Let's say at the beginning that we're pretty much a Beatles guy at heart. After all, we do write the Beatles Examiner and Paul McCartney Examiner columns here.
But the Who, who will be playing the halftime show at the Super Bowl on Sunday, have always had a fond place in our heart. Not only for their music, but because of the several times I've seen them perform live.
Indeed, two of those are among the most memorable rock shows we've ever seen.
The first was in 1971 at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium. We remember we were in the balcony that night but we had a clear view to the stage. Finally the lights went down and the band started walking out on the stage. You couldn't tell one from another -- except when one of them did a windmill leap. The crowd, of course, recognized who it was and loudly screamed with excitement.
Then came the introductions. The late, great rock promoter Bill Graham himself introduced them. As we recall, it was John Entwistle first, then Roger Daltrey, both of whom saluted the crowd politely and got good applause. Then Graham said something like "Keith Moon on drums." And, of course, you couldn't introduce Keith Moon without him doing something, making noise or fooling around. He made the crowd laugh.
Then the last member of the group was introduced. And we remember the words exactly as Graham said them.
"And the King -- Pete Townshend," Graham said. The spotlight shined on Townshend and he was wearing a huge crown, kind of like the ones in the Imperial margerine commercials of the day. The crowd screamed as Graham said, "Ladies and gentlemen, The Who." And then, as we recall, the band roared into "I Can't Explain." The thrill of that introduction stuck with us.
The other unforgettable night was in November, 1973, at the Cow Palace on the infamous night when Keith Moon passed out at the drums and an audience member was recruited to take his place. We were standing on the left side of the crowded floor, but we never made a move to try and fill in, since we didn't know how to play the drums. We thought Scot Halpin, who did fill in, did a credible job. A video of the show taken by the Graham crew circulates among collectors.
One thing about seeing the Who -- they were LOUD! We remember our ears ringing for days after the Civic Auditorium show. Portions of that S.F. show, by the way, are available through iTunes.
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Comments
Steve: Great stories...Thanks for sharing....Mike
I agree with you even if I saw them1965 in my hometown Malmö in Sweden..-)
Now it seems pathetic to see them live.
I saw them after Keith died, with Kenny Jones on drums, at Madison Square Garden nearly 30 years ago. They were a year or two off of the last Who album with Keith ("Who Are You?"). I remember them opening with both "I Can't Explain" and "Substitute" and for the most part, they were rocking. At this point, their legendary status was secure, so it was just exciting to see these guys on the same stage, performing ANYTHING (although I really wish I could have seen Moon in his heyday).
"Live At Leeds" remains one of the finest, most potent rock and roll live albums ever made. The energy still crackles out of the speakers (or headphones) like nearly no other live rock album I've ever heard. The power, energy and pyrotechnics of the band-- Townshend's amazing rhythm/lead guitar work, Entwistle's bass sounding like a lead guitar, and Moon's manic drumming, not to mention Daltry's unique, classic vocals-- make this perhaps the best ever live rock album.
Long live The Who...even half of them.
Good story. But maybe you should decide whether you're writing 'I' or 'we'.
Yes, Steve, I've been meaning to ask you - what's with the royal "we"? ;-)
I saw them back in Nov.1967 at a teen club in Ft. Wayne, In. They were extremely loud & played hard & fast. Of course they destroyed all their gear in the end. Age has definitely slowed the last two down.
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