Journalist’s Notebook: The Who is still young enough to rock

The Who proved that age is just a number during their recent concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The band’s core members, 81-year-old lead singer Roger Daltrey and soon-to-be-80-year-old songwriter and lead guitarist Pete Townshend, rocked the stage like they always have.  

In contrast to other aging musicians like Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, who have extensive touring operations, The Who’s performance was a special event. The concert was held in support of the UK charity Teenage Cancer Trust, showcasing the band’s enduring commitment to charitable causes.  

And so it had more than its share of “bumps,” which only made the moments of rock and roll heaven that much more enjoyable.

Guess what? These guys can still rock, sixty years after their first top-ten hit, if a bit tempered by age.

So . . . the “bumps” noted earlier: Townshend acknowledged that he had had knee-replacement surgery a month ago. Aside from a few whinges (“I’m in agony,’ “I can’t breathe”), he seemed to take it in his stride. Actually, he took it sitting down through half the songs. (No Woodstock-style jumping scissor kicks for him.) But he admitted that it helped him play better.

And Daltrey’s earpiece (which, despite that spotty hearing, helps him stay “in tune”) was acting up throughout the night. At one point, he stopped the entire band. “I’m not hearing the Who,” he said good-naturedly, “it sounds like I’m hearing the Troggs,” referring to an old ’60s British pop band. Townshend said in an aside ” . . . it was going so well.”

In fact, the two of them, known to have had their ups and downs over the years professionally, often resembled on stage an odd couple, snapping at each other from time to time but also warm to each other . . . and the audience.

Townshend (not necessarily known for his bedside manner) at one point thanking the 5,000-plus Royal Albert Hall crowd for sticking with them all these years, and calling The Who “geriatrics who pretend to be young.”   

The demographics of the crowd, I must admit, were somewhat on the senior side. But enough sons and daughters were present and getting into it to give one hope, if not for the future, then at least for the present.

The Who pose for a press call, July 1971, Surrey, United Kingdom: John Entwistle, Keith Moon, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey.  (Michael Putland/Getty Images)

For we indeed are seeing, sad to say, the tail end performances of the second great generation of rock and rollers.  After Chuck, Little Richard and Elvis, came The Beatles, The Stones, Dylan . . . and, yes, The Who.

That’s why it’s more than just fun; it’s an honor to catch these final farewells.

Along with their punchier later hits like You Better You Bet and Who are You, The Who played a song Townshend said they’d never played in concert before. Incredible, as it was recorded 54 years ago. Amid high critical acclaim.    

Called “The Song is Over” (also from the Who’s Next album), it was nothing less than extraordinary. And appropriate.

As Townshend worked through the riffs and lines. And Daltrey was literally completely slumped over and supported by the standing mic, as if he could go no further, it ended with them singing:

“The song is over, the song is over. Excepting one note, pure and easy, playing so free, like a breath rippling by.”

Except, I take exception. The song, hopefully, is not “over” . . . yet.