histrionics in one band and stood stock still living up to his name ‘The Ox’. Yet he delivered the most incredible bass in a fashion never heard before. He played the bass as a lead instrument creating a style that changed Rock Music.
They were almost unbeatable. You got three top showmen for the price of one. Even with the loss of first Keith and then John they were still formidable. The quality of the songs held it together.
Neither Tommy or Quadrophenia were my favourites. I preferred the incredible ‘Who’s Next’. What an album.