Elly Roberts reviews
The Who: Tommy and Quadrophenia Live (plus Hits Live)
Distributed by
Warner Music Vision
- Cert:
- Cat.no: 0349705000-2
- Pressing: 2005
- Region(s): 2,3,4,5, PAL
- Running time: 418 mins
- Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Stereo
- Languages: English
- Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish
- Fullscreen: 4:3
- Disc Format: 3*DVD 9
- Price: £29.99
- Rating: Entire Package 10/10
Join together with the band as The Who turn back the clock across 3 DVDs.
During troubled personal times, Pete Townsend took some sound advise,
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 print for 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.
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
