Niko's review
Before I Get Old: The Story of the Who by Dave Marsh
For anyone who's talked to me about music recently, you know I've been on a huge Who kick. Well, I've finally got my hands on a reputable Who biography (Marsh also wrote the excellent Springsteen bio Born to Run).
What have I learned so far? Well, apparently Pete Townshend was inspired to write his own songs in earnest after hearing Bob Dylan's 1964 album Another Side of Bob Dylan. In particular, he was blown away by the song All I Really Want to Do, because it wasn't teen pop, it wasn't folk, it wasn't blues -- it was something new, something distinctively modern.
I can't wait to continue reading -- where the heck did Tommy come from? Or Quadrophenia? Or the wacked-out ideas behing the Who's Next album, which started as Lifehouse, some communal living, mystical communication thing between the band and some select fans? And what's the deal with Pete Townshend's guru? (Yes, he has a guru.) These are all questions that need to be answered.
What have I learned so far? Well, apparently Pete Townshend was inspired to write his own songs in earnest after hearing Bob Dylan's 1964 album Another Side of Bob Dylan. In particular, he was blown away by the song All I Really Want to Do, because it wasn't teen pop, it wasn't folk, it wasn't blues -- it was something new, something distinctively modern.
I can't wait to continue reading -- where the heck did Tommy come from? Or Quadrophenia? Or the wacked-out ideas behing the Who's Next album, which started as Lifehouse, some communal living, mystical communication thing between the band and some select fans? And what's the deal with Pete Townshend's guru? (Yes, he has a guru.) These are all questions that need to be answered.
