The Who were one of the most memorable and influential of the 1960s British Invasion bands-memorable because of their loudness and because they destroyed instruments during performances, and influential because of their success in crafting "Power Pop" singles like "My Generation" and "I Can See for Miles," long-playing albums Live at Leeds and Who's Next, and the "rock operas" Tommy and Quadrophenia. The themes that principal songwriter Pete Townshend imparted into The Who's music drew upon the group's mostly working-class London upbringings and early Mod audiences: frustration, angst, irony, and a youthful inclination to lash out. Like some of his rock and roll contemporaries, Townshend was also affected by religious ideas coming from India and the existential dread he felt about the possibility of nuclear war. During a career that spanned three decades, The Who gave their fans and rock critics a lot to think about. The remarkable depth and breadth of The Who's music and their story as one of the most exciting and provocative rock bands over the last half-century are the subjects of the philosophical explorations in this collection.
Introduction by Rocco J. Gennaro and Casey Harison Part I-"I Can't Explain": Mod Culture Chapter 1. The Who and "My Generation": Philosophical Recollections of a Former Second Wave Mod by Catherine Villanueva Gardner Chapter 2. All Mod Cons: The Who and Rock `n' Roll Authenticity by Steven D. Williams Part II-"We're Not Going to Take It": Alienation and Angst Chapter 3. "I've Had Enough": The Who and Social Revolution by Casey Rentmeester and William Knoblauch Chapter 4. Who's That Outside? by Greg Littmann Chapter 5. To the Sea and Sand: Quadrophenia - An Interpretation by Robert McParland Chapter 6. Fiddling about Becoming a Man by Christopher Ketcham Part III-"The Real Me": Consciousness, Disorders, and Deception Chapter 7. "See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me" - Know Me: Rationalism vs Empiricism in Tommy by Russell L. Johnson Chapter 8. What Does Tommy Feel?: The Aesthetic Experience of a Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Kid by S. Evan Kreider Chapter 9. "He Only Comes out When I Drink My Gin": DID, Personal Identity, and Moral Responsibility by Rocco J. Gennaro Chapter 10. Who Can You Trust? The Paradox of Listening to The Who by Don Fallis Part IV-"Pure and Easy": Meher Baba and Spiritualism Chapter 11. "The Real Me" by Scott Calef Chapter 12. Behind Zarathustra's Eyes: The Bad, Sad Man Meets Nietzsche's Prophet by Blake Wilson Part V-"Long Live Rock": The Who in Concert Chapter 13. Theater of Destruction: Chaos, Rage, Frustration, and Anarchy in the Rebellious Music and Ferocious Performances of the Early Who by Dan Dinello Chapter 14. "You are Forgiven": Reflections on Violence, Redemption and The Who by Casey Harison Chapter 15. An Analysis of the Who in Concert: 1971-2014 by Peter Smith Chapter 16. We Could Never Follow What You Did: The Who and the Concert for New York City by Tom Zlabinger About the Contributors
