| The Who were undoubtably the most explosive band to emerge from the sixties. They burst onto the scene in a cacophany of sound and equipment demolition. Whatever you thought of the band you just couldn't ignore them.
But they had much more going for them than just a hyperactive and aggressive stageshow. They had songs: gloriously melodic three minute slices of pure and powerful pop. 'I Can't Explain', 'My Generation, 'Substitute', 'I'm A Boy', and 'I Can See For Miles' all became top ten hits and established the band as a major worldwide force. As the sixties came to a close, Pete Townshend had a vision of something much more daring and inventive. He had initially toyed with the idea of a 'rock opera'in 1966 with the track 'A Quick One While He's Away'. But now it was 1969, and Pete had an even grander idea. A conceptual story that would last a whole album: the story of a deaf, dumb and blind boy - a boy called 'Tommy'. The band were now firmly established as a stadium headlining act, a heady status that they would maintain for the rest of their career. | ||
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Plot & Themes Kids growing up/acting up? Yes Kids: - trouble in high school - committing crimes - boozing - rebelling against parent's expectations - general coming of age story - alienated from society job/profession: Ethnic/Relig. of subject (inside) Gender/Class story? - story of lower class Job/profession/poverty story Yes Ethnic/regional/gender Yes Story of entertainer? - Singer/Dancer Subject of Biography Gender - Male Profession/status: Ethnicity - White Nationality - British Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 2 () United States Yes The US: - Southeast - West - Northeast - Midwest - California Europe Yes European country: - England/UK City? Yes City: - New York - Los Angeles - London - Chicago - Boston Misc setting - resort/hotel Century: - 1960's-1970's Writing Style Book makes you feel? - encouraged - like laughing If this is a kid's book: - Age 16-Adult Pictures/Illustrations? - A ton 16-20 B&W How much dialogue in bio? - little dialog How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 76%-100% of book |
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