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Before I Get Old: The Story of the Who
Before I Get Old is one of the best books ever written about rock’n’roll, discarding much of the mythology that often surrounds a lesser informed appraisal of the Who. It tells the story of six personalities – songwriter and guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle, drummer Keith Moon and singer Roger Daltrey, plus their original managers Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp.
Here are the band’s origins within the steamy nightlife of London, their meteoric rise to fame, the laughter and the pathos, the craziness of the world they inhabited, the drugs, the destruction, the vandalism, the debts – and, of course, the music. In short, every element that makes up the fascinating, shocking and hilarious story of the Who.
Before I Get Old is essential reading, an exhaustive study of an exhausting band who always lived up to their legend.
Here are the band’s origins within the steamy nightlife of London, their meteoric rise to fame, the laughter and the pathos, the craziness of the world they inhabited, the drugs, the destruction, the vandalism, the debts – and, of course, the music. In short, every element that makes up the fascinating, shocking and hilarious story of the Who.
Before I Get Old is essential reading, an exhaustive study of an exhausting band who always lived up to their legend.
546 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
December 16, 2015
Rock good! Thinking bad!
Unquestionably the WHO were one of the top five rock and roll bands of all time. There never was a lead singer as tough and sexy as Roger Daltry. Or a songwriter as sensitive and thoughtful as Pete Townsend who could also play guitar almost on an Eric Clapton/Jimi Hendrix level. Keith Moon was the most colorful rock drummer of all time, and John Entwistle went beyond the "silent bassplayer" archetype to write some of the Who's funniest and darkest songs, like "Boris The Spider" and "My Wife."
So what's not to like about any 500 page book about the Who?
Dave Marsh . . . sigh. There's penis envy. And there's class envy. And there's educational envy. And size envy. And he's got them all! Dave Marsh is a weakling, but he's the kind of weakling who always roots for the playground bully. Thus when Roger and Pete are fighting, it's always Roger who is right and Pete who is wrong. Weak, scared, angry little Dave Marsh is still on the playground, still trying to get in good with the bullies who run the swing set.
What can you say about a man who has only five ideas, and repeats them over and over for 500 pages? Working class macho men (like Roger Daltry) are good. High-falutin' sissies (like Pete Townsend) are bad. Ignorance is good. Books are bad. People who analyze what Dave Marsh has to say are "cynical." Believing anything he says is "innocence." Rock stars should never pretend to be better than other people. Sissies who read books have no business listening to rock music. Detroit is a real blue collar town. Blue collar towns are what rock and roll is all about. Rock good! Thinking bad!
Unquestionably the WHO were one of the top five rock and roll bands of all time. There never was a lead singer as tough and sexy as Roger Daltry. Or a songwriter as sensitive and thoughtful as Pete Townsend who could also play guitar almost on an Eric Clapton/Jimi Hendrix level. Keith Moon was the most colorful rock drummer of all time, and John Entwistle went beyond the "silent bassplayer" archetype to write some of the Who's funniest and darkest songs, like "Boris The Spider" and "My Wife."
So what's not to like about any 500 page book about the Who?
Dave Marsh . . . sigh. There's penis envy. And there's class envy. And there's educational envy. And size envy. And he's got them all! Dave Marsh is a weakling, but he's the kind of weakling who always roots for the playground bully. Thus when Roger and Pete are fighting, it's always Roger who is right and Pete who is wrong. Weak, scared, angry little Dave Marsh is still on the playground, still trying to get in good with the bullies who run the swing set.
What can you say about a man who has only five ideas, and repeats them over and over for 500 pages? Working class macho men (like Roger Daltry) are good. High-falutin' sissies (like Pete Townsend) are bad. Ignorance is good. Books are bad. People who analyze what Dave Marsh has to say are "cynical." Believing anything he says is "innocence." Rock stars should never pretend to be better than other people. Sissies who read books have no business listening to rock music. Detroit is a real blue collar town. Blue collar towns are what rock and roll is all about. Rock good! Thinking bad!
March 11, 2010
"Before I Get Old" tells the story of the Who, and ultimately the story of rock n roll's development in the sixties and downfall in the seventies, as the disconnect between bands and audiences grew and rock n roll became more of a spectator sport than something personal between band and audience.
Marsh focuses on Pete Townshend, which is appropriate, as he was the main songwriter, and more or less leader, of the band. Townshend's musings, frequently contradictory, confusing, and vague, could fill a couple of books, and each, I'm sure, would prove quite entertaining. Marsh paints a sympathetic picture of Townshend and the band, and he's clearly a fan and admirer, but he doesn't let his admiration get in the way of pointing out the band's flaws, and in particular, the sometimes bizarre things Townshend comes up with in the many interviews from which the author quotes.
Marsh writes extensively about the dynamic within the band, and the ways in which the four members of the Who work together and relate to one another. There's plenty of bickering, anger, hurt feelings, substance abuse--and it's a wonder the band ever lasted as long as they did.
The book opens strong and never becomes dull or bogged down in boring detail. The early sections are exciting, detailing the mod scene in London and the emergence of aggressive rock n roll. The end is not as, say, "enjoyable to read," but is no less enthralling, with its desperate picture of a musician with high ideals (Townshend) taking the artistic low road, finally agreeing to do the Who as an entertainment venture, putting aside his grand ambitions for the band.
I couldn't possibly recommend this book more, for anyone who is a fan of the Who or has an interest in rock n roll in the sixties vs. the seventies.
Marsh focuses on Pete Townshend, which is appropriate, as he was the main songwriter, and more or less leader, of the band. Townshend's musings, frequently contradictory, confusing, and vague, could fill a couple of books, and each, I'm sure, would prove quite entertaining. Marsh paints a sympathetic picture of Townshend and the band, and he's clearly a fan and admirer, but he doesn't let his admiration get in the way of pointing out the band's flaws, and in particular, the sometimes bizarre things Townshend comes up with in the many interviews from which the author quotes.
Marsh writes extensively about the dynamic within the band, and the ways in which the four members of the Who work together and relate to one another. There's plenty of bickering, anger, hurt feelings, substance abuse--and it's a wonder the band ever lasted as long as they did.
The book opens strong and never becomes dull or bogged down in boring detail. The early sections are exciting, detailing the mod scene in London and the emergence of aggressive rock n roll. The end is not as, say, "enjoyable to read," but is no less enthralling, with its desperate picture of a musician with high ideals (Townshend) taking the artistic low road, finally agreeing to do the Who as an entertainment venture, putting aside his grand ambitions for the band.
I couldn't possibly recommend this book more, for anyone who is a fan of the Who or has an interest in rock n roll in the sixties vs. the seventies.
February 5, 2012
Whatever made The Who exciting and relevant can't be gleaned from this book. Marsh sucks the joy right out of it.
September 3, 2014
As much as I looked forward to reading this at the time, I wound up incredibly disappointed. The scope of the book remains mainly during the Who's early days, and it primarily focuses on Pete Townshend. The Who was made up of some pretty interesting characters besides Townshend, in particular drummer Keith Moon. Most of the bands story is told pretty quickly, following the release of Tommy. Considering the amount of material the band released in the 70's, the amount of time spent on it is minimal. It wraps up fairly quickly after Moons death, with their 1982 "Farewell" Tour. There hasn't been any revised versions covering, oh say, the last thirty years of the band. Marsh is a well known music critic and author, but his somewhat condescending tone at times make it a less than satisfactory read. There are better books about the band that are more up to date that i would recommend.
July 18, 2012
Dave Marsh is a self-important hack, which unfortunately is the main thing that comes across in this far-too-lengthy book.
May 6, 2015
Outstanding commentary of the rise of the Who.
Dave Marsh delves deep in to each band member. The drive and sobriety of Daltrey amongst the excesses of the others and the lengths he would go to protect his interests and the Who.
Townsend's descent in to depression and angst whilst trying to continually produce hits and then albums of sufficient quality for his own very high standards.
I would like more about John Entwistle but the Ox was always the quiet one who let his playing do the talking.
Then there was my favourite Keith Moon. The greatest drummer ever and a real likeable rogue who tried such extreme lengths to loved and always centre of attention. But most importantly Marsh describes how his drumming was integral to the sound of the Who and they could never make the records they did before and after him.
Exceptionally well written although a little pretentious at times but Pete could be that way.
Very very good and a real insight in to the world of rock legends and my favourite band of all time.
Dave Marsh delves deep in to each band member. The drive and sobriety of Daltrey amongst the excesses of the others and the lengths he would go to protect his interests and the Who.
Townsend's descent in to depression and angst whilst trying to continually produce hits and then albums of sufficient quality for his own very high standards.
I would like more about John Entwistle but the Ox was always the quiet one who let his playing do the talking.
Then there was my favourite Keith Moon. The greatest drummer ever and a real likeable rogue who tried such extreme lengths to loved and always centre of attention. But most importantly Marsh describes how his drumming was integral to the sound of the Who and they could never make the records they did before and after him.
Exceptionally well written although a little pretentious at times but Pete could be that way.
Very very good and a real insight in to the world of rock legends and my favourite band of all time.
March 6, 2017
It's funny reading all of the other reactions about this book, which either laud it as the definitive chronicle of the Who or condemn it as Dave Marsh shitting on what many people consider to be the greatest band of all time.
There's no question that this book is not only too long but also improperly balanced, and in more ways than one. The book spends the bulk of it's time in the 1960s and the band's pre-Tommy and Tommy contemporary years and on Pete Townshend while everything post-Tommy and every member not named Pete Townshend get the short shrift. It's a choice I find frustrating, but also one that I find understandable and actually necessary for the overall success of the book, which essentially posits that the Who ended up becoming a wholly unremarkable money making venture after Townshend had exhausted all of his grand ideas (and almost killed himself in the process).
Anyway, almost everything in this book is kind of a double edge sword. The extensive Townshend quotes lend us insight into his thinking and character but also show him to be kind of incoherent and self-important. The critical analysis of the mod subculture and the Who as pop art offer an important prism through which to view the bands music, but can also come off as rambling as Townshend's worst interviews. And, of course, by the end when Townshend and Keith Moon are drunk, depressed and on the verge of death, you will be too, because the books central characters and the author's central thesis become fixated on the death of a dream, a death that is reiterated again and again for about the last 90 pages of this book.
If I could give this book 3 and a half stars, I would, because I do think it's an impressive undertaking and as well as a brutally honest assessment of the band and the ideals they proselytized and may have failed to live up too (even if Marsh's tepid response to Tommy and Quadrophenia makes one wonder if he likes the WHo as much as he claims). But to not recognize that it at least partially flawed in its repetition and its stubborn insistence on emphasizing the same five or so points for almost 500 pages would be dishonest. That being said, the worst thing a biography of an artist can be is a hagiography, making Before I Get Old an at least satisfactory chronicle of an incredibly important, impactful and successful band.
There's no question that this book is not only too long but also improperly balanced, and in more ways than one. The book spends the bulk of it's time in the 1960s and the band's pre-Tommy and Tommy contemporary years and on Pete Townshend while everything post-Tommy and every member not named Pete Townshend get the short shrift. It's a choice I find frustrating, but also one that I find understandable and actually necessary for the overall success of the book, which essentially posits that the Who ended up becoming a wholly unremarkable money making venture after Townshend had exhausted all of his grand ideas (and almost killed himself in the process).
Anyway, almost everything in this book is kind of a double edge sword. The extensive Townshend quotes lend us insight into his thinking and character but also show him to be kind of incoherent and self-important. The critical analysis of the mod subculture and the Who as pop art offer an important prism through which to view the bands music, but can also come off as rambling as Townshend's worst interviews. And, of course, by the end when Townshend and Keith Moon are drunk, depressed and on the verge of death, you will be too, because the books central characters and the author's central thesis become fixated on the death of a dream, a death that is reiterated again and again for about the last 90 pages of this book.
If I could give this book 3 and a half stars, I would, because I do think it's an impressive undertaking and as well as a brutally honest assessment of the band and the ideals they proselytized and may have failed to live up too (even if Marsh's tepid response to Tommy and Quadrophenia makes one wonder if he likes the WHo as much as he claims). But to not recognize that it at least partially flawed in its repetition and its stubborn insistence on emphasizing the same five or so points for almost 500 pages would be dishonest. That being said, the worst thing a biography of an artist can be is a hagiography, making Before I Get Old an at least satisfactory chronicle of an incredibly important, impactful and successful band.
January 14, 2010
The definitive biography on the group. Dave Marsh takes some side trips and explains some social phenomena necessary to understanding much of the Who's work, such as pirate radio, mods and British conformity, Mehrer Baba and others. Occasionally Marsh's opinions interfere with his appreciation of the Who's work, but this is actually something of a benefit; it never becomes a hagiography (unlike his Springsteen bio). The timeline extends through 1983 and gives the band's final two albums, sans Keith Moon, rather short shrift. Still, an excellent read, and essential to understanding and appreciating Pete Townshend and the Who.
December 13, 2007
Can't remember much about this as I read it so long ago, but I would recommend for Who fans new and old as a well researched fairly exhaustive look at The Who's career.
April 7, 2013
Simply put, I think Dave Marsh did a terrific job on this biography. After I read it, I didn't feel the need to read any other bio on the band.
January 12, 2023
Well, this is it: I already have my favorite (non-fiction) book of the year read. Seriously, it's going to be hard for anything else to top this. I got this book on New Year's Eve (after a *long* delay in it shipping my way when I ordered it just before Christmas), and I put off starting it for a few days because I knew I'd become absorbed in it. And I did, but what a book! What a story!
"Before I Get Old: The Story of The Who," by Dave Marsh, was one of the first histories of the band that I love so very, very much. Written in the early Eighties, when The Who was trying to regroup after the passing of legendary drummer and wild man Keith Moon, the book subsequently does not address the past forty or so years that has seen the band's fortunes fluctuate in many ways ("yet another retirement tour?"), and with John Entwistle's passing in 2002, leaving The Who as perhaps merely a legacy act for original members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. But this book covers the important era of the band's history, the rise to fame and the crippling after-effects of finally achieving the celebrity status and pre-eminence that you crave as one of rock's greatest acts. The Who are in my personal top five or Mount Rushmore of music, and so I was going to love this book anyway.
Marsh, a veteran rock critic, was asked by Pete to write the band's history in the early Eighties, when the group was trying to hold on in the face of Moon's death and his hasty replacement by Kenney Jones, a perfectly competent drummer who was, nevertheless, no Keith Moon. Marsh doesn't produce a hagiography by any stretch; he's tough on the band members when he considers their actions to be fallible. Townshend comes in for much of the focus and not all of it positive, but that befits his status as the group's spokesman; Daltrey may have been the primary singer, but it's Pete's words that he's usually singing, and John would get in a word or two with his own songs while Keith played drums as a lead instrument. There was no real focal point to the group, but Pete was the primary voice of the group, and Marsh is very even-handed in dealing with the many contradictions of Pete's pronouncements about rock music and his own band's status within it.
Everything is covered, from the band's early days to the death of Moon and its ramifications for the group as a whole. Carrying on after a band member has died seems to be a lot more accepted now, or at least not as noteworthy as it once was (and one of my other all-time favorites, Joy Division, also had to decide about carrying on during the same time period, which they ultimately did as New Order), but The Who was rightly viewed as a collective of men who worked best when they worked together, not interchangeable parts who could be replaced at a moment's notice. From the very beginning of Keith's tenure with the group, they grew exponentially as a force to be reckoned with. And Marsh captures the highs and lows, the grumbles and disharmony, of this important band and its story in the context of the wider world.
I want to address some of the reviews that I consulted before getting this book, both here and on Amazon. Some said that it was ridiculous how the pre-"Tommy" era of the band took up a significant chunk of the narrative and the book; I happen to *love* that era of the band perhaps most of all (though I do like to throw on "Who's Next" every now and then). Some said that the book was way too focused on discussing Townshend; the man penned the bulk of the band's songs, and contributed to rock history on a scale rarely equaled, so *of course* he was going to be the primary focus (though that doesn't spare him from some of Marsh's most caustic critiques), and the other band members do get talked about a lot as well, when needed. And some said that Marsh's critical judgments of the albums were too harsh; he's a professional rock critic, and not everything he writes will be laudatory of the group or artist he's covering. Besides, I can think he's completely wrong about "Quadrophenia" and still like the book that he wrote about one of my all-time favorite bands as well.
"Before I Get Old" tells the story of The Who in a way that is insanely compelling and entertaining. It's a massive group biography, and manages to nail the essence of the band that made its name trashing its equipment and being "punk rock" before punk rock was even a thing. I loved this book so much, and I'm so glad that I got around to reading it finally. Long live rock, and long live The Who.
"Before I Get Old: The Story of The Who," by Dave Marsh, was one of the first histories of the band that I love so very, very much. Written in the early Eighties, when The Who was trying to regroup after the passing of legendary drummer and wild man Keith Moon, the book subsequently does not address the past forty or so years that has seen the band's fortunes fluctuate in many ways ("yet another retirement tour?"), and with John Entwistle's passing in 2002, leaving The Who as perhaps merely a legacy act for original members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. But this book covers the important era of the band's history, the rise to fame and the crippling after-effects of finally achieving the celebrity status and pre-eminence that you crave as one of rock's greatest acts. The Who are in my personal top five or Mount Rushmore of music, and so I was going to love this book anyway.
Marsh, a veteran rock critic, was asked by Pete to write the band's history in the early Eighties, when the group was trying to hold on in the face of Moon's death and his hasty replacement by Kenney Jones, a perfectly competent drummer who was, nevertheless, no Keith Moon. Marsh doesn't produce a hagiography by any stretch; he's tough on the band members when he considers their actions to be fallible. Townshend comes in for much of the focus and not all of it positive, but that befits his status as the group's spokesman; Daltrey may have been the primary singer, but it's Pete's words that he's usually singing, and John would get in a word or two with his own songs while Keith played drums as a lead instrument. There was no real focal point to the group, but Pete was the primary voice of the group, and Marsh is very even-handed in dealing with the many contradictions of Pete's pronouncements about rock music and his own band's status within it.
Everything is covered, from the band's early days to the death of Moon and its ramifications for the group as a whole. Carrying on after a band member has died seems to be a lot more accepted now, or at least not as noteworthy as it once was (and one of my other all-time favorites, Joy Division, also had to decide about carrying on during the same time period, which they ultimately did as New Order), but The Who was rightly viewed as a collective of men who worked best when they worked together, not interchangeable parts who could be replaced at a moment's notice. From the very beginning of Keith's tenure with the group, they grew exponentially as a force to be reckoned with. And Marsh captures the highs and lows, the grumbles and disharmony, of this important band and its story in the context of the wider world.
I want to address some of the reviews that I consulted before getting this book, both here and on Amazon. Some said that it was ridiculous how the pre-"Tommy" era of the band took up a significant chunk of the narrative and the book; I happen to *love* that era of the band perhaps most of all (though I do like to throw on "Who's Next" every now and then). Some said that the book was way too focused on discussing Townshend; the man penned the bulk of the band's songs, and contributed to rock history on a scale rarely equaled, so *of course* he was going to be the primary focus (though that doesn't spare him from some of Marsh's most caustic critiques), and the other band members do get talked about a lot as well, when needed. And some said that Marsh's critical judgments of the albums were too harsh; he's a professional rock critic, and not everything he writes will be laudatory of the group or artist he's covering. Besides, I can think he's completely wrong about "Quadrophenia" and still like the book that he wrote about one of my all-time favorite bands as well.
"Before I Get Old" tells the story of The Who in a way that is insanely compelling and entertaining. It's a massive group biography, and manages to nail the essence of the band that made its name trashing its equipment and being "punk rock" before punk rock was even a thing. I loved this book so much, and I'm so glad that I got around to reading it finally. Long live rock, and long live The Who.
December 31, 2012
I'm a bit biased in my five star rating of this book, being as huge a Who fan as I am. Nevertheless, I do believe that this book deserves all five stars in spite of its faults.
Dave Marsh's biography on The Who is often seen as the definitive Who text, though some would argue in greater favor of Richard Barnes's Maximum R B. Where Richard Barnes tends to focus a great deal more on Pete Townshend than the rest of the band in his account (and quite naturally, as he was and remains good friends with the fellow) Dave Marsh takes a wider view, and even delves a bit into Roger Daltrey's solo projects as the book goes on.
Dave Marsh takes sparingly from press interviews throughout the course of the book, relies on first-hand interviews where he can, and even quotes snippets from Irish Jack's unpublished memoir of the Mod period in England. From the very beginning of the book the passion Dave Marsh has for the band is apparent, and it rings true through his explanations of topics as disparate as the history of pirate radio, the difference's between the British and American music business, and the legal ramifications of change in copyright law through the Who's career. That Dave Marsh was thorough should go without saying. This book has remained tantamount to a Who Bible for as long as it has for good reason.
The fault with the book is the fault that would lie in any biography of a band - it just doesn't go deep enough, and indeed, it is impossible for it to go deep enough because what makes up the individual players in a band is deeper than it is possible for a single book to go into - without being terrifyingly long and tediously detailed. The one fault that can be drawn with this book, and rightfully so, is that the author seems to lose interest in the Who after Keith Moon's death. Face Dances and It's Hard are dealt with only in passing, and in a single chapter. The band's farewell tour is dealt with in a matter of paragraphs, and rather shrugged off when he could have gone down with more insight. Similarly, problems with The Kids are Alright could have been addressed more thoroughly though I reckon Twilight of the Gods will go into that a bit better.
Nevertheless, this book is grand and a must-read by anyone with a keen interest in the band and the music industry in general from the 60s through the 80s.
Dave Marsh's biography on The Who is often seen as the definitive Who text, though some would argue in greater favor of Richard Barnes's Maximum R B. Where Richard Barnes tends to focus a great deal more on Pete Townshend than the rest of the band in his account (and quite naturally, as he was and remains good friends with the fellow) Dave Marsh takes a wider view, and even delves a bit into Roger Daltrey's solo projects as the book goes on.
Dave Marsh takes sparingly from press interviews throughout the course of the book, relies on first-hand interviews where he can, and even quotes snippets from Irish Jack's unpublished memoir of the Mod period in England. From the very beginning of the book the passion Dave Marsh has for the band is apparent, and it rings true through his explanations of topics as disparate as the history of pirate radio, the difference's between the British and American music business, and the legal ramifications of change in copyright law through the Who's career. That Dave Marsh was thorough should go without saying. This book has remained tantamount to a Who Bible for as long as it has for good reason.
The fault with the book is the fault that would lie in any biography of a band - it just doesn't go deep enough, and indeed, it is impossible for it to go deep enough because what makes up the individual players in a band is deeper than it is possible for a single book to go into - without being terrifyingly long and tediously detailed. The one fault that can be drawn with this book, and rightfully so, is that the author seems to lose interest in the Who after Keith Moon's death. Face Dances and It's Hard are dealt with only in passing, and in a single chapter. The band's farewell tour is dealt with in a matter of paragraphs, and rather shrugged off when he could have gone down with more insight. Similarly, problems with The Kids are Alright could have been addressed more thoroughly though I reckon Twilight of the Gods will go into that a bit better.
Nevertheless, this book is grand and a must-read by anyone with a keen interest in the band and the music industry in general from the 60s through the 80s.
January 21, 2016
This book was almost a shoe-in to be totally interesting, because The Who is one of the most interesting bands in the history of music, but David Marsh essentially ruined the whole thing. He:
- Could not separate his critical writing from his biographical writing. At best, this leads to a couple of haphazard explanations of why certain tours or records did not go well. At medium, it's represented in the assumption that everyone has the same opinion on every song ever writte (I, for one, happen to like "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere.") At worst, it's unnecessary and unexplained attacks on figures against whom he has some kind of vendetta (Andy Warhol). Because Marsh is completely unable to separate his opinions from fact, you essentially can't assume that anything he writes is untainted.
- Focuses almost exclusively on Pete. Pete's an interesting guy, and obviously his writing is what fueled the band, but the bulk of the book is about Pete's emotional difficulties (about which Marsh makes a few judgment calls that are not necessarily justified by sufficient evidence) and his opinons about capital-A Art (which are, expectedly, difficult to separate from Marsh's. Very little attention is paid to the actual writing and recording of music, and we do not get much of a portrait of the other band members.
- Focuses almost exclusively on the old material. The Who's career lasted from 1964ish to 1982ish, but in a 524-page book, we get to Who's Next (released 1971) on page 382.
So if you aren't bothered by intense bias, love Pete Townshend and don't care about anyone else (and don't want to read Pete's autobiography, which is also pretty boring but for other reasons), and really hate Quadrophenia, then this is the book for you....
- Could not separate his critical writing from his biographical writing. At best, this leads to a couple of haphazard explanations of why certain tours or records did not go well. At medium, it's represented in the assumption that everyone has the same opinion on every song ever writte (I, for one, happen to like "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere.") At worst, it's unnecessary and unexplained attacks on figures against whom he has some kind of vendetta (Andy Warhol). Because Marsh is completely unable to separate his opinions from fact, you essentially can't assume that anything he writes is untainted.
- Focuses almost exclusively on Pete. Pete's an interesting guy, and obviously his writing is what fueled the band, but the bulk of the book is about Pete's emotional difficulties (about which Marsh makes a few judgment calls that are not necessarily justified by sufficient evidence) and his opinons about capital-A Art (which are, expectedly, difficult to separate from Marsh's. Very little attention is paid to the actual writing and recording of music, and we do not get much of a portrait of the other band members.
- Focuses almost exclusively on the old material. The Who's career lasted from 1964ish to 1982ish, but in a 524-page book, we get to Who's Next (released 1971) on page 382.
So if you aren't bothered by intense bias, love Pete Townshend and don't care about anyone else (and don't want to read Pete's autobiography, which is also pretty boring but for other reasons), and really hate Quadrophenia, then this is the book for you....
December 12, 2007
The first edition of this came into my hands on Christmas day 1983, back when the Who still mattered. I read it all day and walked away thinking I needed a life. Not that it's not a good book---it's the best Who bio you'll find. But I read it at a stage where I was ready to give up a lot of my adolescence, and, alas, my reverence for Townshend/Daltrey/ Entwistle/Moon was fading because my tastes were changing. (I was also outraged that I paid $15---FIFTEEN FRIGGIN DOLLARS---to see them at the Pontiac Silverdome that fall. Last year I paid 20 times that amount to see half of them).
Marsh came to the U of Missouri in 87 when I was a senior. There were about three of us in the audience, so he was happy when I brought up this book and asked him to sign it. Flash forward 18 years to a Springsteen conference in NJ, and, as I dutifully purchased an upgrade of his Bruce bios, I told him how much it meant to me that we had our Who conversation. To which his basic response was, "You think I give a rip?" The guy, sadly, was an unmitigated prick. Au revior, adolescence....
Marsh came to the U of Missouri in 87 when I was a senior. There were about three of us in the audience, so he was happy when I brought up this book and asked him to sign it. Flash forward 18 years to a Springsteen conference in NJ, and, as I dutifully purchased an upgrade of his Bruce bios, I told him how much it meant to me that we had our Who conversation. To which his basic response was, "You think I give a rip?" The guy, sadly, was an unmitigated prick. Au revior, adolescence....
Currently reading
April 18, 2007For anyone who's talked to me about music recently, you know I've been on a huge Who kick. Well, I've finally got my hands on a reputable Who biography (Marsh also wrote the excellent Springsteen bio Born to Run).
What have I learned so far? Well, apparently Pete Townshend was inspired to write his own songs in earnest after hearing Bob Dylan's 1964 album Another Side of Bob Dylan. In particular, he was blown away by the song All I Really Want to Do, because it wasn't teen pop, it wasn't folk, it wasn't blues -- it was something new, something distinctively modern.
I can't wait to continue reading -- where the heck did Tommy come from? Or Quadrophenia? Or the wacked-out ideas behing the Who's Next album, which started as Lifehouse, some communal living, mystical communication thing between the band and some select fans? And what's the deal with Pete Townshend's guru? (Yes, he has a guru.) These are all questions that need to be answered.
What have I learned so far? Well, apparently Pete Townshend was inspired to write his own songs in earnest after hearing Bob Dylan's 1964 album Another Side of Bob Dylan. In particular, he was blown away by the song All I Really Want to Do, because it wasn't teen pop, it wasn't folk, it wasn't blues -- it was something new, something distinctively modern.
I can't wait to continue reading -- where the heck did Tommy come from? Or Quadrophenia? Or the wacked-out ideas behing the Who's Next album, which started as Lifehouse, some communal living, mystical communication thing between the band and some select fans? And what's the deal with Pete Townshend's guru? (Yes, he has a guru.) These are all questions that need to be answered.
January 28, 2015
This book is a lot like the band that it profiles: Great and Sloppy, Repetitive but Fascinating, Tiresome in its Uniqueness, Insightful and Pretentious. In telling the story of The Who's career, and the impact that they had upon their fans & society in general, Dave Marsh (the ultimate American 'Who fan-boy' among rock music critics) veers from reportage to unadulterated praise to expressions of disappointment to apologia to a type of 'analysis' that takes the form of an educated guess to -- well, then it circles around back again.
That said, his fascinating subject matter saves the whole shebang. If you're a Who fan, and you want to learn about their vidas locas, then THIS is the book for you.
That said, his fascinating subject matter saves the whole shebang. If you're a Who fan, and you want to learn about their vidas locas, then THIS is the book for you.
September 23, 2007
This is the definitive story of the Who from there very beginning through about 1980-1981.
One of the cool things that Dave Marsh does in this is to explain English youth subculture in the 60's, especially the Mods, and how the Who became popular with that group. He also explores the individual members of the band, filling out some nice to know facts about them. There is also a lot said about the dynamics in the group as well as a lot of time spend examining the songs that make this the worlds greatest rock band, even decades after their heyday.
Amazingly well researched, and very well written.
One of the cool things that Dave Marsh does in this is to explain English youth subculture in the 60's, especially the Mods, and how the Who became popular with that group. He also explores the individual members of the band, filling out some nice to know facts about them. There is also a lot said about the dynamics in the group as well as a lot of time spend examining the songs that make this the worlds greatest rock band, even decades after their heyday.
Amazingly well researched, and very well written.
January 14, 2010
In the early 80s, when I was just a mere pup, I caught the Who's Farewell Show at Toronto on HBO. That, and a mention of them on WKRP in Cincinnatti, spurred me to snag this book, which is extraordinarily well written as a piece of critical reportage with the full cooperation of the band. While some might fault it for ending with the final show of the farewell tour, the stuff which followed - countless"reunions" even as half the band was dead; the dicey "Endless Wire" CD; Townsend's perversions regarding the Internet - leaves the band diminished. Some books should end where they end, as some bands should. This is one of those.
March 29, 2007
I read almost all of this as an eighth grader to do my big research project that year. I chose to research Pete Townshend. I took it out from the library many times to reread certain parts until I found my own copy while in college. I learned the majority of my Who knowledge from this book.
March 6, 2013
Sometimes pretentious and maybe a bit too obsessive with Pete Townshend, rock critic Dave Marsh still paints an interesting protrait on how four thugs from Shepherds Bush became the ultimate kick ass rock and roll band.
January 12, 2014
Dave Marsh drives me absolutely crazy. He writes very well, but his egocentric opinions and attitudes can be downright offensive. If you can get beyond Marsh's self-proclaimed status as THE oracle on good Rock and Roll, this is a great book about The Who and rock music in general.
November 14, 2009
Marsh gets a little too hypercritical for my liking of the best band there ever was (outside of The Beatles), but good history of The Who, especially the early years.
January 22, 2012
Lots of good info.
September 1, 2012
A great read for any fan of rock music and the Who. Lots of great stories and insight into the music and it's inspiration.
October 10, 2012
I read the first publication of this, the one written in 1983.
October 5, 2017
Through telling the story of The Who up till 1983.
May 2, 2018
Informtion overload! Some great parts, mostly about the songs & the relationships between the band members, and of course the insane & sad antics of Moon.
August 17, 2018
If you are a Who fan this is a must read! Tremendous book.
February 5, 2019
Originally read Marsh's book when it was first published in 1983. It remains one of the best biographies on this band I have ever had the pleasure to read.
May 26, 2023
Before I Get Old by Dave Marsh chronicles the rise of the Who. It covers the origin stories of the four original members, describes how they built the band and their early days, and dives into some analysis of their songs and albums. You'll witness the conflicts between band members and their own philosophies. Since this is an older book, and it really would take another separate volume to break down the long-standing career of the Who, it ends after the album, "It's Hard," comes out in 1982.
I've always liked the Who and remember that my high school best friend's older brother was a huge fan. We used to swipe records from his room to listen to on our own, and I remember a large poster of guitarist Pete Townshend on his wall. Now we have a collection to match, and I would say, as cliched as it may be, that "Who's Next" is my favorite. I also recall hearing "Eminence Front" as a fifth grader and loving it but not knowing why.
Unfortunately, despite the apparent heavy research and well-written paragraphs, this book does not capture the magic of one of the seminal bands of the 1960s and 1970s. It's hard to believe how slow this book is. I mean, the Who wrote "My Generation," which I cannot imagine will ever go out of style or become anything less than timeless and groundbreaking.
I mean, you have feisty Roger Daltrey, an incredible rock front man who can blow others away with his belting abilities. You have troubled Pete Townshend, a talented yet cynical guitar player and keyboardist who doesn't receive as much credit as he should. And, of course, who can forget Keith Moon, a distinctive drummer who was a wild man. I always found it so interesting that Animal from the Muppets was based from Moon's performances--the drum style, which is so unique from Moon, is the same. John Entwistle doesn't really stand out although he was a great bass player.
As you can see, it took me more than two years to finish this book (March 2021 to May 2023). That's partly because of my book hoarder tendencies where I stop a book to read a library book or book that I can't put down. And that's precisely why I couldn't speed through this. It was very slow at times and dry. The research and quotes were there, the stories were there, the principal characters were there, but I struggled to get through it. Normally, with rock biographies, I zip through them--I'm usually so incredibly enrapt with the origin stories of bands to the point of getting the chills.
Anyway, I'm glad I read it because it did educate me on the origin. But I have a Roger Daltry book and one about Keith Moon that hopefully will be more exciting. And I can always pick up Pete Townshend's book, too. I feel like any of those will fill any gaps and amp up the excitement for this explosive band.
I've always liked the Who and remember that my high school best friend's older brother was a huge fan. We used to swipe records from his room to listen to on our own, and I remember a large poster of guitarist Pete Townshend on his wall. Now we have a collection to match, and I would say, as cliched as it may be, that "Who's Next" is my favorite. I also recall hearing "Eminence Front" as a fifth grader and loving it but not knowing why.
Unfortunately, despite the apparent heavy research and well-written paragraphs, this book does not capture the magic of one of the seminal bands of the 1960s and 1970s. It's hard to believe how slow this book is. I mean, the Who wrote "My Generation," which I cannot imagine will ever go out of style or become anything less than timeless and groundbreaking.
I mean, you have feisty Roger Daltrey, an incredible rock front man who can blow others away with his belting abilities. You have troubled Pete Townshend, a talented yet cynical guitar player and keyboardist who doesn't receive as much credit as he should. And, of course, who can forget Keith Moon, a distinctive drummer who was a wild man. I always found it so interesting that Animal from the Muppets was based from Moon's performances--the drum style, which is so unique from Moon, is the same. John Entwistle doesn't really stand out although he was a great bass player.
As you can see, it took me more than two years to finish this book (March 2021 to May 2023). That's partly because of my book hoarder tendencies where I stop a book to read a library book or book that I can't put down. And that's precisely why I couldn't speed through this. It was very slow at times and dry. The research and quotes were there, the stories were there, the principal characters were there, but I struggled to get through it. Normally, with rock biographies, I zip through them--I'm usually so incredibly enrapt with the origin stories of bands to the point of getting the chills.
Anyway, I'm glad I read it because it did educate me on the origin. But I have a Roger Daltry book and one about Keith Moon that hopefully will be more exciting. And I can always pick up Pete Townshend's book, too. I feel like any of those will fill any gaps and amp up the excitement for this explosive band.
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