Thee 'Orrible 'OO, The World's Worst Rock'n'Roll Band. Rogered Adultery.

[John Battles]

It's been brought to my attention that , while we've had some interesting ongoing discussions about The Stones , The Who seldom if ever comes up here...

If anyone wants to talk about The Who's (vast) influence on what we now call Garage Punk, OR , JUST ON YOU , PERSONALLY, the floor is open. Sure, I was a wee small lad when they actually broke, but it's important (though painfully obvious) to note that the early Who , like The Pretty Things or The Small Faces , were largely an underground group in the states that a select number of Garage bands drew inspiration from , before the king - size hit , "I Can See For Miles" and the conquest of Monterrey Pop in '67..... 

Two things you're free to take with a grain of salt : Kenny Jones. He killed. Live , at least. He did'nt try to emulate Moon . Yet , he has a bad rap for NOT trying. Only Zak Starkey has pulled that particular stunt off....

And "Call Me Lightning" ,  one of their best R'N'R songs. I've only heard three bands cover it : The (Later ) Flamin' Groovies , Los Johnny Jets (As "Dam Dam" ) and Joan Jett and The Blackhearts. Anyone heard any other versions?

[John Battles]

Maybe the first couple of sentences are'nt appearing here.....I usually see the intros to other people's blogs before I click on 'em.

But , if you're just tuning in , have a look , leave a comment regarding The Who and their infuence on US and UK GARAGE ROCK  , FREAKBEAT , Punk , non  - US/UK  bands , too , AND OF COURSE, mOD (SOME MODS STILL PREFER GUITARS OVER STRINGS AND VIBES , i'M TOLD.) .The phone lines are open !

Sorry if the title was too vague. That's an ongoing joke amongst The Who and their fans.

[melissa scott]

Hmmmm, I seem to recall several conversations regarding The 'OO and garage... Are the Who so incredibly tied to STADIUM RAWK now that they're not worth discussing re garage? I just can't believe it's true! Did the '70's block our Who-dar in the Hideout?

Too commercial to discuss? I'm interested in hearing about who have been influenced by the Who musically, personally, whatever. Me? I can't think of garagepunk without thinking about a certain 'attitude' -- and a sound that ingested early R&B, blues, then spit it back out in a new form. The Who had that basement, raw, obnoxious sound.

Could there be any more opinionated, snot-nosed, punks than Townsend in his prime? Could anyone mess up their kit better than Moon? There'd be no '70's punk without 'em. And certainly no Jam (well, duh).

Who are the Who-Heads? :D

[trashman]

Despite hearing the song a hundred thousand times, I still max the volume for My Generation every time I catch it on the radio.  I also need a regular dose of Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (including the Live Five version which I just clicked on to complete this post).  

The early stuff is just downright incredible (all their stuff is but in regards to punk).  But obviously their talent was too big to just stay in the lo-fi garage standard.  Amazing to think Tommy was their 4th studio album, they had evolved that much, that quickly.  By 1967 they had horns in their tracks (Pictures of Lily).  After all, Entwistle was a french horn player I have read.

Obviously, for the overall world of Rock-n-Roll we should be pleased they developed the way they did.  But I wish they had put out another album or two before they went so rock opera so I had a few more raw songs.  Probably timing, maybe if they came out just a year or two earlier things would have moved differently.  To me, their best return to the veracity of the early stuff was their cover of "Summertime Blues".  

[Gringo Starr]

Thee 'OO!! Probably third place in the 'Holy Trinity' of the British Invasion by most enthusiasts but they are my favorite! Yes, I am an American, a total U.S. 'Garage-in-the-mid-sixties' freak and a die-hard Who fan!! Arguably the first Punk band in Rock and Roll history as well as having one member blow away the song writing skills of Lennon/Macartney (spelling?) and Jagger/Richards in a single bound (starting with The Who Sells Out). I love the whole sordid story of these boys, the four opposite personalities, the fights onstage and the love that would come later. The music of the Who is by far the most timeless out of the other two bands mentioned above and I expect time will prove that out (in time). Way too much for me to say about these lads so just let me get on the board here; I am one of the Who-Heads!

[Andy Climax]

Thought i'd throw this in the mix. My fave Who song very much brought to life. Very early performance on an amazing Brit 60's tv show 'Ready Steady Go' Everyone who was anyone played this show first. Check out the early Animals performances as well. The Yardbirds did an amazing version of 'A Certain Girl' on there as well. Check it out. Roger and co may have their critics. Apart from the early 80's pop guff, The Who abide on many plains.

http://youtu.be/DU6EQ5hXSIs

[John Battles]

Thank you. That's what I'm talkin' bout my g...g...De - generation. I'll be back , later  ,to respond to your comments. Ready Steady Go was a great show, believe it or not , The Disney Channel used to show it , but , Dave Clark wisely bought the whole fam dangle years ago , but , that meant he could distribute clips sparingly at his leisure. I have two really good VHS tapes from the 80's. The Who are on 'em , as well as the Stones , Them , that GREAT aNIMALS CLIP AND OTHERS.... 

[melissa scott]

Well, the Who were my first Big Band, ya neh? Me and Trixie, 12-year-old DJ wannabees, would record our own radio shows full of Who tracks. I'm with trashman -- if only they had done a few more low-fi, raw albums before traveling at lightspeed to Rock Opera! One can only imagine... Still, Quadraphenia comes miles before Tommy on my stereo and for all their worldwide fame and notoriety, they still don't get the airplay of the Stones or Beatles, which probably suits me anyhow.

Hey Gringo -- I reckon you are onto something tho' -- the whole larikin/lad aspect of the Who make them a decidedly blokey band. Ditto when the Jam first toured the US. I remember being one of the few females to venture out in front of the stage (well, there were a lot of jumping boys going nuts) and no screaming girls. Hmmmm. Less girlie appeal means fewer top 40 hits? Anyway, you can't sell teen mags that way, a contributor to the different fortunes, not that the Who didn't sell records, but... they always seemed to have one foot in the alleyway.

Must now go and play some early 'OO clips to work by.

[John Battles]

Yeah , it's kind of pointless to used their later Stadium Rock status as some kind of buffer to undermine The Who's influence...... I mean , even Led Zeppelin have had Punk cred since the 80's ....Not by me , they have'nt , but , "Underground" bands like The Flaming Lips and The Cult wore their Zeppelin stripes proudly in The 80's . THAT AND "Tommy " era  Who , as opposed to DUM ! DUM ! DUM ! DURANG ! CALL ME LIGHTNING , MOTHER FUCKER  ! RUN , RUN , RUN ! OUT IN THE STREET ! THE GOOD'S GONE !  I HAVE'NT GOT 11 KIDS , I WERE'NT KILLED IN BAGHDAD , I AIN'T ARF MICRONESIAN , AND I DID'NT KILL YOUR DAD . IT'S NOT TRUE , IT'S NOT TRUE , I'M TELLING YOU , WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THE WHO , FRIENDS , IT'S NOT TRUE. 
 
melissa scott said:

Hmmmm, I seem to recall several conversations regarding The 'OO and garage... Are the Who so incredibly tied to STADIUM RAWK now that they're not worth discussing re garage? I just can't believe it's true! Did the '70's block our Who-dar in the Hideout?

Too commercial to discuss? I'm interested in hearing about who have been influenced by the Who musically, personally, whatever. Me? I can't think of garagepunk without thinking about a certain 'attitude' -- and a sound that ingested early R&B, blues, then spit it back out in a new form. The Who had that basement, raw, obnoxious sound.

Could there be any more opinionated, snot-nosed, punks than Townsend in his prime? Could anyone mess up their kit better than Moon? There'd be no '70's punk without 'em. And certainly no Jam (well, duh).

Who are the Who-Heads? :D

[John Battles]

I agree....I   CAN'T LEAVE THE ROOM WHEN "MY GENERATION" OR "ANYWAY , ANYHOW , ANYWHERE" , AND , OF COURSE , "CAN'T EXPLAIN" COME ON ,
 Regardless of how many times I've heard them....All those songs , and most of their early repertoirre , had that Punk swagger. "Anyway , Anyhow , Anywhere" sounds like a John Cage /Stockhausen Rock'n'Roll nightmare ,  before The Red Krayola arrived. The idea of using feedback as an instrument was quickly picked up by Hendrix , The MC5 , Blue Cheer , and a Godzillion others , upon being exposed to Townsend's angry attack , which was his way of preceding Punk as we now know it......

Besides , not did only "Summertime Blues" have it , but , especially the opener, "My Generation" on "Live at Leeds" sounds as hard and fast as anything The Sex Pistols did. One of the guys in Def Leppard said "I DEFY ANY METAL BAND TO SOUND AS HEAVY AS THE WHO DID ON THAT LIVE VERSION OF "MY GENERATION" , AND THOSE VOCALS , TOTAL JAMES BROWN ! ". So true. Regardless of the source.
trashman said:

Despite hearing the song a hundred thousand times, I still max the volume for My Generation every time I catch it on the radio.  I also need a regular dose of Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (including the Live Five version which I just clicked on to complete this post).  

The early stuff is just downright incredible (all their stuff is but in regards to punk).  But obviously their talent was too big to just stay in the lo-fi garage standard.  Amazing to think Tommy was their 4th studio album, they had evolved that much, that quickly.  By 1967 they had horns in their tracks (Pictures of Lily).  After all, Entwistle was a french horn player I have read.

Obviously, for the overall world of Rock-n-Roll we should be pleased they developed the way they did.  But I wish they had put out another album or two before they went so rock opera so I had a few more raw songs.  Probably timing, maybe if they came out just a year or two earlier things would have moved differently.  To me, their best return to the veracity of the early stuff was their cover of "Summertime Blues".  

[John Battles]

You have to see "The Kids are All Right" or various other documentaries to get a feel for how truly anti - social these boys could be , EVEN AFTER they were rolling in the dough.....

We did'nt really know how badly The Ramones actually got along , until Dee Dee left , and after the band broke up. With the Who , their business was in the street.
 
Gringo Starr said:

Thee 'OO!! Probably third place in the 'Holy Trinity' of the British Invasion by most enthusiasts but they are my favorite! Yes, I am an American, a total U.S. 'Garage-in-the-mid-sixties' freak and a die-hard Who fan!! Arguably the first Punk band in Rock and Roll history as well as having one member blow away the song writing skills of Lennon/Macartney (spelling?) and Jagger/Richards in a single bound (starting with The Who Sells Out). I love the whole sordid story of these boys, the four opposite personalities, the fights onstage and the love that would come later. The music of the Who is by far the most timeless out of the other two bands mentioned above and I expect time will prove that out (in time). Way too much for me to say about these lads so just let me get on the board here; I am one of the Who-Heads!

[John Battles]

It would have been nice if The Who had done a few more stripped - down affairs to leave with an understanding....And , Quadrophenia could have benefitted from SOME MORE FUCKING GUITARS , PETE , but , sure , I have a copy. I even have a copy of "Tommy" , mainly because I found an original on Decca , stone mint for $2. I figured I'd want to play it again , someday (My 1st copy was stolen in 1980.), that was about 10 years ago. I do like the movie , though Arthur Brown should have sung the whole of "Eyesight To The Blind", and Alice Cooper should have played Cousin Kevin. Think about it. But , there were later tracks I still like too , like "I Don't Even Know Myself" , "Relay" , "Water" , even "The Who By Mumbers" has some good rockers on it.   As for The Jam , you'd think girls would've liked them in their spiffy haircuts and suits. But , maybe they were too aggro for many young women of the day ? At least , in the states . Or , possibly , just too loud. One of my friends saw them at The Riviera in Chicago (He may have meantThe Park West.)  , and said he had to adjourn to the men's bog , and listen from there , because they were SO FUCKING LOUD.
 
melissa scott said:

Well, the Who were my first Big Band, ya neh? Me and Trixie, 12-year-old DJ wannabees, would record our own radio shows full of Who tracks. I'm with trashman -- if only they had done a few more low-fi, raw albums before traveling at lightspeed to Rock Opera! One can only imagine... Still, Quadraphenia comes miles before Tommy on my stereo and for all their worldwide fame and notoriety, they still don't get the airplay of the Stones or Beatles, which probably suits me anyhow.

Hey Gringo -- I reckon you are onto something tho' -- the whole larikin/lad aspect of the Who make them a decidedly blokey band. Ditto when the Jam first toured the US. I remember being one of the few females to venture out in front of the stage (well, there were a lot of jumping boys going nuts) and no screaming girls. Hmmmm. Less girlie appeal means fewer top 40 hits? Anyway, you can't sell teen mags that way, a contributor to the different fortunes, not that the Who didn't sell records, but... they always seemed to have one foot in the alleyway.

Must now go and play some early 'OO clips to work by.

[melissa scott]

Since I'm talking from one 'OO 'ead to another, Mr. G. Starr, would you say Moon had an influence on you as a drummer? The more I read about him, the more I'm intrigued by what he did.

Would love to hear a drummer's perspective.

Ditto for the guitarists on the Hideout re Mr. Townsend's influence, if any...

Mel, who is still grateful to the babysitter who let her stay up late to watch The Who on the Tom Jones Show :D

Gringo Starr said:

Thee 'OO!! Probably third place in the 'Holy Trinity' of the British Invasion by most enthusiasts but they are my favorite! Yes, I am an American, a total U.S. 'Garage-in-the-mid-sixties' freak and a die-hard Who fan!! Arguably the first Punk band in Rock and Roll history as well as having one member blow away the song writing skills of Lennon/Macartney (spelling?) and Jagger/Richards in a single bound (starting with The Who Sells Out). I love the whole sordid story of these boys, the four opposite personalities, the fights onstage and the love that would come later. The music of the Who is by far the most timeless out of the other two bands mentioned above and I expect time will prove that out (in time). Way too much for me to say about these lads so just let me get on the board here; I am one of the Who-Heads!