Rock: The What and Why of The Who

Throughout most of a typical performance, the English rock quartet called The Who live up to their own modest billing: "A good, steady-going, down-to-earth pop group." Their beat is tight and jabbing, their guitar backings crisp. Their songs (Happy Jack, I Can See for Miles) aim to divert listeners rather than convert them. Un like current groups performing along the protest-and-prophecy axis, they do not come on like four hoarse men of the Apocalypse. Not at first.

As The Who launch into their wail ing finale, My Generation ("I hope I die before I get old"), strange things do begin...

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