The Who`s influence

["Gary M. Gillman" <garyg@inforamp.net>]

IMHO, the influence of the Who is immeasurable and to be found in every
other band mentioned in the discusions on this point in the list, but the
main reason for this is the loud, chordal-based guitar sound which PT more
or less invented singlehandedly.  Yes, Daltry`s great voice and staging,
Moon`s roll-style drumming and JAE`s fluid, lead-type bass were very
important and influential too, but it`s that SOUND PT got on guitar,
especially, live; on the classic singles; and on WN, which had a phenomenal,
unifying influence on post-60`s rock, or most of it. Styx, Rush, the
Pistols, yes, Zep to a degree (eg. Communication Breakdown), Boston, Steve
Miller, AC DC, Mellencamp, Green Day, etc. etc. are all different in many
ways (also Metallica, Priest, etc.), but they all utilized to good effect
that distinctive, powerful, loud, rhythm guitar sound, double strums and
all, that Pete invented or at least perfected (I am aware of course of those
who inluenced PT, eg. Berry, Davies, Richards, Eddie Cochrane, and others,
but PT took it to a different level and made it something new). It`s a pity,
of course, that PT largely abandoned that sound on the Who`s post-WN work (I
mean in the studio) - I believe this to have occurred because he became
disenchanted with the sound after his hearing started to deteriorate, but
that`s another story...