Keith Moon here is truly electrifying. SO much expression and presence. The others are actually amazing, but Moon is just so expressive that he becomes the central figure for most of the performance. Townsend pulls off some iconic moves, and manages to draw attention, then Daltry swings his mic, but you just cant help watching that drummer. This might be the greatest single live song performance I have ever seen. The result is so beautifully free that it dispels fear and raises the human spirit. I suppose the greatest accomplishment of any art form. Impossible to follow.
Yeah, all these years later, I had forgotten how much I liked Keith Moon's playing. No one sounded like him, fills throughout the verses and choruses, instead of at the ends of them. I see where Animal of the Muppets got his style from. I found myself focused on him the whole time.
Brian Jones, at 7:26 whistling for this performance, no ego or jealousy of The Who, just happy they gave a brilliant performance. Great guy. His slide guitar on "No Expectations" is probably my favourite musical moment of the Circus. The Who were the most explosive, but something about The Stones' performance of "No Expectations". That was by far their best performance at the Circus.
Tough to top, @tz77813, but I'll give you 2 performances I would argue are even better: ua-cam.com/video/Gu9HhYv0C7E/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/UDfAdHBtK_Q/v-deo.html
The fucking best. Born to do nothing else. Glad he didn't get into a job that involved driving anything like a truck for instance. It wouldn't have lasted long and changes would have had to be made to whole industries.
As Pete said one Evening to Roger on a trip with an Acidicated water Baloon. What was that guy called again, Nikola Who🫢??????????, I've never heard of him before, 🤔 but I've heard of Kieth Moon. 💯😎
Some moments from this performance that show why The Who is the best live band ever: 0:59 - Pete tunes his guitar while playing 1:27 - Pete’s windmilling arm knocks down the overhead drum mic and it hits Keith in the face. Neither of them miss a beat. 3:41 - How does Keith get that floor tom on top of his kit so quickly?!? And then tosses it over his head and comes back in perfectly on beat!!!! 6:18 - When did Keith have a chance to pour water on his snare? Listen to John’s “opera” voice!!!! 6:41 - NO band has ever played with more energy. Any guitar player who has ever tried windmilling can tell you how hard it is but Pete NEVER misses. 7:09 - Pete raises his falling mic back up with his nose! Plus all throughout, John’s bass playing, Keith’s drumming, three part vocal harmonies all NAILED. The Stones were INSANE to ask THE WHO to open for them!
I've read somewhere that they shot the performance 3 times, then mixed all of them with the best shots. Maybe it explains partially how Keith Moon pour water on the drums.
It was always said that the Stones hated their performance. After watching a clip of the Stones I thought they did a great show, they too were at the peak of their powers(minus the fading of Brian Jones) The Stones could have invited any other group at the time to perform at their "Rock And Roll Circus" and they would have owned it. The one group they shouldn't have invited was invited and no matter how great a band the Stones were, they didn't have the presence or the power of the Who. The Who were the reason the Rock And Roll Circus was shelved. An unintentional but remarkable feat by The Who
I watched RnR Circus when I was very young and The Who's performance changed me forever - I honestly barely remember anything before or after, they filled up the entire movie with their performance, absolutely incredible.
@@JonShade-fy2gm You left out "funny." Keith Moon was a very, very funny man. It was a huge part of his persona: the impish prankster who lived his entire life as if it was a high-speed joyride in a stolen car.
In fairness to the Stones performance, they had been up all night and didn't go on until the early morning. Still, even at their best I don't think they could perform like this.
My dad was lucky to have been around in the ‘60s (I was born in ‘73) and he saw Hendrix, The Who, Zeppelin, etc and he always said that Hendrix and The Who were the two most impressive. Zeppelin was a letdown.
A metalhead of the 80 s. The Who could cream every one of them. Hardest rocking band of all time. They didn’t need to be heavy metal to do it. This is the band of all time greats.
Saw them at Woodstock, they did the whole Tommy opera somewhere around 3 am. Lucky me, to be 18, the right age, the right places, the right time for the best era of rock and roll.
I’ve seen the entire set,but I only heard of Pete hitting someone with his guitar that got up on stage while they were playing. In my opinion,when Keith was alive,probably the best live show I’ve seen. Saw them in 75 @ the summit,Zeppelin there in 77. Poor Page was pale,frail & painfully pencil thin…could still play. Ps. You are very fortunate to have seen them. I would’ve love to see them on the 73,74 tour.
hi ! i’m doing a project on human proximity and music for my cinema class, i’m graduating in may and i have to hold a small exhibit! would you be interested in describing your experience of seeing the who at Woodstock? just a brief paragraph on how you felt? i’m exploring the general feeling of woostock and what music brings to people ! have a good one man
@@marklagrone3326 Pete was pissed that Abbie Hoffman came onstage and interrupted their set. There are a few vids on UA-cam that play the entire thing, and you can hear the argument, but Peter wanted to kick his ass. Also, and I love and respect Jimmy Page, but unfortunately, that's when he started using heroin. Thankfully, he kicked it and didn't become a casualty.
I think I figured out what made the Who so special. Entwistle's flying bass lines meld with Moon's maniacal drumming, Townshend's driving rhythm guitar rides along with and above Entwistle's bass, Daltrey's power vocals feed off Townshend's guitar, Townshend's vocals soar from Daltrey's, and Entwistle's vocals span from the bottom to the top to bring it all together. They are the most complete and comprehensive band to have ever performed rock 'n roll.
Is any of you guys know about Live at Leeds 1970 was cought on camera or is available in VHS or DVD ? I am willing to pay few hundreds of Dollars if there is an official video footage.
aint gonna argue but you should watch the rooftop performance of the beatles, live at the hollywood bowl the beatles, live at pompeii pink floyd, the wall live pink floyd, oasis familiar to millions, led zep live at madison square garden all are amazing that you must watch
@HankFinkle11 Whenever they were needed, he played the double bass INSANELY well. Kind of a "whatever" comment about how OFTEN he used both. Oh Well - Peace Nonetheless!!
Ive listened to this song 50 times...Does anyone else have a sort of transcendent experience when listening to the ""you are forgiven" part.... spiritual and inspired.
Peter DiMeo singing falsetto and playing bass. Incredibly hard to do... John Entwistle and Brian Wilson did it best. Glen Campbell said it’s like trying to rub your stomach and pat your head at the same time.
Doesn't matter how many times I've watched this performance over the years, it always gives me goosebumps. The energy present here is just off the scale.
Yes, it is something out of this world. Since I first watched this (around 1985) I´ve never ever been as impressed by anything else, and, mind you, I´ve spent most of my life buying records & listening to everything that I could possibly listen to.
A masterclass. Blew everyone away that day. A Quick One is five songs in one - the energy, the spirit, the sheer power of this performance. And who knew John had such an amazing falsetto.
as a long time Who fan I was blown away today by the performance of a lifetime. I never reacted to a live show that way it was a good time during not such good times.🎸
Moon is STILL the best drummer of all time. We each have our favorites, both to watch & hear. I get the people who say John Bonham or Neil Peart (again, we're all different & unique - & if you love R'n'R, then there are no WRONG answers), & I can agree they are both in the top 3, but Moon is still #1 - & that DOES have SOMETHING to do with WATCHING his live performances. This is my favorite of them all because of his PLAYING like a BEAST & still finding time to THROW a drum as far as he could & have someone(?) Pour water onto his drums. THIS is the best, single song - live drummer performance EVER!! I always wonder how many times he hit a drum or a cymbal - if it could be counted. Either way, you're 100% RIGHT!! He's DEFINITELY the most fun to watch. Gone FAR too soon. The Who lost a HUGE part of what made them so GR8. Still, I'm glad they went on. Both L.Z. & Rush died when THEIR drummers died. I respect that, though. Usually, it has to be a front man or lead guitarist to kill a band. But I AM happy The Who went on. Again, Moon IS far more ENTERTAINING to watch - Esp HERE!! Peace!!
@@paulkersey9553 Yeah I was saying the same thing earlier today. I saw both line ups; one in 76, the other in 79. The 76 gig (Charlton) was out of this world; 79 was a non event by comparison.
Friends I tend to agree about quitting after Keith’s passing. Page and them knew after Bonham died they couldn’t continue as LZ. I’ll say this with respect to baker and Peart , no two drummers were as critical to their bands than moon and bonzo. Ever in history of rock. Pete notwithstanding, in many ways moon WAS The Who.
I ALSO couldn't agree more!! You nailed it!! Well said, & the 1st reply is also very correct in what THEY say. Thank the universe for keeping it & making it even better quality for the fans. I know I'll be watching it again & again till I die!! I wouldn't be surprised if you(s) do the same as well!! Peace!!
The late sixties is when The Who became THE WHO. John Entwistle was as good(if not better) than any bass player in the game, Daltrey was becoming the standard for all frontman in rock, Pete Townshend was bringing crazy-high energy every night and Keith Moon was just in absolute beast mode. They set so many rock standards and precedents that bands performing to this day are being influenced by them and don't even know it. If i live to 100, no band will ever blow me away like these guys did.
@@philippejanin1742 Just telling like it is brother. Any objective list of the "Best in Rock History" would have all four of these guys on the very short list, if not at the top, of their respective craft. Lots of bands and artists are always quick to tell you they were the first to do this, or the first to do that. Few bands however were at the forefront, or made as many contributions to the Rock genre, as The Who did. Legends in every sense of the word.
@ JEFF Preach it brother! If anyone has any doubts about THE WHO, just watch their performance at the concert for NYC after 9/11. I live in NY and THEIR performance that night did more to lift our spirits than anything else at that time and they were almost in their 60's! Just iconic and powerful. Nobody even comes close.
@@kevinmclaughlin1092 Could not agree with you more friend. I know it came at a very dark time, but as a life long Who fan I felt an immense sense of pride during that performance. You could see all of the first responders who lost, not just colleagues but good friends. Yet, there they were in full throat screaming for The Who and you could truly see how cathartic it was for some of them. I use to say to my friends, "it's always a good time for some Who" and that night proved it for sure.
When Pete is saying “You’re all forgiven” at the end with his reassuring smile, I just feel everything gonna be alright for ever, I feel like the whole world has been forgiven and that we are all walking on the path of salvation and repentance. Actually I think that’s exactly what the entire Who’s music has always been all about.
I never really knew what this song was about when I first heard it. But it was those very same words that lured me to the song when I was a teenager. You're absolutely right!
@@6EndlessNameless9 Knowing the fact that Pete Townsend has always been into spirituality, religion and philosophy and so on, I don’t think it is totally weird to analyse his work in the light of his thinking. His music such as Tommy or Quadrophenia are all clearly about spiritual redemption, salvation ect.
One of the funnier things about this song: from 4:48 to 5:03 they're all singing "cello, cello, cello, cello, cello, cello". I've read that Pete Townshend wrote the song with the idea that cellos would be playing during that part. However, the record company refused to pay for cellists and the band didn't have the money to hire cello players either, so they just sang "cello, cello, cello".
Thats true. At least I read that as well in the liner notes/booklet in my CD copy of the 1966 album. It was a reissue, obviously, from like 1998, or 9 I wanna say...When I recently saw them this last fall in Seattle with the Orchestra, I was so hoping they would play it to see what it would sound like with an actual cello. They didn't, but killer show regardless.
This is the UA-cam clip I've watched more than any other, and I NEVER get tired of it! One song, one performance, 7 1/2 minutes of pure absolute rock perfection. The sheer power of The Who, in all of their raw untamed fury, is captured here for all to experience. None better, never equaled before or since.
This was the reason The Rock and Roll Circus was not officially released until 1996. Apparently the Stones were so jealous of The Who’s performance they could not let themselves release the Rock and Roll Circus. The Who were that good.
@@xxdanielx145 the stones represented a counterculture more so for me but honestly were not a very good live band, not like a Led Zeppelin, not like Grateful Dead or The Who. The stones put on a good performance, Mick Jagger as a frontman at this time was very entertaining and charismatic
Agree but it's not really a great SONG. I still prefer the best live recordings of their peak material from Who's Next (Pure & Easy, Time is Passing) and Quadrophenia (5.15, Drowned). A great live version of Won't Get Fooled Again, Baba O'Riley, The Punk and the Godfather or Dr.Jimmy would dwarf this.
@@Ruda-n4h It is a great song, just the album version isn't like this. Cmon man this is badass. It sickens me that Green Day fans think their cover was better, tell them to watch this performance.
Only John Entwistle could be standing on the side of the stage, playing his heart out, singing incredible falsettos, and only be thinking about what he’s gonna wear tomorrow
@Dorando Cavallacci You couldn’t go wrong with arguably the best drummer greatest bass player most creative songwriter and guitarist and one of the best lead singers in rock history
@@jamesmack3314 and if that weren't enough, their 3 part vocals are flawless, powerful and creative like nothing else. And incredibly entertaining to watch.
I once heard him described as “the best Keith Moon style drummer in the world”, and while it might have been intended as a backhanded compliment, it is kind of true. He can't be compared to other drummers.
@Langelier Fabrice These days, music depends much less on traditional radio then other sources - spotify, streaming, satellite radio. With that said, The Who and other good artists of the past will live on through these sources, as well as traditional ones (i.e. CDs). I am greatly looking foward to the new Who release later this year.
Amazing that the guy doing the falsetto in this song, is the same guy doing the basso profundo in “Boris the Spider”… while laying down some of the best bass lines in rock. What a fucking beast The Ox was.
The stones would not release this video for all most 40 years. Cause it showed how much better THE WHO IS THEN ANY BAND OUT THERE. And still to this day 2023. THE WHO IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE GREATEST ROCK BAND EVER.
Absolutely! Greatest rock band of ALL TIME and greatest rock performers of ALL TIME!! Townshend, greatest mind in rock history (sorry, Zappa). Quadrophenia, greatest rock album ever recorded. I've been a musician my whole life and NOBODY that knows me in my business will ever waste their time arguing any of this with me. LOL! ~JSV
@@jsv438 I have been saying that same thing. Pete Townshend is a musical genius. Genius. I have seen the who 5 times. There's no rock band that comes close to the who. Greatest drummer greatest bass player one of the best front men. And a guitar player who plays it like no other and he is a musical genius. The WHO greatest rock band ever ever. And You do know a lot about rock music. Am 64 and I have been a who freak since the late 60s.
@@JimWelsh-f6l RIGHT-ON! Here's another thing too. Many bands of this 60s - 70s era were sort-of the "firsts", or the pioneers, or influencers of certain things, with respect to what we all know rock music has become. For instance; Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Zeppelin, The Beatles, Bowie, Queen, Zappa, Rush, The Stones, even Devo, etc etc. They all more or less brought something of their own that others incorporated or mimicked or were influenced by. Something we forget and look past though, is that before The Who, we really didn't yet have the true image or the defined persona of the "rock star". The crazy behaviors that were being reported from their tours in the Tommy and Quadrophenia days. Then the performance of those stories were brought to life in their stage presence, proving that yes, indeed, there is no question these were the wild bunch that had been reported destroying hotel rooms, smashing their instruments, and driving a Rolls Royce into the pool. The Who really were the ones that deserve credit for pioneering that image of the "rock star lifestyle". And remember, before Pete, we didn't yet have the 100watt amp. The only reason bands like The Beatles needed bigger and louder amps was because the venues were getting larger, filling up with more people, and the those bigger crowds were starting to get loud as well, so they need to contend with that---but only so they could be heard. Before The Who, no rock bands were on this quest to be so deafeningly loud as merely part of the experience! That really became a stigma that stuck with them for years. And the talked about story in the early days as being a Guinness Book of World Records title holder for the loudest performance truly help solidify that image of them. I wonder sometimes, at what point in their lives, as things were progressing for The Who's success, did Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert actually realize the monster they helped create had taken on a mind of it's own and was about to devour the entire world. With all the respect I have for the origins of these musical acts and pioneers of their time, I don't even think Jimi Hendrix was as explosive and creative as Townshend and The Who. Without them, someone, somewhere, would have eventually brought us something similar, but even WITH the history of this band in existence, and all their years of influence, they remain unparalleled. Even Kiss with their huge fiery stage shows could try to summon some demon and blow up the stage with an atomic weapon, but they still wouldn't possess the raw talent and intellectual genius that commands one's attention and transforms the consciousness the way The Who did to the world in the 1970s. Zappa was capable of blowing your mind... but Townshend was capable of changing it. ~JSV
The Rolling Stones were trying to run this literal circus, were operating on no sleep, and by this time Jones had lost his battles with his inner demons. They didn't release the video because they were more embarrassed about their own performance, especially compared to many of the great performances put on in that show. BTW - I'm not saying that this isn't one of the greatest live performances ever caught on film. It absolutely is.
One reason this is so good is that's its on the verge of being out of control, like music is in charge, not the musicians. Like its THAT close to exploding and killing everyone in the room.
For anyone who doesn't know what The Who were all about, this is the video to watch. The song writing, the raw power, the vocals, Keith looking appropriately insane, the overdrive, the arm swinging, the equipment flying, this is The Who at their absolute best.
100% He had an interesting way of singing in the studio. He had trouble with his "R's" so he'd sneak an "L" in from time to time. Take a careful listen to "Whiskey Man" from "A Quick One" and you can hear it.
@@SopranoLili I love me some falsetto, and absolutely agree that John's use of it here really fills the song out. For me though the best falsetto belongs to another John, John Frusciante....
I gotta say, The Rolling Stones is a fantastic band, but inviting The Who to their TV special show was like presenting your taller, better looking friend to your girlfriend.
After Keith died the band was never the same. Here we can see they were on top of their game and just kill it. Moonie was so good and he doesn't get talked about as much as I think he should be.
It took away a lot of The Whos' energy/life force, and that sucked. Moonie is My #1 for decades & I get other people to watch THIS & say to keep their attention on "the drummer" (Moon). It amazes EVERYONE, whether they know of him (or this song) or not. I watch it with them - & watching him play those drums, & it seems humanly impossible. So much energy - & it was PERFECT!! I promote Mr. Keith Moon, whenever/wherever I can -lol!! Peace!!
Yes! And as much as I hate saying it, look up "Pete Townsend does not like Keith Moon AS A DRUMMER" and you will be amazed at what Pete has ALWAYS felt about one of the all-time great rock drummers ever. Don't take my word for it, google it yourself. And ignore the relatively more recent comments about his being glad both Keith and John are dead--he misspoke and that's not what I'm talking about. Go back a little further and you'll find he's said FOR YEARS that he didn't like Keith's drumming. Sadly, it makes perfect sense in light of the apparent emphasis on, and preference for, very straight-ahead drumming from of those succeeding Keith in The Who's drum seat. Great players Pete appears to have asked NOT to bring attention to the drumming but instead play what I consider unfortunately routine R&B timekeeping. Look it up. And go figure.
Townshend has always been a study in contradictions. I believe he has given interviews and has said things without thoroughly thinking them through. I've read and heard a lot of interviews with Townshend and I think what he found fault with Moon was his live playing. But who knows. Maybe he heard something they recorded and wondered if it could've been done differently; like a drum fill, etc. Me, I wouldn't change a thing. I absolutely love his drumming.
Look at Pete's face at 7:20. He knows, they just played the ever loving shit out of this song, and blew anyone else off the stage that dared to stand next to them. They were entering their own league. No one else comes close. They are, without a doubt, my favorite rock band EVER~!
December of 1968. This is before The Who released Tommy, Live at Leeds, Who's Next and Quadrophenia; before their epic performance 8 months later at Woodstock. Their best was yet to come. Jagger knew he had better keep his Rock & Roll Circus buried, though he allowed The Who to release this on their 1979 Rockumentary--The Kids Are Alright.
This performance was the main reason the Stones shelved the show for years (It was supposed to be aired on Boxing Day). Stones waited until last to perform and Mick and Keith felt it wasn't up to their usual par.
you know when a performance is great when you can't stop watching it over and over..Folks this is ROCK N ROLL AT ITS FINEST. The WHO at the peak of their power.
Mesmerizing! The greatest live band of all-time! Roger and Pete are doing fantastic shows currently while both are in their 70's, which is a miracle in itself, but the four of them in their youth were an untouchable powerhouse!
I saw an interview once that said because of THIS performance, the Stones put this film in their vault for over 20yrs before finally releasing it. They also didn't tour after this until 1974 or so. Just too intimidated by the Who's power and stage presence. 🔥🔥
Has a band ever owned a moment so hard? Absolutely peerless & perfect. Complete confidence, all business. From Entwistle’s opening salvo, you know this is game over.
A wild performance of one of the most unusual pop songs ever written. Inspired by tragic incidents in Pete’s childhood, the pathos gets buried by the frenzied performance. The quality of the performance, particularly the harmonies, is so good that the performance seems to be lip-synced. It isn’t of course, and seeing The Who so young and powerful and just approaching their peak is a absolute treat for any rock fan.
@@doolally1478 so i'm not the original commenter, but i think something definitely happened to pete in his childhood that he was working through, whether it was to people around him or himself, imo there's enough continued themes in pete's lyrics to suggest something. this song, 1921, (and most of the beginning of tommy), i can see for miles relate to infidelity, with tommy being infidelity in parental figures. the image of manhood and the perception of masculinity and especially childhood masculinity (tattoo, substitute (also referencing infidelity), i'm a boy, rough boys. and so much of tommy references child abuse (1921, cousin kevin, fiddle about) that i think pete was working through a lot of his childhood and upbringing. and a lot of my favorite singles from this era reflect those.
@@isabellewonn754 IIRC, he spoke much later in life about how he was abused by his grandmother as a child, and he struggled with processing that for decades.
You had John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Mitch Mitchell jamming together that night - and it still paled in comparison to this performance. Amazing.
I went to see the movie "The Kids Are Alright"in 1979. Half way thru this song the whole crowd in the theatre were on their feet going crazy. Unbelievable performance.
Yeah, the first time I ever saw this was at the theater in The Kids Are Alright. It was the first time I ever heard this song. Seeing this on the big screen wad one of the most pleasurable experiences in my life.
Yeah, same same. Midnight movie performance in 1979 in a seedy party of the city and this teen kid was astonished at the theatre going nuts. Was already a massive The Who fan. My experience was at the southernmost coast of Africa, intriguing how we are able to share cultural references even while continents apart.
Same here. Every year or so this TKAA would play in a local theater. That was our only chance to see this stuff. I still smile every time I see this on UA-cam.
And that energy came out in an unmatched way & with natural skill. Gone far too early, but what he left for us while he was here will live on forever!!
Nah. Most people know Hendrix was the finisher! He WAS supposed to be a headliner for one of those nights, but due to delays, and bands playing longer sets than planned, Hendrix got pushed back. He didn't take the stage until Monday morning. By then, the half a million people who were there during the peak of the 3 day festival (I.e. when The Who played), had dwindled down to less than 50,000 people... For the record, The Who started late too. They didn't take the stage until approximately 5am Saturday night/Sunday morning. But yes...Hendrix put on a legendary set! Both sets were iconic moments for both bands. I would tell you more, but this reply is getting extremely long.
Not really. The Who were not that well known in the US at this point. If you look at the crowd some of the audience looked a bit confused as they were not that familiar with the group.
@@Cissy2cute I'm sorry but your previous statement indicates you have no idea what you're talking about. The Who was arguably the 3rd most popular band to come out of The British Invasion, with only The Beatles, and The Stones more well known. They had numerous hits already under their belt including multiple number ones. And they were DEFINITELY one of the main headliners for Woodstock. Sorry, but you are flat out incorrect on this one. 👍😁👍
At 6:39 - there's a good reason you almost never see guitarist attempt the windmill. It's harder than it looks and there is NO margin for error. Townshend has stated it was not uncommon to rip his thumbnail off in the process. He also put a tremelo bar through his hand doing the same thing. Those 4 guys tapped in to a level of energy unheard of. The Who at their peak was an unstoppable force.
I've done it, and WITHOUT losing any nails or skin. How? Simple: I watched Pete and took careful notice WHERE Pete hit. (Always by the bridge/saddles) then I compensated by hitting with more pick near the base of the neck...AND using .009 gauge strings, to boot!
Yes, sent my brand new pride and joy Rickenbacker 330 crashing to the flood via bouncing off my AC30 on my first gig trying a windmill. I'm told it looked impressive but I haven't tried it again in forty years during a gig.
Just watching Keith Moon is visually exhausting.
It's said that he was the inspiration for the Muppets' Animal.
🤣
i know.
Add Townshend’s leaping and windmilling along with Daltrey’s mic spins and I’m DEAD! The Ox as stoic as ever but his lead bass is a force unto itself!
Moon was awesome I love the guy
When I'm having a bad day...nothing is better than watching this. Nothing.
Cured my current bout of depression.
I literally just watched it for the 99th time....just to make me happy
Impossible to argue with that
Yeah sex is cool, but have you ever watched A Quick One (While He’s Away) Live at the Rock And Roll Circus on a bad day?
Can't attack the truth
Keith Moon here is truly electrifying. SO much expression and presence. The others are actually amazing, but Moon is just so expressive that he becomes the central figure for most of the performance. Townsend pulls off some iconic moves, and manages to draw attention, then Daltry swings his mic, but you just cant help watching that drummer. This might be the greatest single live song performance I have ever seen. The result is so beautifully free that it dispels fear and raises the human spirit. I suppose the greatest accomplishment of any art form. Impossible to follow.
Yeah, all these years later, I had forgotten how much I liked Keith Moon's playing. No one sounded like him, fills throughout the verses and choruses, instead of at the ends of them. I see where Animal of the Muppets got his style from. I found myself focused on him the whole time.
Brian Jones, at 7:26 whistling for this performance, no ego or jealousy of The Who, just happy they gave a brilliant performance. Great guy. His slide guitar on "No Expectations" is probably my favourite musical moment of the Circus. The Who were the most explosive, but something about The Stones' performance of "No Expectations". That was by far their best performance at the Circus.
Hey "tz," You've nailed it! Dead on! ... a bit like "da OO!" if you don't mind my sayin...??
@@michaelg2478Certainly NOT "Sympathy for the Devil" - LOL!!
Tough to top, @tz77813, but I'll give you 2 performances I would argue are even better:
ua-cam.com/video/Gu9HhYv0C7E/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/UDfAdHBtK_Q/v-deo.html
Keith Moon is the craziest drummer of all time. Absolutely brilliant and unique.
overplay
I love his drumming style. Reminds me of Animal from the Muppets.
The fucking best. Born to do nothing else. Glad he didn't get into a job that involved driving anything like a truck for instance. It wouldn't have lasted long and changes would have had to be made to whole industries.
Not as good as Ringo when it comes to serving the song.
YESSSS
This is probably my single favorite musical performance of all time.
Same
Only in the UK could such a weird, wonderful band like the Who crop up. Absolute pinnacle of 60s rock.
Mine too mate.
Check out Who Isle of Wight
Same!
Keith Moon's energy could power a city for decades.
I first saw them in 74 and they were still tremendous then.
You mean the shit he was on. The shit that killed him.
As Pete said one Evening to Roger on a trip with an Acidicated water Baloon.
What was that guy called again, Nikola Who🫢??????????, I've never heard of him before, 🤔 but I've heard of Kieth Moon. 💯😎
That's my baby God❤rest him
Keith Moon & Bill Ward, the most energetic & best drummers evet
Some moments from this performance that show why The Who is the best live band ever:
0:59 - Pete tunes his guitar while playing
1:27 - Pete’s windmilling arm knocks down the overhead drum mic and it hits Keith in the face. Neither of them miss a beat.
3:41 - How does Keith get that floor tom on top of his kit so quickly?!? And then tosses it over his head and comes back in perfectly on beat!!!!
6:18 - When did Keith have a chance to pour water on his snare? Listen to John’s “opera” voice!!!!
6:41 - NO band has ever played with more energy. Any guitar player who has ever tried windmilling can tell you how hard it is but Pete NEVER misses.
7:09 - Pete raises his falling mic back up with his nose!
Plus all throughout, John’s bass playing, Keith’s drumming, three part vocal harmonies all NAILED. The Stones were INSANE to ask THE WHO to open for them!
Kevy Nova never noticed any of that! Thanks!!
@Kevy Nova Nice work dude! Excellent points made about a jaw-dropping performance.
I've read somewhere that they shot the performance 3 times, then mixed all of them with the best shots. Maybe it explains partially how Keith Moon pour water on the drums.
Brian Jones at the end of the video whistling, smiling and waving.
It was always said that the Stones hated their performance. After watching a clip of the Stones I thought they did a great show, they too were at the peak of their powers(minus the fading of Brian Jones)
The Stones could have invited any other group at the time to perform at their "Rock And Roll Circus" and they would have owned it. The one group they shouldn't have invited was invited and no matter how great a band the Stones were, they didn't have the presence or the power of the Who. The Who were the reason the Rock And Roll Circus was shelved. An unintentional but remarkable feat by The Who
It’s literally the best live performance in the history of rock.
I watched RnR Circus when I was very young and The Who's performance changed me forever - I honestly barely remember anything before or after, they filled up the entire movie with their performance, absolutely incredible.
Undoubtedly! I was going to make the same comment!
It's up there alright.
I second it.
agreed.
I swear to god, Keith Moon is the embodiment of Rock n Roll.
no kurt cobain
@@arno2441
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA he was the biggest parasite rock n roll ever had 😂😂😂🤣
Absolutely without peer. Some idiot said cobain. He was week as a Tuesday.
He was a fucking genius. Unique, lush, mad, gorgeous, absolutely relentless. No one played the drums like him.
@@JonShade-fy2gm You left out "funny." Keith Moon was a very, very funny man. It was a huge part of his persona: the impish prankster who lived his entire life as if it was a high-speed joyride in a stolen car.
Seeing Brian Jones cheering at the end of this vid make me smile
By that time he was basically being ignored/held back. I think he knew that performance was going to piss Mick off.
man you smart
He's just and trully enjoying n appreciating that incredible performance!!!..hum,well i think so!!!whatever,what a sensational event😉😎🤠😋
@seven proxies Yup it wouldn't have taken much LOL
Oh, that's MARVELOUS!!
I mean it's absurd how good this band was from around 68 to 73. Untouchable.
Really the only band that was better than them during that period in terms of skill and charisma was Led Zeppelin.
Led zeppelin were not better than the who live back then!
How about 1976-1980 Prime Rush Era. Rush Hemispheres, Farewell and 2112 blew everyone at that time. Rush and The Who are my heroes,.
You mean ‘65 - ‘71
Beatles were better.
This isn't a band, it is a force of nature!
Wind, Water, Earth, Fire and The Who.
BEST LIVE BAND EVER...at their peak they were a force of nature!❤❤❤❤
Alternative title: The Who vibe check The Rolling Stones while being guests to their event.
WHO-YAAH!
YES. I watched the complete show and the Stones set is weak tea compared to this. OMG! Maximum R&B!
@@tsmith1487 imean its all good songs, but they're so tired... Sympathy for the devil still holds up, but the rest is pretty weak
MothmanGhost What are you saying PELOTUDO
In fairness to the Stones performance, they had been up all night and didn't go on until the early morning. Still, even at their best I don't think they could perform like this.
I’ll never get tired of watching this. Probably the best performance ever by any band.
Best I ever saw K.
I'd say the best on UA-cam. Word is that they did this right after a tour, so they were tight as hell.
My dad was lucky to have been around in the ‘60s (I was born in ‘73) and he saw Hendrix, The Who, Zeppelin, etc and he always said that Hendrix and The Who were the two most impressive. Zeppelin was a letdown.
A metalhead of the 80 s. The Who could cream every one of them. Hardest rocking band of all time. They didn’t need to be heavy metal to do it. This is the band of all time greats.
Devo at Don Kirchers Rock Concert 1979 is my personal favourite. This is a very close second.
Arguably the greatest single performance in rock and roll history - yes, l think it’s that good.
And the original version on their 1966 album was a snooze fest!
Radical Nation Hardly...this version was that much better.
You are absolutely fucking right sir 🤘 Wiping away tears of joy
No argument from me.
Definitely
Saw them at Woodstock, they did the whole Tommy opera somewhere around 3 am. Lucky me, to be 18, the right age, the right places, the right time for the best era of rock and roll.
Wow Lucky you indeed
I’ve seen the entire set,but I only heard of Pete hitting someone with his guitar that got up on stage while they were playing. In my opinion,when Keith was alive,probably the best live show I’ve seen. Saw them in 75 @ the summit,Zeppelin there in 77. Poor Page was pale,frail & painfully pencil thin…could still play.
Ps. You are very fortunate to have seen them. I would’ve love to see them on the 73,74 tour.
hi ! i’m doing a project on human proximity and music for my cinema class, i’m graduating in may and i have to hold a small exhibit! would you be interested in describing your experience of seeing the who at Woodstock? just a brief paragraph on how you felt? i’m exploring the general feeling of woostock and what music brings to people ! have a good one man
@@marklagrone3326 Pete was pissed that Abbie Hoffman came onstage and interrupted their set. There are a few vids on UA-cam that play the entire thing, and you can hear the argument, but Peter wanted to kick his ass. Also, and I love and respect Jimmy Page, but unfortunately, that's when he started using heroin. Thankfully, he kicked it and didn't become a casualty.
Thanks for the heads-up where I can @ least hear that shouting. And yes I’m happy Jimmy finally got that monkey off his back. Thanks again !
It is utterly astonishing how a band could go this ape-shit and still be as tight as the proverbial watch spring. GOAT
I read somewhere they had just come off of an Australian tour and were still very well rehearsed.
I think I figured out what made the Who so special. Entwistle's flying bass lines meld with Moon's maniacal drumming, Townshend's driving rhythm guitar rides along with and above Entwistle's bass, Daltrey's power vocals feed off Townshend's guitar, Townshend's vocals soar from Daltrey's, and Entwistle's vocals span from the bottom to the top to bring it all together. They are the most complete and comprehensive band to have ever performed rock 'n roll.
Crazy how much raw power they could bring to the stage being such a small band. Just two guitars, one drummer and one singer.
@@zootsoot2006 Those flying bass lines rarely got sufficient camera attention. Certainly not here.
@@ballhawk387 Your very right !! John is/was one of the very best ! (Chris Squire, Glen Cornick, Geddy Lee.......)
Quite possibly the greatest live performance by any band any where
Came here to say the same. What a fucking performance!
Totally agree... very powerful performance and Keith Moon on plutonium.......fuckin magic...
I ain't gonna argue with that. But about 14 months later they did it again with Live at Leeds.
Is any of you guys know about Live at Leeds 1970 was cought on camera or is available in VHS or DVD ? I am willing to pay few hundreds of Dollars if there is an official video footage.
aint gonna argue but you should watch the rooftop performance of the beatles, live at the hollywood bowl the beatles, live at pompeii pink floyd, the wall live pink floyd, oasis familiar to millions, led zep live at madison square garden all are amazing that you must watch
There's no one who drums like Keith Moon, he's my favorite to watch.
He's a show unto himself.
Ditto!! And that double bass! A true show man
Keith was a show unto himself.
@@veteransdieselgarage7607he rarely played the double bass.
@HankFinkle11 Whenever they were needed, he played the double bass INSANELY well. Kind of a "whatever" comment about how OFTEN he used both. Oh Well - Peace Nonetheless!!
Ive listened to this song 50 times...Does anyone else have a sort of transcendent experience when listening to the ""you are forgiven" part.... spiritual and inspired.
in no small part because of John's vocals.
Absolutely
It has been said that it was in part an exorcism of childhood demons for Pete.
Everybody needs to hear that. And yes it has nearly brought me yo tears many times?
I'm with you bro....
The whole band is on, but John Entwistle is the unsung hero of this performance.
that bass at 6:47
Peter DiMeo singing falsetto and playing bass. Incredibly hard to do... John Entwistle and Brian Wilson did it best. Glen Campbell said it’s like trying to rub your stomach and pat your head at the same time.
John’s falsetto is actually beyond belief. Perfectly on key, and powerfully delivered. It can’t be real; it must be a trick.....
YESSSSS!!!! Give it up for The Ox!!!! R.I.P. John Entwistle
saw him solo on the tube on how he plays...
Doesn't matter how many times I've watched this performance over the years, it always gives me goosebumps. The energy present here is just off the scale.
Yes, it is something out of this world. Since I first watched this (around 1985) I´ve never ever been as impressed by anything else, and, mind you, I´ve spent most of my life buying records & listening to everything that I could possibly listen to.
Not only energy, but originality.
Amen!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
So true my friend.
REASON #1
MOON THE LOON!!
I MISS HIM
One of my favorite Keith Moon moments. He shines here!
Without a doubt one of the greatest rock drummers in history.
The best 7 minutes,36 seconds on UA-cam
@johncharles9576 I cannot disagree!! You're 100% Right about That!!
Bet 💯
Rivalled by Hocus Pocus by Focus.
I’m convinced this is the greatest live act ever in music
Tied for first with several others.
wow.
It was/They were.
Definitely up there
James Brown on line 1 😉
The power of Pete's guitar just charge my phone to 97%
Ye
The power of Keith's drumming charged my phone to 103%
It left my iPhone smoking
Who riffs are the best ringtones ever!!!
It made my Samsung's battery explode.
A masterclass. Blew everyone away that day.
A Quick One is five songs in one - the energy, the spirit, the sheer power of this performance.
And who knew John had such an amazing falsetto.
as a long time Who fan I was blown away today by the performance of a lifetime. I never reacted to a live show that way it was a good time during not such good times.🎸
If you're impressed by John's falsetto here, you should listen "Doctor, doctor" by the Who too.
i didnt know!
Doesn't matter if Keith Moon was the best drummer ever or not, he is the most entertaining to watch by miles.
You got that right👍!
Moon is STILL the best drummer of all time. We each have our favorites, both to watch & hear. I get the people who say John Bonham or Neil Peart (again, we're all different & unique - & if you love R'n'R, then there are no WRONG answers), & I can agree they are both in the top 3, but Moon is still #1 - & that DOES have SOMETHING to do with WATCHING his live performances. This is my favorite of them all because of his PLAYING like a BEAST & still finding time to THROW a drum as far as he could & have someone(?) Pour water onto his drums. THIS is the best, single song - live drummer performance EVER!! I always wonder how many times he hit a drum or a cymbal - if it could be counted. Either way, you're 100% RIGHT!! He's DEFINITELY the most fun to watch. Gone FAR too soon. The Who lost a HUGE part of what made them so GR8. Still, I'm glad they went on. Both L.Z. & Rush died when THEIR drummers died. I respect that, though. Usually, it has to be a front man or lead guitarist to kill a band. But I AM happy The Who went on. Again, Moon IS far more ENTERTAINING to watch - Esp HERE!! Peace!!
For miles and miles
He WAS the best!!!!
Moon is a true drummer
I’ve been saying it for 40 years- The Who , in their prime, are the single greatest live rock band in history.
Without a doubt! I believe that they should have disbanded in 1978 after Keith Moon died.
I think that not disbanding after Keith Moon's death somewhat blunted The Who's greatness.
The older I get, the more true this seems....
\
@@paulkersey9553 Yeah I was saying the same thing earlier today. I saw both line ups; one in 76, the other in 79. The 76 gig (Charlton) was out of this world; 79 was a non event by comparison.
Friends I tend to agree about quitting after Keith’s passing. Page and them knew after Bonham died they couldn’t continue as LZ. I’ll say this with respect to baker and Peart , no two drummers were as critical to their bands than moon and bonzo. Ever in history of rock.
Pete notwithstanding, in many ways moon WAS The Who.
The lifelong search for the greatest ever rock/pop performance ends here. This is it.
It was very fortunate that this footage was properly stored, then restored. It's truly one of a kind.
I ALSO couldn't agree more!! You nailed it!! Well said, & the 1st reply is also very correct in what THEY say. Thank the universe for keeping it & making it even better quality for the fans. I know I'll be watching it again & again till I die!! I wouldn't be surprised if you(s) do the same as well!! Peace!!
The late sixties is when The Who became THE WHO. John Entwistle was as good(if not better) than any bass player in the game, Daltrey was becoming the standard for all frontman in rock, Pete Townshend was bringing crazy-high energy every night and Keith Moon was just in absolute beast mode. They set so many rock standards and precedents that bands performing to this day are being influenced by them and don't even know it. If i live to 100, no band will ever blow me away like these guys did.
Got that right!
you understand everything about This incredible Rock band 👍👍👍👍
@@philippejanin1742 Just telling like it is brother. Any objective list of the "Best in Rock History" would have all four of these guys on the very short list, if not at the top, of their respective craft. Lots of bands and artists are always quick to tell you they were the first to do this, or the first to do that. Few bands however were at the forefront, or made as many contributions to the Rock genre, as The Who did. Legends in every sense of the word.
@ JEFF Preach it brother! If anyone has any doubts about THE WHO, just watch their performance at the concert for NYC after 9/11. I live in NY and THEIR performance that night did more to lift our spirits than anything else at that time and they were almost in their 60's! Just iconic and powerful. Nobody even comes close.
@@kevinmclaughlin1092 Could not agree with you more friend. I know it came at a very dark time, but as a life long Who fan I felt an immense sense of pride during that performance. You could see all of the first responders who lost, not just colleagues but good friends. Yet, there they were in full throat screaming for The Who and you could truly see how cathartic it was for some of them. I use to say to my friends, "it's always a good time for some Who" and that night proved it for sure.
When Pete is saying “You’re all forgiven” at the end with his reassuring smile, I just feel everything gonna be alright for ever, I feel like the whole world has been forgiven and that we are all walking on the path of salvation and repentance. Actually I think that’s exactly what the entire Who’s music has always been all about.
I never really knew what this song was about when I first heard it. But it was those very same words that lured me to the song when I was a teenager. You're absolutely right!
Won't be fooled again..
I don't think it's that deep or is it? 😂
@@6EndlessNameless9 you're probably right. I guess everyone can interpret it in their own way.
@@6EndlessNameless9 Knowing the fact that Pete Townsend has always been into spirituality, religion and philosophy and so on, I don’t think it is totally weird to analyse his work in the light of his thinking. His music such as Tommy or Quadrophenia are all clearly about spiritual redemption, salvation ect.
One of the funnier things about this song: from 4:48 to 5:03 they're all singing "cello, cello, cello, cello, cello, cello". I've read that Pete Townshend wrote the song with the idea that cellos would be playing during that part. However, the record company refused to pay for cellists and the band didn't have the money to hire cello players either, so they just sang "cello, cello, cello".
I think they're singing "tell him, tell him, tell him, tell him."
Even John said he would play it
@@Philmoscowitz It does sound like that, but it is actually "cello".
Thats true. At least I read that as well in the liner notes/booklet in my CD copy of the 1966 album. It was a reissue, obviously, from like 1998, or 9 I wanna say...When I recently saw them this last fall in Seattle with the Orchestra, I was so hoping they would play it to see what it would sound like with an actual cello. They didn't, but killer show regardless.
Before I heard that story (years ago)- I thought they were singing "jealous jealous jealous jealous"...
Watching this in 2024 and still getting excited. OMG this is so good and timeless!!!
This ladies and gentlemen is why The Who are the absolute pinnacle of rock
Hear here!!
God! Keith Moon was completely out of control on this session!
What a band, the ‘Ooo!
That was the contradiction with him. He was always out of control, yet on the drums, like here he looked completely in control.
Keith moon jesus, never seen anyone drum like that
All filler all the time 🤣
And you never will...
Yes,..Moonie was rather Christ-like I suppose....cheerio dear boy
Hands down the best Keith Moon-type drummer to ever hit the skins.
Nor. Heard!!!
They’re killing so hard in this performance that John Entwistle accidentally emotes a traceable amount of enjoyment at 6:18-6:20
NO WAY!! 🤪
Lmao! 😄
Rip John Keith and Brian 3 talented musicians
He laughs at Keith at the “her man’s been gone bit”. Always makes me smile
Right back to work
The Who owned the Rock n Roll Circus!
This is the UA-cam clip I've watched more than any other, and I NEVER get tired of it! One song, one performance, 7 1/2 minutes of pure absolute rock perfection. The sheer power of The Who, in all of their raw untamed fury, is captured here for all to experience.
None better, never equaled before or since.
This was the reason The Rock and Roll Circus was not officially released until 1996. Apparently the Stones were so jealous of The Who’s performance they could not let themselves release the Rock and Roll Circus. The Who were that good.
i gota say the who out did em. then. big time.... but on ...and......over time...... the stones found it too. jus. me sayn... its true!
The stones overall are the better band. And tell that to all the views their live performances from the rock and roll circus got.
True statement!
@@xxdanielx145 the stones represented a counterculture more so for me but honestly were not a very good live band, not like a Led Zeppelin, not like Grateful Dead or The Who. The stones put on a good performance, Mick Jagger as a frontman at this time was very entertaining and charismatic
Well it's true. They got smoked
Best live performance by any band ever captured on film.
Agree but it's not really a great SONG. I still prefer the best live recordings of their peak material from Who's Next (Pure & Easy, Time is Passing) and Quadrophenia (5.15, Drowned). A great live version of Won't Get Fooled Again, Baba O'Riley, The Punk and the Godfather or Dr.Jimmy would dwarf this.
@@Ruda-n4h It is a great song, just the album version isn't like this. Cmon man this is badass. It sickens me that Green Day fans think their cover was better, tell them to watch this performance.
@@scottwilson1251 Scott hello, absolutely yes. Perhaps the best live performance of any song ever. The Who were the best rock band for me.
Have to disagree. Led Zep at Royal Albert Hall in 1970 playing "I Can't Quit You Baby".
I have watched this 3 times already... Today
Good innit? Glad it's back up on YT.
Correction, 4 times
Only John Entwistle could be standing on the side of the stage, playing his heart out, singing incredible falsettos, and only be thinking about what he’s gonna wear tomorrow
For my money, the best band ever. Not sales, not records, not awards, just love and passion and talent.
Especially from 69-73...
Hard to argue that ...
@Dorando Cavallacci You couldn’t go wrong with arguably the best drummer greatest bass player most creative songwriter and guitarist and one of the best lead singers in rock history
@@jamesmack3314 and if that weren't enough, their 3 part vocals are flawless, powerful and creative like nothing else. And incredibly entertaining to watch.
@@rrdream2400 I would’ve paid to see them big time during that 1970 tour that produced Leeds and Hull absolutely beyond amazing
Keith Moon’s finest moment.
This is one of the most ridiculously great performances I have ever seen. They have musical super powers Batman.... Superb performance!!!!
That’s right, Robin!
K August just laughed out loud! 😁
commissioner Gordon just hung up the bat phone..he KNOWS gotham city is safe tonight..
Speaking of Batman, I've got a bootleg of the Who doing the Batman theme song.
No one knows what it's like to be the Batman
Best rock n' roll band, ever!!!
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is most probably why this whole show took so long to ever be gazed & amazed upon.
The. Fucking. Who.
Keith’s drumming is its own genre
moon rock
@@Inferno11_ You just gotta love it when he tosses the drum. I wonder if one lucky fan got to keep it.
@@Cissy2cute would be my most prized posession
I once heard him described as “the best Keith Moon style drummer in the world”, and while it might have been intended as a backhanded compliment, it is kind of true. He can't be compared to other drummers.
I'm saying it. This is one of the most underrated masterpieces of this band.
I dont think any true Who fan neglects this number. It's not often played on the radio, tho - maybe it's extreme length is a factor in that.
@ wylie richardson yep! You are correct. We all know! It’s a gem!
@Langelier Fabrice These days, music depends much less on traditional radio then other sources - spotify, streaming, satellite radio. With that said, The Who and other good artists of the past will live on through these sources, as well as traditional ones (i.e. CDs). I am greatly looking foward to the new Who release later this year.
@Langelier Fabrice I've never heard of them. Maybe that explains why their bassist had to take up a new career? lol
The fact that Keith Moon was a real person that existed at one point is crazy to think about
Amazing that the guy doing the falsetto in this song, is the same guy doing the basso profundo in “Boris the Spider”… while laying down some of the best bass lines in rock.
What a fucking beast The Ox was.
God, I love how keith moon plays the drums
Some folks are agile, some folks are powerful. Moon had a unique combination of both. The greats do.
The Who at their peak and at their peak, they were truly unmatchable and untouchable. Anyone who dislikes this doesn’t know music. Period.
*"The Who at their peak, and at their peak they were truly unmatchable and untouchable."
(just correcting the comma placement for you)
Can't believe that was 55 years ago the who and the stones were incredible that night what I'd give to have been there
Just like the midget said..."Oh that was marvelous" ...Damn right it was ..
The stones would not release this video for all most 40 years. Cause it showed how much better THE WHO IS THEN ANY BAND OUT THERE. And still to this day 2023. THE WHO IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE GREATEST ROCK BAND EVER.
Absolutely! Greatest rock band of ALL TIME and greatest rock performers of ALL TIME!!
Townshend, greatest mind in rock history (sorry, Zappa).
Quadrophenia, greatest rock album ever recorded.
I've been a musician my whole life and NOBODY that knows me in my business will ever waste their time arguing any of this with me. LOL!
~JSV
@@jsv438 I have been saying that same thing. Pete Townshend is a musical genius. Genius. I have seen the who 5 times. There's no rock band that comes close to the who. Greatest drummer greatest bass player one of the best front men. And a guitar player who plays it like no other and he is a musical genius. The WHO greatest rock band ever ever. And You do know a lot about rock music. Am 64 and I have been a who freak since the late 60s.
@@JimWelsh-f6l RIGHT-ON!
Here's another thing too. Many bands of this 60s - 70s era were sort-of the "firsts", or the pioneers, or influencers of certain things, with respect to what we all know rock music has become. For instance; Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Zeppelin, The Beatles, Bowie, Queen, Zappa, Rush, The Stones, even Devo, etc etc. They all more or less brought something of their own that others incorporated or mimicked or were influenced by. Something we forget and look past though, is that before The Who, we really didn't yet have the true image or the defined persona of the "rock star". The crazy behaviors that were being reported from their tours in the Tommy and Quadrophenia days. Then the performance of those stories were brought to life in their stage presence, proving that yes, indeed, there is no question these were the wild bunch that had been reported destroying hotel rooms, smashing their instruments, and driving a Rolls Royce into the pool. The Who really were the ones that deserve credit for pioneering that image of the "rock star lifestyle".
And remember, before Pete, we didn't yet have the 100watt amp. The only reason bands like The Beatles needed bigger and louder amps was because the venues were getting larger, filling up with more people, and the those bigger crowds were starting to get loud as well, so they need to contend with that---but only so they could be heard. Before The Who, no rock bands were on this quest to be so deafeningly loud as merely part of the experience! That really became a stigma that stuck with them for years. And the talked about story in the early days as being a Guinness Book of World Records title holder for the loudest performance truly help solidify that image of them.
I wonder sometimes, at what point in their lives, as things were progressing for The Who's success, did Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert actually realize the monster they helped create had taken on a mind of it's own and was about to devour the entire world. With all the respect I have for the origins of these musical acts and pioneers of their time, I don't even think Jimi Hendrix was as explosive and creative as Townshend and The Who. Without them, someone, somewhere, would have eventually brought us something similar, but even WITH the history of this band in existence, and all their years of influence, they remain unparalleled. Even Kiss with their huge fiery stage shows could try to summon some demon and blow up the stage with an atomic weapon, but they still wouldn't possess the raw talent and intellectual genius that commands one's attention and transforms the consciousness the way The Who did to the world in the 1970s.
Zappa was capable of blowing your mind... but Townshend was capable of changing it.
~JSV
same here, n1
The Rolling Stones were trying to run this literal circus, were operating on no sleep, and by this time Jones had lost his battles with his inner demons.
They didn't release the video because they were more embarrassed about their own performance, especially compared to many of the great performances put on in that show.
BTW - I'm not saying that this isn't one of the greatest live performances ever caught on film. It absolutely is.
I've seen this clip scores of times. Each time I am absolutely floored. No band in music history can match the raw energy of The Who in their prime.
Я думал у барабанщика голова оторвётся,а у гитариста рука отлетит. Мик Джаггер все равно лучший !
I absolutely cherish seeing Keith Moon sing to himself during Pete's vocals at around 5:04. We lost him (he lost himself) way too soon.
Creedence's drummer did that too. Shows total devotion to the music.
Good Lord. That's the greatest thing I've ever seen or heard.
Keith Moon was out of this world what an incredible drummer,
One reason this is so good is that's its on the verge of being out of control, like music is in charge, not the musicians. Like its THAT close to exploding and killing everyone in the room.
And Moon certainly had a history with his drum kit exploding…
^ I really like this comment. It really sums up the incredible energy & tension of the performance
Love this comment, well put
They are possessed! I love it!!
I agree. The music is playing them.
The tightest band in history. The way Moon throws the floor Tom and it hits the ground as the beat comes back in! You can't teach that.
True - that is Moon in his natural habitat.
"You can't teach that" might be as good a description of Moonie's artistry as anything.
There's not a single flaw in this video. It's fifteen minutes of pure glory, since I watched twice before writting this.
15 minutes? Were you watching it at half speed? LOL!
@@townshendshean he said he watched it twice
@@finnhoffman actually it is. You should learn some maths. :D
@@finnhoffman yes and this is roundabout 15 Minutes
I love how seven and a half minutes of music can take me so many places
"Oh that's marvelous" You can say that again a hundred times!
except did he actually mean it?
I'll never forget watching for the first time "The Kids Are Alright". What a documentary.
Yes, for those of us in the States who knew little of their pre-Tommy days, the entire film was a revelation, this performance particularly striking.
Same here. I saw it and was hooked!!!
I can never take my eyes off of Keith during this... he sucks you into his world.
I was thinking the same thing! Funny dude
Dude was unbelievable!!!
The sheer power of unmedicated adhd. And such a brilliant drummer. The best.
Anyone else hear him screaming?
@@tsmith1487 that ADHD... it gives and it takes away. Right here, it was giving in shed loads. He owned this.
I've seen a lot of rock and roll yet I have never seen ANYTHING like that! Stunning, genuinely stunning.
For anyone who doesn't know what The Who were all about, this is the video to watch. The song writing, the raw power, the vocals, Keith looking appropriately insane, the overdrive, the arm swinging, the equipment flying, this is The Who at their absolute best.
There are times when something makes you realize what rock n roll is....this is one of those moments. Insane genius...
this is absolutely rock n roll.
@@bluebellbeatnik4945 Look what passes for music now. Especially cheating with the auto tune.
@@Cissy2cute It does not pass with us!
For a man with such a deep voice John Entwistle had rather an impressive falsetto singing voice.
Best falsetto of rock. The whole colour of the vocals on this song depends on it
YUUUUU ARE FORGIVVVENNNNN
@@Inferno11_ You're all forgiven!
100% He had an interesting way of singing in the studio. He had trouble with his "R's" so he'd sneak an "L" in from time to time. Take a careful listen to "Whiskey Man" from "A Quick One" and you can hear it.
@@SopranoLili I love me some falsetto, and absolutely agree that John's use of it here really fills the song out. For me though the best falsetto belongs to another John, John Frusciante....
The musicianship. The youth. The beautiful blue eyes.
And the brown eyes. And the windmills.
@@emilyburton4095 And the mic twirls.
Keiths rolls and fills are literally insane.. So fast.
He was hyper-agile, hyper fast, and hyper powerful. It takes it all.
I gotta say, The Rolling Stones is a fantastic band, but inviting The Who to their TV special show was like presenting your taller, better looking friend to your girlfriend.
It's like leaving your girlfriend alone with McCartney
@@loosilu it’s like leaving your girlfriend alone with Johnny Sins
@@cjm-jr9xk 😂
Exactly
Great comment!
After Keith died the band was never the same. Here we can see they were on top of their game and just kill it. Moonie was so good and he doesn't get talked about as much as I think he should be.
It took away a lot of The Whos' energy/life force, and that sucked. Moonie is My #1 for decades & I get other people to watch THIS & say to keep their attention on "the drummer" (Moon). It amazes EVERYONE, whether they know of him (or this song) or not. I watch it with them - & watching him play those drums, & it seems humanly impossible. So much energy - & it was PERFECT!! I promote Mr. Keith Moon, whenever/wherever I can -lol!! Peace!!
I've never witnessed a better live performance.
And you never will again!! This has been the best live performance for a long time already!!
Keith Moon was basically 12 drummers in one.
jmw! u. sed it in my book!!!!!!!
Yes! And as much as I hate saying it, look up "Pete Townsend does not like Keith Moon AS A DRUMMER" and you will be amazed at what Pete has ALWAYS felt about one of the all-time great rock drummers ever. Don't take my word for it, google it yourself. And ignore the relatively more recent comments about his being glad both Keith and John are dead--he misspoke and that's not what I'm talking about. Go back a little further and you'll find he's said FOR YEARS that he didn't like Keith's drumming. Sadly, it makes perfect sense in light of the apparent emphasis on, and preference for, very straight-ahead drumming from of those succeeding Keith in The Who's drum seat. Great players Pete appears to have asked NOT to bring attention to the drumming but instead play what I consider unfortunately routine R&B timekeeping. Look it up. And go figure.
Townshend has always been a study in contradictions. I believe he has given interviews and has said things without thoroughly thinking them through. I've read and heard a lot of interviews with Townshend and I think what he found fault with Moon was his live playing. But who knows. Maybe he heard something they recorded and wondered if it could've been done differently; like a drum fill, etc. Me, I wouldn't change a thing. I absolutely love his drumming.
@@carlweaver3243 A study in contradictions - How well put !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@@dantean I’ve heard Pete say the geniuses in the band were Keith Moon and John Entwistle
I´ve been watching this video like 5 times a day since last week. This is so powerful it energizes me. I love every single bit of it.
Same thing happens when I listen to The Who Performing 'Young Man Blues'!
Gives me a charge everytime too.
Me too
SAME
Yup. Same here 🤷♂️
Look at Pete's face at 7:20. He knows, they just played the ever loving shit out of this song, and blew anyone else off the stage that dared to stand next to them. They were entering their own league. No one else comes close. They are, without a doubt, my favorite rock band EVER~!
No one else comes close, but they are forgiven.
Saw them live last week awesome
I couldn’t agree with you more!!! Long live The Who! Greatest rock n roll band of ALL time!!!
Stop making sh-t up. He was satisfied by their performance - nothing more. UA-cam idiot.
December of 1968. This is before The Who released Tommy, Live at Leeds, Who's Next and Quadrophenia; before their epic performance 8 months later at Woodstock. Their best was yet to come. Jagger knew he had better keep his Rock & Roll Circus buried, though he allowed The Who to release this on their 1979 Rockumentary--The Kids Are Alright.
One of the greatest rock and roll performances ever!
This performance was the main reason the Stones shelved the show for years (It was supposed to be aired on Boxing Day). Stones waited until last to perform and Mick and Keith felt it wasn't up to their usual par.
you know when a performance is great when you can't stop watching it over and over..Folks this is ROCK N ROLL AT ITS FINEST. The WHO at the peak of their power.
Absolutely. I said that for years. You want to see the who in their prime, watch 68” rock N roll circus . A quick one.
Mesmerizing! The greatest live band of all-time!
Roger and Pete are doing fantastic shows currently while both are in their 70's, which is a miracle in itself, but the four of them in their youth were an untouchable powerhouse!
For real.
I can't stop watching this
I saw an interview once that said because of THIS performance, the Stones put this film in their vault for over 20yrs before finally releasing it. They also didn't tour after this until 1974 or so. Just too intimidated by the Who's power and stage presence. 🔥🔥
People don't give The Who the credit they deserve.
they did at a time, but then today no one cares about rock nostalgia. Don't let the past hold you back you're missing the good stuff today
@@arno2441 Please, shut up!!
@TimedHit well, I do! Maximum R&B!!!
@@arno2441 which good stuff
Wow, what a performance. To be there when it happened.
This gets better every time I watch it.
Has a band ever owned a moment so hard? Absolutely peerless & perfect. Complete confidence, all business. From Entwistle’s opening salvo, you know this is game over.
Yes actually. Led Zep at Royal Albert Hall playing "I Can't Quit you Baby" in '70
@@acm1350 you are forgiven
Queen, Live Aid 85
Hendrix and the experience, Woodstock '69
The Grateful fucking Dead.
A wild performance of one of the most unusual pop songs ever written. Inspired by tragic incidents in Pete’s childhood, the pathos gets buried by the frenzied performance. The quality of the performance, particularly the harmonies, is so good that the performance seems to be lip-synced. It isn’t of course, and seeing The Who so young and powerful and just approaching their peak is a absolute treat for any rock fan.
Full on. Pete and John nail the vocal harmonies while at the same time playing very intensely. Even they themselves rarely did it so well.
@@doolally1478 so i'm not the original commenter, but i think something definitely happened to pete in his childhood that he was working through, whether it was to people around him or himself, imo there's enough continued themes in pete's lyrics to suggest something. this song, 1921, (and most of the beginning of tommy), i can see for miles relate to infidelity, with tommy being infidelity in parental figures. the image of manhood and the perception of masculinity and especially childhood masculinity (tattoo, substitute (also referencing infidelity), i'm a boy, rough boys. and so much of tommy references child abuse (1921, cousin kevin, fiddle about) that i think pete was working through a lot of his childhood and upbringing. and a lot of my favorite singles from this era reflect those.
@@isabellewonn754 hmmmm.....
Very interesting
@@isabellewonn754 IIRC, he spoke much later in life about how he was abused by his grandmother as a child, and he struggled with processing that for decades.
The greatest live rock n roll performance of all time unmatched.
Moon is the GOAT. There will never be another like him.
Keith Moon at his absolute, most incredible, manic, magical, athletic BEST. That means the BEST of drummers. All of them. Period.
You had John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Mitch Mitchell jamming together that night - and it still paled in comparison to this performance. Amazing.
in fact that the entire Rolling Stones were there that night
The Who had a lot of showmanship
And Taj Mahal
Come to think of it, I feel the same way
Only The Who had the capacity to do this at that time.
THIS IS ROCK AND ROLL!!!! Definitive.
I went to see the movie "The Kids Are Alright"in 1979. Half way thru this song the whole crowd in the theatre were on their feet going crazy. Unbelievable performance.
Yeah, the first time I ever saw this was at the theater in The Kids Are Alright. It was the first time I ever heard this song. Seeing this on the big screen wad one of the most pleasurable experiences in my life.
Yeah, same same. Midnight movie performance in 1979 in a seedy party of the city and this teen kid was astonished at the theatre going nuts. Was already a massive The Who fan. My experience was at the southernmost coast of Africa, intriguing how we are able to share cultural references even while continents apart.
I miss those days.
Same here. Every year or so this TKAA would play in a local theater. That was our only chance to see this stuff. I still smile every time I see this on UA-cam.
Keith Moon's energy is unmatched
And that energy came out in an unmatched way & with natural skill. Gone far too early, but what he left for us while he was here will live on forever!!
7:26 Brian Jones whistling approval, one of the last available live moments of Brian
Looked like willem Dafoe lol
no one wanted to see the Who outperform the Stones than Jonesy. by then he'd had enough.
Brian Jonestown Massacre
@@dylanwesley3964 Yeah, you are right. What the fuck?
@@TheMicahwitz i love anton newcombe's band
Iconic. The best live performance of all time,, Keith Moon was a legend, Eternal!
Everyone thinks Hendrix was the headliner at Woodstock, but in my mind it was the Who, hands down the greatest live band ever...
Nah. Most people know Hendrix was the finisher! He WAS supposed to be a headliner for one of those nights, but due to delays, and bands playing longer sets than planned, Hendrix got pushed back. He didn't take the stage until Monday morning. By then, the half a million people who were there during the peak of the 3 day festival (I.e. when The Who played), had dwindled down to less than 50,000 people...
For the record, The Who started late too. They didn't take the stage until approximately 5am Saturday night/Sunday morning.
But yes...Hendrix put on a legendary set! Both sets were iconic moments for both bands. I would tell you more, but this reply is getting extremely long.
I think the headliner was Santana. Their "Soul Sacrifice" is the coolest live performance ever.
Not really. The Who were not that well known in the US at this point. If you look at the crowd some of the audience looked a bit confused as they were not that familiar with the group.
@@Cissy2cute I'm sorry but your previous statement indicates you have no idea what you're talking about. The Who was arguably the 3rd most popular band to come out of The British Invasion, with only The Beatles, and The Stones more well known. They had numerous hits already under their belt including multiple number ones. And they were DEFINITELY one of the main headliners for Woodstock. Sorry, but you are flat out incorrect on this one. 👍😁👍
@@thelegendinhisownmind7038 You're right. I was thinking of Monterrey.
Nobody drums better than Keith Moon. Nobody.
Best "Keith Moon Style" drummer in history
Like a lead instrument
Preach!
And John Bonham
At 6:39 - there's a good reason you almost never see guitarist attempt the windmill. It's harder than it looks and there is NO margin for error. Townshend has stated it was not uncommon to rip his thumbnail off in the process. He also put a tremelo bar through his hand doing the same thing. Those 4 guys tapped in to a level of energy unheard of. The Who at their peak was an unstoppable force.
greatness point... thx!
I've done it, and WITHOUT losing any nails or skin. How? Simple: I watched Pete and took careful notice WHERE Pete hit. (Always by the bridge/saddles) then I compensated by hitting with more pick near the base of the neck...AND using .009 gauge strings, to boot!
Yes, sent my brand new pride and joy Rickenbacker 330 crashing to the flood via bouncing off my AC30 on my first gig trying a windmill. I'm told it looked impressive but I haven't tried it again in forty years during a gig.
1:27 he nails one of Moon's overhead mics. Most dangerous guitarist ever!
@@guitarisdead1642
Ha Ha, Thank you.
I can't believe I've never noticed that before, in all the times I've watched this. Too mesmerized, I guess.
Worked for the band in 71 and yes Moon was before his time.
Worked for them as what?
Maybe he was an alien.