I grew up on The Who. They were the first rock band that I got into in a big, big way as a teenager. I started to play the bass because of John Entwistle (but only learned Yes' "Owner of a Lonely Heart" before chucking it in). For a brief time, they far, far surpassed even The Beatles in my list of favorite bands.
But all that's gone. I'm kind of sick of the band now. I was a bit happy to see "Quadrophenia" finally appreciated almost as much as "Tommy" and I still think "Happy Jack" and "Pictures of Lily" are great songs, but The Who can join U2 and The Police in the list of bands I just really need to avoid for a few more years.
Still, not listening to them for about 20 years has paid off as I can now listen to some songs again and really enjoy them.
VH1's Rock Honors: The Who TV program had its moments. Pearl Jam, a band I don't particularly like despite liking their politics at some times, turned in an overblown and histrionic "Love Reign O'er Me" which was as bad as it sounds on paper and then delivered a surprisingly hard, blistering "The Real Me." Incubus butchered Mod-period classics like "I Can See For Miles," and Tenacious D did an almost straight cover of "Squeeze Box."
But the highlight for me was The Foo Fighters with special guest vocalist Gaz Coombes of Supergrass doing "Bargain" off of "Who's Next." In all honesty, I had forgotten this song despite having played it hundreds of time when I was younger.
It's one of those weird mid-era Townshend cuts where you're not sure if he's singing about a girl or a guru: "I'd gladly lose me to find you" and all that...
Now, let's all hope that Mike Myers doesn't make his Keith Moon biopic (or at least if he does, that he doesn't play Moon the Loon himself!)
But all that's gone. I'm kind of sick of the band now. I was a bit happy to see "Quadrophenia" finally appreciated almost as much as "Tommy" and I still think "Happy Jack" and "Pictures of Lily" are great songs, but The Who can join U2 and The Police in the list of bands I just really need to avoid for a few more years.
Still, not listening to them for about 20 years has paid off as I can now listen to some songs again and really enjoy them.
VH1's Rock Honors: The Who TV program had its moments. Pearl Jam, a band I don't particularly like despite liking their politics at some times, turned in an overblown and histrionic "Love Reign O'er Me" which was as bad as it sounds on paper and then delivered a surprisingly hard, blistering "The Real Me." Incubus butchered Mod-period classics like "I Can See For Miles," and Tenacious D did an almost straight cover of "Squeeze Box."
But the highlight for me was The Foo Fighters with special guest vocalist Gaz Coombes of Supergrass doing "Bargain" off of "Who's Next." In all honesty, I had forgotten this song despite having played it hundreds of time when I was younger.
It's one of those weird mid-era Townshend cuts where you're not sure if he's singing about a girl or a guru: "I'd gladly lose me to find you" and all that...
Now, let's all hope that Mike Myers doesn't make his Keith Moon biopic (or at least if he does, that he doesn't play Moon the Loon himself!)