Not Only Ear-Splitting

Wreckage Is Part of British Rock Group's Act

By Jan Bridge

Teen Correspondent

Who are four British longhairs who destroy several thousand dollars worth of musical equipment at the end of their act? "The WHO," that's who.

Featured at Virginia Beach last week and at the Mosque this week with another British group, "The Trogs," The WHO did not disappoint their fans at either performance. At the end of their act they appeared to demolish it forever.

The Mosque performance included several international smash sellers, among them "Happy Jack" and "My Generation." Then guitarist Peter Townshend slammed his guitar on its end and strings and bolts flew out into the audience.

THIS DISPLAY of action was followed by lead singer Roger Daltry who aimed his mike into the audience but then snapped it back by its chord. Then Keith Moon, drummer, and Roger both kicked their feet through Keith's drums. Eventually, the stage seemed in shambles.

After the performance Roger, who spoke with difficulty because of cold, talked about the group's "sound" and described it quite simply as "now." The 23-year-old admitted that The WHO's strength and popularity is largely due to the addition of drummer Keith Moon five years ago.

"WE WERE free fall up to that point," said Roger. "Then Peter Townshend started to write several big tunes for us and the show improved even more."

Keith Moon's grouping of drums, all apparently wrecked at the end of WHO shows, is an impressive one. He plays two bass drums, three deep tom-toms, three mounted tom-toms, and one snare.

In his spare time Moon says he likes to tape-record. This enjoyment is shared by

Times-Dispatch Accent on Youth Friday, July 26, 1968 B-9

Peter Townshend who has his own recording studio at home overlooking the Thames River in London. There he says he strives "for a tighter sound to make us more of a group," but added, "with separate personalities."

IN HIS spare time Moon also likes to drive his Rolls Royce which has a highly individualistic paint job—it is white with purple flashes—not streaks—flashes. Why purple flashes? "I like purple flashes," said Moon.

Roger Daltry, the only unmarried WHO, likes to "paint and repair old junk, but not antiques.

"I don't like modern society," Daltry added. "There is no time spent on quality. Furniture is a perfect example of this. The only quality left is in art."

Daltry said he considered their act "quality" and bass player John Entwistle remarked that he became excited at their "sound"—but never at audience reaction to their sound.

THE TALL, dark-haired musician played piano as a little boy, trumpet at age 11 and the French horn at 12. "Then I went into rock and roll and never graduated," he said. Seven years ago, Entwistle constructed his own bass guitar. But he dropped it once and "it turned into a harp," he said with a chuckle.

Guitarist Townshend seems to prefer qualifying what he says. For example in talking about their United States tour he noted that "Florida did not have enough young people, the West Coast was too relaxed and New York was too dirty.

"BUT LONDON wasn't very clean or quiet either, for that matter. So "I like the U.S. but not without reservations," he said.

He also enjoys blue-eyed soul music by "The Rascals" and straight soul music by "the two giants, Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin." He added, "I like soul, but again, not without reservations."

To end the interview, manager John Wolff, who looks bald-headed because he shaves his head, came into the dressing room and called, "Fin?" The British slang term for "finished" was the signal for The WHO to begin repairing their equipment for another performance.

Peter Townshend Plays 'Hard Rock' Hard Guitarist Later Slammed Instrument on End

Keith Moon's Drum Grouping Was Imposing—Before Performance Drums, Other Instruments and Sound Equipment Were Smashed