RE: WBN-Keith-Live '75

[hodgkinsj@BELMONT.EDU (Jimmy Hodgkins)]

>I think I need to remind everyone that not all the material Pete has written
>was really suitable for Keith as a drummer. It's hard to imagine Keith
>"weakening" for "Who By Numbers", then going on tour shortly after and
>playing some of the BEST drums he ever played. Read John Entwislte's comments
>in the August "Record Collector".

I was lucky enough to see The Who in Nov.75 (damn - that was almost 20 yrs
ago!!) and everyone, especially Keith, was incredible!  My friend and I (we
were 13 at the time) managed to sneak down to the 3rd row until an usher
checked our tickets and kicked us out of those seats after the 3rd or 4th
song.

When most bands take the stage, the lights go off, they strap on their
gear, and then it's a minute or two of plunk plunk plunk in the darkness until
they finally decide they're ready to play - but not The Who!!  They must have
gotten a running start towards the stage, because I swear as soon as the
lights went down they were up there and it was just like an explosion into
Can't Explain - man, I'll never forget it, I was absolutely frozen with my
mouth hangin' wide open!!  It was incredibly loud but not distorted - amazing
especially in a university basketball arena!

For some reason, Tattoo really sticks out in my mind as well as Acid Queen -
that was the song where Pete really got off and spent most of the song in
the air!  Also they were dressed exactly like the pictures I've seen so many
times later in books, Moon's esso jumpsuit, Pete's Les Pauls with the huge
numbers on them...Roger throwing tambourines into the audience after he's
worn them out...2 hours plus and no encore...

Sorry for the rambling, gang, I've just never seen a show as great as that one
and know I never will!

hodgkinsj@belmont.edu (Jimmy Hodgkins)