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The Who on the Who: Interviews and Encounters (13)
The Who were a mass of contradictions. They brought intellect to rock but were the darlings of 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.
Along with great live shows and supreme audio experiences, the Who provided great copy. During the 1960s and ’70s, Pete Townshend, messianic about contemporary popular music and its central importance in the lives of young people, gave 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. Roger Daltrey, Keith Moon, and John Entwistle joined in. Even when the Who were non-operational or past their peak, their interviews continued to be changes in allegiances and social mores left the band members freer to talk about sex, drug-taking, business, and in-fighting.
By collecting interviews with Who members from across fi ve decades, conducted by the greatest rock writers of their generation—Barry Miles, Jonathan Cott, Charles Shaar Murray, John Swenson, and Greil Marcus among them— The Who on The Who provides the full, fractious story of a fascinating band.
Along with great live shows and supreme audio experiences, the Who provided great copy. During the 1960s and ’70s, Pete Townshend, messianic about contemporary popular music and its central importance in the lives of young people, gave 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. Roger Daltrey, Keith Moon, and John Entwistle joined in. Even when the Who were non-operational or past their peak, their interviews continued to be changes in allegiances and social mores left the band members freer to talk about sex, drug-taking, business, and in-fighting.
By collecting interviews with Who members from across fi ve decades, conducted by the greatest rock writers of their generation—Barry Miles, Jonathan Cott, Charles Shaar Murray, John Swenson, and Greil Marcus among them— The Who on The Who provides the full, fractious story of a fascinating band.
- GenresMusic
416 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2017
9 people are currently reading
257 people want to read
About the author
Sean Egan
70 books23 followersA freelance journalist, author and editor who writes about arts and entertainment (music, film, TV, comics and literature), social history (20th and 21st centuries) and sport (soccer and tennis history).
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 12, 2025
Highlights: Binky Phillips on Kenney Jones, Charles Young with Pete Townsend after the Jones era on the drumkit when the interviewer and subject bash it out verbally about the advertising and sponsors both publishers and rock stars depend upon, with refreshing honesty and savage truths rarely voiced by mealy-mouthed mouthpieces in the starmaking machinery, celebs or promoters.
We hear Townsend, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon detail their technical wizardry, a nice antidote to the hotel room trashing and groupie groping stereotypes the rhythm section too often got reduced to in standard journalism. A valuable record for musicians wanting facts about how their pioneering sound was built up, and of course, the way they all interlocked while not seeming to.
Egan appends a couple of heretofore previously unpublished in the form they are here pieces if out of date in order. This isn't a volume for any newcomer to The Who, but for those like me familiar with the band's legacy, a useful reference. There's fewer of the entertaining stories I'd have thought would fill the work, but serves as straightforward document rather than a silly throwaway cash-in.
We hear Townsend, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon detail their technical wizardry, a nice antidote to the hotel room trashing and groupie groping stereotypes the rhythm section too often got reduced to in standard journalism. A valuable record for musicians wanting facts about how their pioneering sound was built up, and of course, the way they all interlocked while not seeming to.
Egan appends a couple of heretofore previously unpublished in the form they are here pieces if out of date in order. This isn't a volume for any newcomer to The Who, but for those like me familiar with the band's legacy, a useful reference. There's fewer of the entertaining stories I'd have thought would fill the work, but serves as straightforward document rather than a silly throwaway cash-in.
June 19, 2017
The Who on The Who is an informative dive into one of the most iconic bands in Rock n Roll history. As editor, Sean Egan differentiates his book from a Biography or an Autobiography with a collection of interviews, conversations and encounters. A fresh approach of real time discussions in precise time frames generates a rock lesson that the reader will not soon forget. Highlights include the self destruction behind the extremely talented Keith Moon, and a closer look at conceived anthems propelling Pete Townshend into musical genius status. Be prepared for an unbridled education written respectably by the musical press forming a factual documentation of The Who.
April 24, 2018
A collection of interviews and articles on the Who, from the mid 60's to 2007. It's nice to have these in one collection, as it becomes a study in rock journalism as much as a reflection on the changing attitudes, moods, and thoughts of the band members. Most articles feature Pete Townshend, who was a spokesman for the band as well as Rock itself. Outspoken, pretentious (in the early days), acerbic (almost always) but always insightful and wise, Pete has always been a great interview. This is a nice addition to my shelf of books on rock history.
March 27, 2018
This was a great book and was very interesting and informative!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews