Who's last?

When Pete Townshend was arrested on suspicion of downloading child porn early last year, it looked like the end of the road for one of the greatest and most influential rock bands of all time. Their future was already in serious doubt when, only six months earlier, they had lost their bass player, John Entwistle who collapsed and died in Las Vegas on the eve of their 2002 US tour. This double whammy, combined with their rapidly advancing years would surely kill them off for good.

Townshend had always vehemently denied that he was a paedophile, though he admitted entering a child porn site for “research purposes” and acknowledged that in doing so, he’d’ been “stupid and arrogant”. In the event, after a lengthy investigation nothing was found on the dozen or so computers seized from his house and he was handed down a caution and placed on the sex offenders register (a “technicality” which he continues to protest against). Despite his “acquittal”, even the band’s most ardent fans would have reasonably expected Townshend to lay low for an extended period.
But, astonishingly, late last year the band announced that they would tour again in 2004 naming dates at the Royal Albert Hall and a headliner at this year’s Isle of Wight Festival (which they’d headlined in 1970). What’s more, they would kick off with a series of intimate, warm-up shows in London’s Forum at the end of March.
For yours truly, it was an opportunity not to be missed. As a long time Who fan who had never seen them live (I had narrowly missed the chance in 2000) it was possibly the last chance, especially to see them in a small venue. Not surprisingly tickets for the three shows sold out in minutes. But thanks to eBay I managed to secure a couple for the final night at a reasonable price.
Ironically, during the week of the shows the BBC decided to show a police video of Townshend’s arrest and interrogation as part of a documentary on paedophilia. It made for uncomfortable viewing, as a pale, shell-shocked and uncharacteristically humble Townshend was searched and questioned at length. The following night at The Forum the anger was palpable in his demeanour as he worked the Who’s back catalogue with vigour.
Opening with a blistering version of the title track to their 1978 opus Who Are You? they stormed the stage from the outset, with little let-up for almost two hours. Despite the passage of time, songs like ‘Bargain’, ‘Baba O’Riley’ and ‘Behind Blue Eyes’ from their Who’s Next? album have lost little of their power and majesty. Even without the long-departed Keith Moon (replaced incidentally by Zak Starkey, son of Ringo, who did a fine job) these songs remain timeless and vital. Even the earlier mod-inspired hits like ‘Can’t Explain’, ‘Substitute’ and ‘Anyway Anywhere Anyhow’ sounded as fresh as the day they were recorded. And yes, they did play ‘The Kids Are All Right’ despite some sniffy comments in the tabloids.
Even in late middle-age Townshend remains a force of nature, unparalleled in today’s retro-rock-by- numbers scene as he pummelled his Fender Stratocaster through some of the most visceral rock riffs ever made. Apart from the trademark windmill power chords, he can still leap several feet into the air when he feels the need.
A fit looking Daltry (who turned 60 on March 1) swung and swirled his microphone like it was Woodstock all over again, though he clearly had trouble hitting some of the high notes. Session bassist Pino Paladino stayed out of the limelight, playing it straight and wisely avoiding any of Entwistle’s legendary fret-board gymnastics. Little was said to the audience apart from a quick thank-you to those who had grown up with the band while Townshend said it was “nice to finally see some ladies at a Who gig” (they’ve always been a bloke’s band!)
They even road-tested a couple of new songs – the best being the reflective ‘Real Good Looking Boy’ (which will be included on a soon to be released compilation entitled Then And Now) The highlight for me was an astounding version of ‘5.15’, the Stax-like rocker from Quadrophenia, which says everything there is to say about teenage boredom and rage. They finished off a powerful set with the anthemic, ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ and encored with an unbelievably powerful ‘My Generation’.
According to my meticulous research The Who last played Ireland in May of 1966, when they appeared at the National Stadium in Dublin. With a bit of luck they just might make it back again for a last lap.