The Who have shown themselves to have a somewhat timeless and universal appeal, despite having their roots in the rebellious rock of post-war youth. More than six decades after their founding, they continue to release records. Throughout their lengthy and illustrious history, these records have had an impact on thousands of people worldwide. Kiss frontman Gene Simmons is well aware that the rock and roll landscape of the 20th century would have been very different in the absence of The Who.
The Who’s live performances are undoubtedly a significant factor in their legendary status. A generation of iconic live acts began with the Roger Daltrey-led group, who made their name during an era when studio records were the pinnacle of music. The group was known for their extremely loud, anarchic, and often confrontational live shows. Pete Townshend, the guitarist, is largely responsible for The Who’s ongoing success in songwriting, even aside from their live performances.
There’s not much to say about Townshend’s groundbreaking compositions that haven’t already been covered in great detail. His work is ultimately commendable for its inherent ability to adapt to changing times. The Who essentially reinvented themselves in the 1970s, when many of their peers from the 1960s were beginning to show signs of weariness. They went from the youthful rebellion of songs like “My Generation” to intricate and thought-provoking rock operas like Tommy or Quadrophenia.
Specifically, these records forever altered the rock and roll lineage. Particularly Tommy served as a pioneering example of a concept album as opposed to a disconnected jumble of different songs. Because of this, the record allowed musicians to use the album as a statement unto itself, virtually apart from the songs’ actual content. The rock scene ingrained this philosophy in American bubblegum rock band Kiss.
After releasing albums like Tommy, Kiss, which formed in 1973, quickly rose to prominence in the rock industry primarily because of its distinctive brand. The New York band gained a devoted fan base despite their music rarely measuring up to that of their influences. Frontman Gene Simmons claims that the group felt The Who’s influence in many aspects.
Tommy is one of Simmons’ all-time favorite albums, he said in an interview with Goldmine last year. “That album still stands the test of time,” he said, differentiating it from a lot of his work. The singer continued to praise Townshend’s masterwork. They stated, “Those songs and the performance are extraordinary. Additionally, turning it into a movie adds another layer of achievement.
Simmons claims that Kiss even attempted to mimic the record’s audio. He said, “Believe me, I know what I’m talking about.” “We attempted The Elder, but we were unable to shine their shoes.” Even by Kiss standards, their 1981 album Music from “The Elder” was a commercial failure, demonstrating The Who’s extraordinary talent.
