The Who

<====!!! They get plenty of respect from me!

The Who really did push the proverbial envelope in the music world. They came out with a 9 and 1/2 minute song when it was considered blasphemous  in A Quick One, While He's Away. The Who Sell Out isn't really a concept, though, it's just one album with a consistent theme. Tommy has many progressive tendencies, but they didn't hit progressive gold till Quadrophenia in 73 (My favorite album if you haven't realized that). Who's Next was a step in the right direction, too, with heavy progressive influences as well.

NetsNJFan wrote: Ok - they werent great musicians, but they had several prog aspects...

I beg to differ. John Entwistle is considered the Jimi Hendrix of bass, always giving one hell of a performance. Keith Moon was a very talented drummer, but he wasn't the most skillful. Pete Townshend is a very underrated guitarist IMO. He plays one of the best rhythym guitars I've ever heard, and he can solo really well, too. Roger Daltry is also a very good vocalist and harmonica player.

Edited by Cygnus X-2

NetsNJFan wrote: Does ANyone think that the Who qualify as at least semi-prog. Ok - they werent great musicians, but they had several prog aspects... 1966 - Who Sell Out (Concept Album) 1969 - Tommy (FIRST ROCK OPERA - WITH UNDERTURE - PROG!!) 1971 - Who's Next - Lot's of Progressive tracks and synths what do you guys think - They don't seem to get any respect

I think the one album that did have 'some' prog leanings isn't on your list 'Quadraphenia'.

The comment that they weren't great musicians is controversial to say the least

Im not sayign they were progressive rock, but they were much more groundbreakign than most of prog bands we discuss here (...dream theater), and yea, how could i forget the brillliant QUADROPHENIA

im not saying they belogn here....they dont, but i love the who, one of the few non prog bands i listen to

The Who where 'The Greatest Rock 'n' Roll' band in the world.The Stones didn't deserve that title!

NetsNJFan wrote: Progger wrote: The Who where 'The Greatest Rock 'n' Roll' band in the world.The Stones didn't deserve that title! The Who were by far the superior band, since all their songs dont sound exactly the same.

The reason why The Stones shelved the Rock 'n' Roll Circus film for many years was because The Who blew them off stage. Jagger's own admission!

Thereason why I wouldn't include The Who in a Prog' list despite Tommy, Quadrophenia and parts of Who's Next is because I really love that band.

They are Classic Rock icons, and would never reach that status in the Progressive Rock context because that was not their main style, so I prefer looking at The Who as the best Classic Rock band than as another group in the Art Rock sub genre with Styx or Asia.

Iván

NetsNJFan wrote: ivan_2068 wrote: Thereason why I wouldn't include The Who in a Prog' list despite Tommy, Quadrophenia and parts of Who's Next is because I really love that band. They are Classic Rock icons, and would never reach that status in the Progressive Rock context because that was not their main style, so I prefer looking at The Who as the best Classic Rock band than as another group in the Art Rock sub genre with Styx or Asia. Iván i never looked at it like that ivan, great point, as always, you make a great argument

Agreed -- Ivy'd make a good lawyer!

Edited by Peter

ivan_2068 wrote: Thereason why I wouldn't include The Who in a Prog' list despite Tommy, Quadrophenia and parts of Who's Next is because I really love that band. They are Classic Rock icons, and would never reach that status in the Progressive Rock context because that was not their main style, so I prefer looking at The Who as the best Classic Rock band than as another group in the Art Rock sub genre with Styx or Asia. Iván

I can't make the distinction between "Classic Rock" and "Progressive Rock", simply because much Progressive Rock IS Classic Rock.

These categories are too divisive, IMO - including so-called "Art-Rock" which I do not recognise as a category, as Prog Rock is also Art Rock, Symphonic Rock and the rest.

The Who, despite being a fantastic rock band, did not get many of what I would call "Prog Moments" - those wonderful half-composed half-improvised moments of brilliance that make up most of a prog album.

"Tommy" is not the first rock opera - Andrew Lloyd Webber beat the Who to it - and some might argue that the Pretty Things' S. F. Sorrow qualifies. The Overture is no more progressive than "Days of Future Passed", which IMO is not so much a prog rock album as a progressive approach to making a pop/rock album. The Beatles were also very progressive...

While The Who were incredibly inventive, no particular album of theirs fully qualifies itself as prog rock - they are more full of the zeitgeist that identifies a popular rock band. However, some of their live performances are enough to convinvce me that they went through a phase of wanting to be a Prog Rock band - and didn't make a bad job of it!

Well, that's what I think...

Edited by Certif1ed

They do have elements of Prog. But a good band and I agree John Entwhistle is the Jimi Hendrix of Bass. 

The Who deserve a lot of respect for albums like Tommy and Quadrophenia. Borderliners maybe, no progrock maybe, but I guess many progfans will like them. I do. A lot of great compositions, and Moonie was a great drummer.