Rolling Stones vs. The Who
The Who
Kim Pavlicek
Issue date: 11/5/08 Section: The Edge
They may have been talking about their generation, but the fact remains that The Who is a timeless band that every generation after it has fallen in love with. Their impact is everywhere in music: commercials, CSI theme songs and a tribute concert on VH1 last July featuring some amazing bands that were awe-struck in their presence.
Then there's also the fact that the two remaining members are being given Kennedy Center Honors this year by the president, making them national treasures in the eyes of America, regardless of the fact that they're from the U.K.
The Who have been around for 45 years and have countless points of admiration to show for it. They're the world record holding loudest band of all time and helped inspire Marshall Amplification to create the 100 watt amp while single-handedly bouncing the company into prestige.
They were the first band to perform with lasers in their live show. Imagine any concert you've ever gone to without them, including Western Illinois University events; they were all crummy. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the very first year of their eligibility, and we couldn't dare forget that the four men that made up The Who's original line-up are all considered to be one of the top five best performers of each of their instruments.
They are craftsmen, actual musicians; they don't phone it in or come up with 60 songs using the same chords. Their music brings absolute euphoria to the trained musical ear. A large spectrum of the music world knows that if Pete Townshend hadn't run into John Entwistle as a young boy, their careers might have never existed.
Starting off as "maximum R&B" mod boys, songs like "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" rumbled a type of male teenage rebellion not yet heard from middle or upper class white groups. That song, along with the entire "My Generation" album, single-handedly made them the grandfathers of punk-rock music.
Their impact was almost immediate with the band Led Zeppelin, which was going to be called the New Yardbirds until Keith Moon put his two cents in.
Then there's also the fact that the two remaining members are being given Kennedy Center Honors this year by the president, making them national treasures in the eyes of America, regardless of the fact that they're from the U.K.
The Who have been around for 45 years and have countless points of admiration to show for it. They're the world record holding loudest band of all time and helped inspire Marshall Amplification to create the 100 watt amp while single-handedly bouncing the company into prestige.
They were the first band to perform with lasers in their live show. Imagine any concert you've ever gone to without them, including Western Illinois University events; they were all crummy. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the very first year of their eligibility, and we couldn't dare forget that the four men that made up The Who's original line-up are all considered to be one of the top five best performers of each of their instruments.
They are craftsmen, actual musicians; they don't phone it in or come up with 60 songs using the same chords. Their music brings absolute euphoria to the trained musical ear. A large spectrum of the music world knows that if Pete Townshend hadn't run into John Entwistle as a young boy, their careers might have never existed.
Starting off as "maximum R&B" mod boys, songs like "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" rumbled a type of male teenage rebellion not yet heard from middle or upper class white groups. That song, along with the entire "My Generation" album, single-handedly made them the grandfathers of punk-rock music.
Their impact was almost immediate with the band Led Zeppelin, which was going to be called the New Yardbirds until Keith Moon put his two cents in.
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