smoe.org mailing lists
ivan@stellysee.de
| From | "Jim Lines" <ricky@jameslines.freeserve.co.uk> |
| Subject | Re: What about the Who?!? |
| Date | Fri, 13 May 2005 08:21:24 +0100 |
[Part 1 text/plain iso-8859-1 (3.5 kilobytes)]
(View Text in a separate window)
Grreen Day have often stated their love of The Who.
Jim Lines
www.rickyonline.co.uk
----- Original Message -----
From: <rob@splitsville.com>
To: <audities@smoe.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 11:30 PM
Subject: What about the Who?!?
> Since we're throwing bands around as being 'better than this' and 'as
important as that', I have to mention the 'orrible 'Oo.
>
> It's amazing how everyone from the great (yeah, Green Day) to the crappy
(Avril Levigne) claims to be 'punk' or 'punk inspired'. And they're all
wearing their Ramones or NY Dolls or Sex Pistols t-shirts.
>
> And those punk bands deserve every shred of adulation they receive. But
it's obvious that the Who invented punk rock. Daltrey's yelp, Entwistle and
Moon's booming sound and, especially, Townshend's songs were the blue print
for the great US and UK 1970's punk explosion that is suddenly en vogue
today.
>
> Go back to 1965- the Fabs were writing mostly relationship songs (although
Rubber Soul was getting a little trippy).
>
> The Stones were writing social commentary, but mostly in the third person.
Jagger sang as if he were a bystander, observing and being condescending
('Stupid Girl', 'Mother's Little Helper', 'Lady Jane', etc.) toward the
lifestyles of the socialites the Stones were getting to know.
>
> Dylan, of course, was writing social commentary in the first person, but
from a folksy angle, with more emphasis on the words (although the words
were brilliant and devastating...a la 'Like A Rolling Stone'). Of course the
music was great, but it didn't grab you buy the throat. Dylan's genius was
in the lyrics, obviously.
>
> But imagine hearing 'My Generation' or 'Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere' coming
out of the radio in '65. The Who were the first band to play AGGRESSIVE
music (screams and stutters, crazy drums, loud guitar feedback, etc.) along
with first person lyrics stating 'this is my situation, my world, and you
may think it sucks, but it's better than yours'.
>
> PT's lyrics were basically the punk dictionary; plus, punk drummers of the
late 70's (and 80's and 90's and 00's and ad infinitum), play(ed) like Moon
was the only drummer in the world.
>
> And on the flip side of that, with songs like 'Pictures of Lily' and 'Kids
Are Alright', the Who also invented power pop. PT (allegedly) coined the
term, for chrissakes.
>
> How about heavy metal? Live at Leeds was recorded in '69. At this time Led
Zep and Page were channeling Joni Mitchell. (Yes, a flippant overstatement,
but PT's introspective writing is the only reason they didn't become the
greatest heavy metal band of all time.)
>
> Prog Rock? In the 60's, synthesizers were basically used as a gimmick, or
at least in very rare circumstances (the Beatles 'Because'). But Townshend,
on Who's Next, was the first to use the synth as a bona-fide ROCK instrument
('Baba', 'Won't Get Fooled Again'). He took this to greater heights on the
amazing Quadrophenia. Then came Yes, ELP, etc.
>
> That this is a good thing or not is debatable.
>
> But you get the point. And think about this...of the great (and/or
popular) bands that have existed from the rise of Nirvana to today, how many
have that Chuck Berry-esque sound like the Stones? How many have that
'Middle Earth' feel like Zep?
>
> But how many sound like the sons of the Ramones, Pistols and Buzzcocks? In
other words, how many sound like the grandsons of the Who? Enough said.
>
> Next Thursday, May 19, is Pete's 60th birthday. Celebrate accordingly.
>
> I know that the hypnotized never lie,
>
> Rob
> www.splitsville.com
>
>
For assistance, please contact
the smoe.org administrators.