The Who were a mass of contradictions. They brought intellect to rock but were the darlings of snotty punks. They were the quintessential studio act yet were also the greatest live attraction in the world. They perfectly meshed on stage and displayed a complete lack of personal chemistry offstage.Drummer Keith Moon was a clown whose buffoonery often tipped over into wanton acts of demolition, even self-destruction. Bassist John Entwistle’s brutal style was a sharp contrast to his reputation as the Quiet One. Guitarist Pete Townshend s odd exterior hid a ferocious intellect and an extraordinary talent. And Singer Roger Daltrey was a vocalist of exquisite sensitivity with a working-class grit. Together, the Who cast a magical spell as the most exciting spectacle in rock. Along with their great live shows and supreme audio experiences, the Who provided great copy. During the ‘60s and '70s, Townshend was a de facto spokesman for rock royalty. Messianic about contemporary popular music and its central importance in the lives of young people, he was in the habit of giving to the music press sprawling interviews in which he alternately celebrated and deplored what he saw in the scene. Several of these interviews have come to be considered classic documents of the age. Daltrey, Moon, and Entwistle joined in, in their respective inimitable styles. Even when the Who were nonoperational or past their peak, their interviews continued to be as compelling: changes in allegiances and social mores left the band members freer to talk about sex, drug-taking, business, and infighting. By collecting interviews with Who members from across five decades, The Who on the Who provides the full, fractious story of the band. The articles provide a priceless insight into not just a great rock group but the tumultuous times in which they reigned.
