Finally the Who in New Zealand this week!

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It didn’t take long, only 41 years, but New Zealand finally gets to see the genius of these guys again.

Let me state from the start, I love rock, I love 60s rock, I love it a lot. There was the most incredible music revolution going on then. 50s Rock n Roll had kicked it all off, then came the safe period after that initial revolution, and then it all went crazy again. Garage Rock, Mod, Blues, British Invasion etc all played their part in the sound that can’t really be lumped together as 60s rock.

And as much as I love these bands, I’m of a generation that wasn’t around then, thank god for music tv, dvd compilations and youTube as a way to get not only to hear but see stuff from back then. However, as much as I love that music and admire bands from back then still plying their trade on the retro-revival circuit, it’s so cringe making to see them completely wrap their great songs in a nice cardigan and more or less pitch it at the level of the grannies who grew up with it.

This is why I love the Who. Apart from the odd exception, bugger all of their music has been recomposed, and it’s certainly not mellowed. I loved Roger’s voice in the 60’s, whatever accolades I try to give it now will seem inadequate, suffice to say, the raw power of a boy from London with an accent as his really wasn’t supposed to sound that good. Of course it wasn’t until Tommy that Roger really found his voice within the band. It was at this stage in the 1970s that the Who completed some of their more iconic post 60s Anthems – Won’t get Fooled Again being my all time favourite (closely followed by the entire Quadrophenia Album).

Possibly their best reinterpretation is The Kids Are Alright and the best rendition of it can be found on the live DVD, Live at the Royal Albert Hall.

However apart from that, there is no harmonising of their tunes, no comforting of the guitar and certainly no weakening of the rhythm section (despite the original rhythm section now departed). The Who still thrash out their songs, and god only knows how Roger manages to (without being disrespectful) at his age hit those notes and push such forceful tones out, it’s quite astonishing and bloody pleasing. I’d love to see some more of those old Rock bands from the 60s, but thank god for YouTube alerting us to who is just literally putting a tea cosy over their careers and raking the cash off the oldies who can’t remember just how bloody good these songs were.

Speaking of rhythm sections, I have always been a fan of Drummers, and of course Keith Moon is without peer as both a performer and entertainer. Watching old Who stuff on DVD (I think I have them all), it almost defies logic and technique the way he played, and of course he was the template for all of the great 70s arena band’s drummers to have massive kits. But his replacement sine 1994 has been one of the best things that has happened to the band over the last couple of decades. Zac Starkey (yes son of Ringo Star) was given his first drum kit by none other than Keith Moon, and has more than carried the mantle of the greatest drummer to play behind Pete, Roger and John since Keith. It would be hard to argue that his influence on the band hasn’t been great. But then again this is The Who and the sum of the parts is greater than any individual. On their own they are all stunning if not genius musicians, but in that strange chemistry that is The Who they are in my opinion the greatest rock band to ever have graced the stage.

So bring on this weekend, I’m flying up to Auckland (from the bottom of the country) to see these buggers, having the privilege only once before at the infamous Hollywood Bowl concert in 2002 (just after John’s passing). Those reading from North America, won’t understand how big an event this is for Kiwi’s, after all you have had a regular dose of The Who more or less since their first tour, for us 41 years between gigs is too long, but thankfully we can now say those words, between gigs.

So see you all up in Auckland this weekend, to the poor bugger getting married, hope it goes well, do the scene from Bend it Like Beckham, sneak out from the reception for a couple of hours and see you there, the rest of you, enjoy the spectacle, you are in for one of the musical treats of you lives.

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Filed under Concerts, New Zealand, The Who

Tags: 41 years, Auckland, NZ Tourn, The Who, Zac Starkey