Tommy and Quadrophenia Live - The Who DVD Review

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DVD Review

Join together with the band as The Who turn back the clock across 3 DVD's.

During troubled personal times, Pete Townsend took some sound advice, reformed the band and hit the road in spectacular style.

It was suggested the band could amass between 75 and 100 million dollars as the music climate had changed in their absence in the mid 80s. Rather than do another reunion tour, Townsend revived two previous musical concepts - Tommy at Universal Amphitheatre LA in 1989 and Quadrophenia from their USA tour of 1996/7.

Away from public gaze, Townsend was experimenting with musical narratives in the mid-60s. Encouraged to expand his horizons by manager Kit Lambert, he worked extensively on mini-operas or conceptual pieces, as they were also known.

Neither had been performed live in their entirety. Now you can see, hear and almost feel the extended band romp through the very first rock-opera Tommy followed by Quadrophenia and a hits show. Going from a straight forward R'n'B / Blues outfit from the short-lived Mod sub-culture, they gradually morphed into a genuine progressive template. Also, they set the blue printfor generations of rebellion and pop art (Entwhistle called it 'snob rock').

It took the band from a group releasing anthemic mod songs into another dimension of credibility.

First an album in 1969, then a film by Ken Russell and Broadway musical (1994 ), Tommy (Walker) the story of the deaf, dumb and blind boy who becomes a pinball wizard hits the DVD format for the first time along with Quadrophenia. With guests Billy Idol, Phil Collins and a show-stopping performance by Patti Labelle as the Acid Queen, we get the benefit of new MX Technology ( as an option ) to hear Daltrey and Townsend giving revealing background info and song by song commentaries throughout both shows.

Quadrophenia, released October 1973, is considered to be The Who at their most cinematic, symmetrical and most maddening, as they portray British youth mentality from the mid-60s. Its hero, Jimmy the young scooter Mod is in the throws of alienation and self doubt.

Consisting of few hits - 5.15, it many seem far less appealing than enormous blasts of Pinball Wizard, but the angst ridden lyrics were enough to resonate with the sixties generation up to today.

Star guests include PJ Proby and Billy Idol.

Guided by musical director Billy Nicholls the band broke with traditional Rock'n'Roll rules -( no guitar smashing, though Daltrey swings his mic ) it was more of an 'all bells jangling' experiment which brought them back to life, particularly Townsend.

Quadrophenia also includes unseen footage of the band playing at a London pub shortly before releasing first hit single I Can't Explain.

After a stirring Live 8, and a new album on the way, The Who's status is higher than ever as it enters its fifth decade.

Elly Roberts