Barnes, who has been a regular member of The Who's entourage on past tours, claims to have suggested the name the Who (before that they were the Detours and the High Numbers) and his account of the group's history is endorsed by a letter from Townshend.

"It's got everything," Townshend writes, "the glue sniffing, the child abuse, the songs I stole from starving black blues players… The Who were a disgusting group now exposed for what they really were. What a pity we grew out of it."

Barnes' book gives the Who's story blow-by-blow, illustrated with quotes from the band, excerpts from press stories and reviews, a wealth of illustrations, and a sound sheet record of My Generation and Pinball Wizard. There is also a discography covering the group and solo releases.

Barnes' association with the group began when he and Townshend attended the Ealing Art School. Later, he organized a club for mods, a youth fad that required its members to have relatively short, moptop haircuts, to wear olive drab parkas and drive motor scooters. More affluent mods also prided themselves on being sharp dressers.

Barnes witnessed such early landmarks as the group's decision to cultivate a mod image, and Townshend's accidental discovery that smashing up guitars on stage could be a big draw.

The title of the book, incidentally, comes from an important date at London's influential Marquee Club. The group's name was lengthened to make it appear more impressive, according to Barnes' account.

A graphic designer by training, Barnes has gathered an impressive array of visual art from publicity shots, album covers, press clippings and posters.

The account itself is very readable, although something should have been done to break up the wads of type into more digestible chapters.

Apart from that, the book's most obvious defect is its binding, which 5 if my copy is any indication 5 falls apart at first reading.

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