Posted on 12/21/2019 8:04:34 PM PST by DoodleBob
In a new interview with the Toronto Sun, THE WHO guitarist Pete Townshend said that fans shouldn't be surprised that the band's first new album in 13 years, "Who", bears little resemblance to THE WHO in terms of that classic ferocious rock sound. "It doesn't sound like THE WHO from those early heavy metal years," he explained. "We sort of invented heavy metal with [our first live album] 'Live At Leeds' [1970]. We were copied by so many bands, principally by LED ZEPPELIN — you know, heavy drums, heavy bass, heavy lead guitar and some of those bands, like Jimi Hendrix for example, did it far better than we did. CREAM, with Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, they came along in '67, same year as Jimi Hendrix, and they kind of stole our mantle in a sense. So people who want to hear that old heavy metal sound, there are plenty of bands that can provide it. So it's not really what we can actually do today. Even if we wanted to, it was never high on my list of wishes."
Townshend told The Pulse Of Radio that THE WHO was among the most versatile bands of its era, and that its musical talent freed him to write material that frequently covered many different genres. "...THE WHO never gave me a clear brief," he explained. "They never said to me, 'We wanna be a comedy act,' but if I gave them comedy songs, they were brilliant at them. They never said to me, 'We wanna be a girl-friendly band,' but if I gave them a love song, they would do it brilliantly. They never said, 'We want to be a heavy metal group' — if I gave them a heavy metal song, they did it brilliantly.
(Excerpt) Read more at blabbermouth.net ...
There are probably lots of bands who contributed, including Blue Cheer (e.g. Summertime Blues).
I think there are metal elements in Live at Leeds, and had their next album had the same heavy, frantic, molten edge to it The Who could have been a bigger seller than they were. However, Who’s Next was a relatively tame effort (though it is a strong album despite clunkers like Behind Blue Eyes and The Song is Over) and by the time Quadrophenia came out they’d passed on the metal genre. They’re still the best band ever.
I always considered Live at Leeds the seminal punk rock album, not heavy metal.
We’re on the same page.
Really? The BEST?? Justify your decision, sir. Lol just kidding!
German name, English composer.
...although I must say “meet the new boss. Same as the old boss” IS a great line
correctemundo.....
I quite agree.
Absolutely. If Pete wants to credit for Punk, that’s fine with me.
Here, he seems to say that he invented heavy metal in 1970 with “Live at Leeds” — and then Cream came along in 1967 and stole it! Jimi Hendrix, dead in 1969, did the same!
I just saw that! lol
I took it from their actions as much as from their music. Busting up guitars, amps and drums on stage, busting up hotel rooms off stage.
Fans who were on the verge of rioting. (guilty as charged)
Sort of, while I can’t explain, I can see for miles, all the way to the eminence front....
And they are buying a stairway to doo dah..
Yeah and ZEPPELIN’s first tour was in 1969. C’mon Pete!
Eddie Cochran wrote Summertime blues, but Owsley might agree with you ;)
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