The Who...halftime show

[Steinar Gregertsen]

Aging rockers who have not done anything creative together in decades.....
- if Paul and Ringo hire a couple of guitar players and play next year's halftime as the Beatles, would that be must-see TV?

Not to nitpick, but The who released an album of new material called "Endless Wire" in 2006 and have been touring with the current lineup since then, so it's not like Daltrey and Townsend got together and hired a bunch of session players for the halftime show...



Townsend is also currently working on a new rock opera, so the well apparently isn't entirely dry.

[Ron Whitfield]

Like that's going to slow the bashers...

Archie, I saw Pete give his LP at least three serious cracks to The Forum stage in '73 during Summertime Blues without it even caring. Pete stopped and stared at it in disbelief, then reared back with it til it touched the floor and came down with everything he had. It exploded into bits and dust.
Then they came back out for a rare encore.

[Russ Tkac]

Should steel players stop playing when they're old and fat?

[Brint Hannay]

if Paul and Ringo hire a couple of guitar players and play next year's halftime as the Beatles, would that be must-see TV?

I liked George Harrison's quote when they asked him if there would be a Beatles reunion: "There won't be a Beatles reunion as long as John Lennon remains dead."

[Mike Perlowin RIP]

Should steel players stop playing when they're old and fat?

They should stop playing when they no longer can. Daltry and Townsend were singing out of tune.

I loved the Who back in the late 60s and early 70s. They were my all time favorite band, even more than the Beatles or Stones. And I'm sure Pete Townsend has it within him to write more great songs, and another opera.

But as performers, as evidenced by their super bowl show, they have lost something, and I for one cannot help comparing them today to what they were yesterday.

[Rick Campbell]

Should steel players stop playing when they're old and fat?

I think in most cases, if you play for the money, you won't have to worry about the fat part too much.

[Ron Whitfield]

Daltry and Townsend were singing out of tune.

Close enuf for rock n roll.

[Steinar Gregertsen]

But as performers, as evidenced by their super bowl show, they have lost something,

I don't think a 12-minute super bowl show, where everything happens in a hurry (and none of us has any idea how the stage sound was), is "evidence" of anything at all. They played a festival over here in 2007 and that was a classic performance by all standards.

Maybe they've "lost it" for a 'rush hour' performance ala super bowl, but they sure haven't lost it when it comes to doing a show at their own pace. Older guys needs a bit longer to warm up, you know..

I don't understand how serious musicians who's been around for a while and should know the realities of performing under various conditions, can demand that others pack it in based on a rushed 12-minute (sub standard) super bowl show.

Better watch out so you don't hit a clunker on your next gigs guys, the PPP (Perfect Pitch Police) might come and get you!

PS - in 1990 Roger Waters set up a huge concert version of The Wall at Brandenburger Tor, Berlin, with many guest artists including Cocker, Springseteen, Peter Gabriel, Joni Mitchell, and many others. It was aired direct on radio and I remember hearing Helm, Danko and Hudson of The Band with Sinead O'Connor - their vocals were horribly off pitch. Still, I'm glad they didn't pack it in there and then, based on one bad performance. (On a side note, I bought the video when it was released, and strangely, their vocals were suddenely pitch perfect.. Since this was before the days of autotune I guess they re-recorded the vocals).

[Joachim Kettner]

Pete Townshend with a Don Williams song done live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRyseNvF_L8

[Craig Stock]

Mike Perlowin wrote:
Daltry and Townsend were singing out of tune.

I guess Carrie Underwood should retire then also.

[Barry Blackwood]

Except she's not old and fat.

[Marc Stone]

The Who have always been one of my absolute fave bands, but that performance was weak. Love em to death, but that show isn't why.
As for Pete and Fender amps, I've read that back in the good ole days when he had rows of Hiwatt or Marshall stacks on stage, they were props to be destroyed and the real sound was coming from a cranked up Twin.

And anyway, Sunday was not about The Who, it was about WHO DAT!!! Yeah you rite

[Mike Neer]

Yeah, it would have been so much better if Black-Eyed Peas or Kanye West or Nickleback did the halftime show...

[Mike Perlowin RIP]

I guess some of us are more aware of and sensitive to things being in or out of tune than others.

This perfect pitch policeman finds it nauseatingly painful to hear music that's out of tune. Frankly, I fail to understand how any real musician does not feel the same way.

Long live the perfect pitch police. Death to the criminals who sing and play out of tune.

[Russ Tkac]

I saw them a few years ago and it was the first show of their tour and they sounded great. But, they were only 64 or 65 then.

[Rick Campbell]

64 responses to discuss The Who playing at the Superbore, but 13 responses in the thread about Ms. Leslie being played on the radio. That's a pretty good indication of what direction the steel guitar forum is leaning. Not complaining, just an observation. Everyone's free to do their own thing.

I wonder why nobody had a problem with these foreigners taking work away from American bands? If it was someone from Mexico picking oranges it gets people really stirred up.

[Steinar Gregertsen]

Frankly, I fail to understand how any real musician does not feel the same way.

After I had played the lap steel for a couple years I went through a period where I could hardly listen to any music at all because everything sounded out of tune to me. Probably from focusing so intensely on pitch while learning on the lap steel.

So it's not that I don't hear it, or don't react to it, but for me it's very much a matter of the context.
Yes, I heard that their vocals were painfully off pitch at that show, but no,- it didn't really matter all that much to me because The Who has never been about technical perfection, at least not to me.
I've also heard John Lee Hooker sing painfully out of tune, but I didn't care because that was not was he was about.

And then there's the circumstances,- none of us knows what the monitoring was like up on that stage, so I think we should be a little careful before judging them so harshly. I would believe most of us knows how it is to be up on a stage where the monitoring is failing. We don't know what Daltrey and Townsend heard, so don't be so quick to judge,- and at least not demand that they "retire" based entirely on a 12-minute super bowl performance.

They were great and (for the most part) on pitch when they played here 2,5 years ago, I doubt they've suddenly lost it all in that short time. But anything's possible of course...

Personally I've never cared so much for Daltrey's vocals, to me The Who was always about Townsend's songwriting and rock solid rhythm guitar plus Entwistle's thunderous bass playing..
Entwistle's gone, but I'm not going to give up Townsend based on a 12-minute performance.

[Scott Shipley]

Singing on pitch is unfortunately not a prerequisite for being a star these days. Personally, I'd rather hear Daltry and Townsend sing out of tune because they are road worn and vintage, than to hear kids who ain't even shaving yet singing out of tune because they can't sing in tune to start with.


Ever watch vintage live Who? They never sang in tune. I know, I know, it's only rock and roll. You know the rest.

[Marc Stone]

Rick,

They took our jobs! Puh-leez, I'm in Canada right now w an American band headlining a big event (nothing like the Superbowl, but a good gig). Are we lousy foreigners stealing work from hardworking Canadians?

Given the relative record sales, exposure, and decades in the public eye that the Who has had compared to Miss Leslie, I think the fact the she, as an independent can generate 20pct of the discussion that one of the most famous bands in the world, that just performed on the single most viewed TV event in history, says that there is good support for her here. Reading the posts about her have piqued my curiousity about her music. They certainly inspired some sgf members to raise their voice in support of her music. I'll shoot R Davis a PM and request a CD to consider for airplay on my radio show. Technically it's a Blues show, but I have freedom with my programming and play all kinds of music.
Besides that, there are many of us who started to pusue steel because of its use in styles other than classic country.
And what do you make of the fact that there 65 posts about the Who's performance without a single mention of the fact that a great American city that was nearly destroyed less than 5 yrs ago fielded a Superbowl winning team for the first time in their team's 42 year history?

Not trying to down you, but I thought your post merited a response.

[Russ Tkac]

These guys young enough?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjeMDvCdrtc

[Scott Shipley]

[Rick Campbell]

Rick,

They took our jobs! Puh-leez, I'm in Canada right now w an American band headlining a big event (nothing like the Superbowl, but a good gig). Are we lousy foreigners stealing work from hardworking Canadians?

Given the relative record sales, exposure, and decades in the public eye that the Who has had compared to Miss Leslie, I think the fact the she, as an independent can generate 20pct of the discussion that one of the most famous bands in the world, that just performed on the single most viewed TV event in history, says that there is good support for her here. Reading the posts about her have piqued my curiousity about her music. They certainly inspired some sgf members to raise their voice in support of her music. I'll shoot R Davis a PM and request a CD to consider for airplay on my radio show. Technically it's a Blues show, but I have freedom with my programming and play all kinds of music.
Besides that, there are many of us who started to pusue steel because of its use in styles other than classic country.
And what do you make of the fact that there 65 posts about the Who's performance without a single mention of the fact that a great American city that was nearly destroyed less than 5 yrs ago fielded a Superbowl winning team for the first time in their team's 42 year history?

Not trying to down you, but I thought your post merited a response.

Hey Mark,

No offense taken. Don't confuse me with having the same position as the people I'm making reference to. We hear so much talk about the Mexican's coming here to work and all, but no one thinks that way when it's about music. Kind of seems double standard to me. I've played Canada many times and Mexico and Europe and I never thought anything about it either. With airplanes, Internet, etc.... everything is a worldwide economy now. That's fine with me. Personally, if I was struggling to feed my family, and I could cross the border and make 10 times the money, I'd do it, and so would most people. You and I don't have a problem, or I hope not.

As for The Who history, and superbowl history, I'm as ignorant as they come. I didn't even who was playing in the superbowl until it was over, and only then because I read about it on the front page of the newspaper. I normally throw the sports section away first thing. Just not interesting to me.... I wish it was, because it's so plentyful and free to watch on TV, etc....

Have fun on your gig. I worked in Canada on a two week tour one winter and it was so cold. We ended up in Nova Scoita and put the bus on a ferry and rode it back to Maine. It saved hours and hours of driving back the long way. You probably know all about that though.

[Rick Campbell]

These guys young enough?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjeMDvCdrtc

Russ, if Scotty can book them in St. Louis. I might go. I'd even volunteer to play steel on their set. I'm right into their grooves, but maybe too old. Rats!

[Ron Whitfield]

As for superbowl history, I'm as ignorant as they come. I didn't even who was playing in the superbowl until it was over, and only then because I read about it on the front page of the newspaper. I normally throw the sports section away first thing. Just not interesting to me

This was the first NFL game for me in two years, got tuned in a bit before 1/2 time and really enjoyed the remaining play. Good for the city.

[Marc Stone]

Rick,

Sorry, when I reread your post I got your meaning. No, we sure don't have any problem. Happy pickin and may the music you believe in carry you to where you want to go. I definitely understand your feelings.

Ron, I'm not a big football fan either but this season has done so much to unite people in New Orleans and showcase the best of what the city is about, and the team has handled themselves with real grace and respect for the city. Brees in particular has been very active in helping the community. I played a fundraiser for his foundation in Sept and am really impressed with his and his wife's commitment to the city.
You wouldn't believe the vibe in town from Sunday evening through the big victory parade on Tuesday, I've never experienced anything like it. Sorry I have to miss this Mardi Gras weekend for an out of town gig (but always happy to be working). Glad I will be home for Fat Tues. Happy Mardi Gras to all, wherever you are!