OT: WHO halftime

[njperry]

Unfortunately, I missed almost of it dealing with a fussy baby who had a cold and, we now know, was teething. Was able to see most of the game though.

[Divemistress of the Dark]

I'm telling y'all, Daltrey was awesome here back in October. Sounded great and Simon Townshend blew everybody off the stage.

I've been telling hubs I'm definitely considering whatever tour is up next, if tix can be had for less than the GDP of a small African nation.

[zilboy]

I thought the Boss was better last year...
personally thought Starkey was the best!!!

Agreed.
I thought It was interesting how many times the director cut to shots of him even though a lot of the audience probably did not know who he was, probably because he had the most energy.

Just seemed like he was holding back and just wanted to take off on the drums but couldn't because the lead singer was a little slow.

Mmmm, sounds familar.....

You know, I had the same thought when I was watching the VH1 Honors show last year. If you ask me, those two old geezers could use a good kick in the pants! The minute Moonie passed, they started getting old and slow.

[TheEqualizer]

From RS

QUOTE

On Sunday, the Who became the latest in a growing list of classic rockers — along with the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and Prince — to play a Super Bowl halftime. Why did they do it, what was it like being onstage at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, and why a hits medley? For the answers, we went directly to the Who’s Pete Townshend the day after the performance. For more from Townshend, grab the next issue of Rolling Stone, on stands February 17th.

What was your first reaction to being invited to play the Super Bowl?
I really wanted to do it. I felt it would be easy to do [chuckles]. I felt that doing this would be a great thing to do at this particular time because it would let people know that we’re alive and kicking and that Roger and I still do stuff together and intend to do whatever we can in the future together. You feel part of something that’s bigger than you and you feel part of a huge team. It’s a monster gig.

How did it feel being onstage, in the midst of that spectacle?
A couple of people said to me they could have done with more Who and less football. But I suppose it’s best if I tell the truth. I felt nothing. It doesn’t matter if it’s in a great big football stadium or a little club somewhere. As soon as I get close to a stage, I feel very at home and very safe and secure. It feels completely normal. When the NFL started to talk to us about this, one of the things they started to talk about was the numbers. I looked at Roger and looked at them and I said, “I’ve done a solo show in front of 80 million people on TV.” The abstract numbers make no difference.

I heard that Roger and Simon Townshend [Pete's brother and guitarist in the Who touring band] came up with the medley, not you.
That’s right. I thought we’d just do the CSI songs ["Won't Get Fooled Again," "Baba O'Riley," "Who Are You"]. My pitch was just to do three regular-length songs. We could fall back on what was very familiar. But Roger felt he needed something that gave him more narrative scope, as he described it. He and Simon and one of the lieutenants in the crew put together a track and surprisingly I thought it worked really well. Roger and I have a great relationship these days; it’s very warm and close. So I trusted him to do that job.

Were you wearing sunglasses up there?
No, I was wearing reading glasses. I like to be able to see the guitar.

What was it like finally experiencing an American football game?
English people still find the rules almost incomprehensible, like Americans finding cricket incomprehensible. It’s very difficult to understand how the game operates. But it’s a real sporting event and very exciting backstage and very dignified and serious. Some of my friends have been quite sniffy and said, “We watched it and it was like fucking Disneyland.” But when you’re on the inside of it, there’s a real sense of it being a job, a passion. I learned a lot about it yesterday, and it was all good.

What was the most surprising thing about it?
Not seeing a single cheerleader. Not anywhere. It was terrible. There are lot of girls who’ve said, “I used to be a cheerleader once.” But as hard as you try to persuade them, they won’t do it again.

END QUOTE

[TOWOS]

Always loved the 'Oo. Always will. The LadyGagas and the Beyonces of today - let me see them entertaining a crowd of that size at 65. They are a powerhouse in spite of all that they went through. I mean, did you expect the Woodstock Gods? But gimme the geriatric 'Oo who hoped to die before they were old (sadly, 2 of them succeeded in doing it) on the John Mayers (what a scumbag) anyday.
Zakk and his cymbals were magnetic and Pete's wardrobe malfunction was hilarious.
Having said that.
The YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH roar in Won't get Fooled Again. I could swear it was taped. Roger wouldn't have the lungs and they cut on the public/stage in what is the most climatic moment of the show and of that song. That bloodcurdling scream embodies the frustration of not being able to change the system since I can remember.
When I think of The Kids are Alright, I always get misty -eyes thinking of Roger's (real) GROWLLLLLL and of Pete sliding on his knees towards his close up.

Long Live the 'Oo!!!