History of Rock: The Who

Why was Quadrophenia (1973) the beginning of the end for The Who?

Pete Townshend crafted the album with full control, which alienated the other members. The resulting tour was a disaster, because the band was unable to perform it successfully. Additionally, Keith Moon's substance abuse issues were getting exponentially worse. The Who went on an 18-month hiatus after the tour ended.

The Who were one of the first bands to include a __________ __________, which would define how rock was played for the foreseeable future.

Rhythm section

Band members

Roger Daltrey (vocals), Pete Townshend (guitar), John Entwistle (bass), and Keith Moon (drums)

What was the moral of Tommy?

Spiritual enlightenment cannot come from prolonged use of mind altering drugs, but through a conscious decision to change one's attitude. (most hippies missed the point)

Certain movements that Townshend used on stage are now iconic in rock and roll. What were they?

The 'windmill' and 'birdman'

What did Townshend draw inspiration from in writing Tommy?

His childhood experiences and spiritual concerns.

When and where did The Who first find great success?

In England in the mid-1960s

When and how did Keith Moon die?

In September of 1968, shortly before the release of Who Are You. He overdosed on a drug that was prescribed to wean him from alcohol.

What was the focus of Tommy?

It told the story of a main character named Tommy, who, while deaf, dumb, and blind, achieves heightened levels of consciousness. Tommy, as a helpless child, experiences abuse and bullying but eventually regains his senses and founds a church of higher spirituality.

Who was the first real sex symbol among the group?

Keith Moon

A unique aspect of The Who's rise to stardom is that their reputation was exclusively built in ___________.

London

Who was the primary songwriter of The Who?

Pete Townshend

What was The Who's early success built on?

Visually stunning, high-volume performances.

When did Roger Daltrey finally regain his voice within the group?

When he personified Tommy during their 1969/1970 album release/tour

Pete Townshend's follow-up project to Tommy, called Lighthouse, failed during production due to it's complicated nature. What famous album came out of this?

Who's Next (1971); hailed as one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time. Included songs such as "Baba O'Riley," "Behind Blue Eyes," and "Won't Get Fooled Again."

Early music by The Who consisted of: a) Albums b) Singles

b) singles

What was The Who's first single?

"I Can't Explain"

What was The Who's signature song in the 1960s?

"My Generation"

What two songs by The Who became anthems of the mod culture in London?

"The Kids Are Alright" and "My Generation"

The band was often plagued with internal issues. What were some of them?

-Inexperienced management -Bad record deals -Infighting -Constant financial stress

What was the swan song for The Who's original lineup.

A successful arena tour in 1976.

Why was the album Tommy (1969) significant for The Who?

Because it was their first commercially successful album. It finally put them on the map in the industry.

The Who became somewhat associated with 'acid rock' despite not considering themselves as such and not condoning the use of LSD. Why?

Because of their appearance at Monterey 1967, as well as the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival in 1969

Roger Daltrey was briefly kicked out of The Who in 1965 for an outburst on the other members. What affect did this have on the structure of the group?

Daltrey was no longer the de facto leader of the group following this. Up until then, he really controlled the direction of the band. He had to face the reality that The Who was no longer his.

The Who was by far the most ______________ rock & roll group to come out of London in the 1960s

Dynamic

What occurred between The Who and Jimi Hendrix at the Monterey Pop Festival of 1967?

The two acts were trying to outdo each other. Both wanted to go on first so they could upstage the other, so the decision was put to a coin toss. The Who won, and went on first. However, Hendrix still overshadowed them, as he set his guitar on fire after his performance. This became one of the most visually defining moments of the late 1960s.

After becoming famous all around Europe, what truly catapulted The Who into international stardom?

Their stage shows. Especially after Keith Moon and Pete Townshend began smashing their gear on stage.

After Monterey '67, Pete Townshend had a bad acid trip on the plane ride back to England. How did this affect his songwriting?

This trip caused Townshend to focus on spirituality and become a follower of Meher Baba, an Indian Spiritual Master. This now-lifelong ambition is reflected in his lyrics.