The Who

September 2, 1967

WHO ARE THE WHO? OR SHOULD IT BE WHO IS THE WHO? ANYWAY, THAT question was answered recently when the British foursome toured this country with Herman’s Hermits and the Blues Magoos. The Who is one of England’s most popular groups, but only recently did they gain fame in this country with two successive hit records, “Happy Jack” and “Pictures of Lily.”

The reason for the group not being well known in this country is, as Pete Townshend, lead guitarist, put it, “A lot of our records were banned in America. When we made a record, we weren’t concentrating on the States. When ‘Happy Jack’ went over big, everyone was pleased.”

During a show at Constitution Hall, the Who’s instrument-smashing act stole the show from Herman’s Hermits. Pete explained why he and the drummer, Keith Moon, break their instruments: “It’s mainly for audience reaction.”

“If our instruments get broken, we try to repair them,” Pete said. “I have two Fender guitars—one to play and one to play and break. I try to break the body one job and the neck the next job.

“If I have a lot of quality parts left, I buy cheap guitars and put the parts on them,” he continued. “For a while I was buying Fender Stratocasters at one hundred dollars a shot in New York.”

Besides Keith and Pete, the other members of the group are Roger Daltrey, singer, and John Entwhistle, bass guitarist. John is also accomplished on the French horn, cornet, and tuba.

When Pete was asked about the flower power and psychedelic scene, his first reply was: “No comment at all.” But, after a little coaxing, he went into a lengthy discussion.

The Who (Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend) in D.C.

PHOTO BY MIKE KLAVANS

“In England it’s just another fashion,” he said. “People are still basically the same. They’re not interested in the philosophy—just the clothes. Everything to do with that scene is just temporary. But what they’re saying is valid.

“You know, it’s a new Christianity,” he said. “It’s a new faith. Teenagers have to have faith. No human mind is capable of believing there is no outside influence. There must be something bigger than us. Even if a mind is transferred (reincarnation), it wouldn’t remember. Humans go completely from experience.”

In a recent letter to Melody Maker, a British music trade paper, Pete discussed some of the hot acts in this country. “Jimi Hendrix (a British act) is fairly hot property here now—his new record is an amazing production feat—all kinds of speeded-up passages, and some new, very un-guitar sounding sounds,” he said.

“There’s a lot of talent here at the moment, and they’re coming into line, too,” he said. “Some beautiful groups are cutting tracks—Moby Grape, the Paupers, Doors, etc.

“Mother country, watch out.”

Pete Townshend (The Who) in D.C.

PHOTO BY MIKE KLAVANS