Reviews Archiv 114

’I wanna die, before I get old’. It's hillering very loud across the cathedral's square in Ulm. And the best is, it still sounds very convincing, though it doesn't sound logical, does it?! Up there are two rock dinos, who have celebrated their round 60th birthdays already a few years ago. But I swear, you don't realize and you don't see it. This here is most probably the most well done reunion of all those classical rockbands, who lately did reform for one or the other reason. Although it ain't a real reunion, is it?! Because the Who have never officially seperated. Let's call it rather long spaces inbetween action, and time for the guys to develope in their own creative individual way. Up's and Down's and inbetween always again and again - The Who live on stage. The only guy who took the famous slogan of this cultband 'I wanna die before I get old' - for granted, was drummer Keith Moon. - Bassist John Entwistle stayed a bit longer on this planet, before he took the balls as well and said good bye from this earth in a rather unspectular way.

Only the heart of the group survived all hurricans of life. And Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey are trying their best, to convince all Who fans including myself, that they are still very much alive and rather prefer to get old before they die. They haven't forgotten how to please us and make us jump up by presenting us those fabulous perls of rock'n'roll history.
Most important, Pete and Roger are showing the young generation, that bands from the glory sixties are not just oldies but still very lively rockers, who can put up easily with the youngster from today, what's up to the physical condition and the drive and including all their knowledge and experience. Combined with the unforgotten musical milestones, at least what's up to the music of the Who, they are still unbeatable - honestly.

It's loud, very loud indeed. Actually it is so loud, that the highest church tower in the world is suffering tinnitus tonight. It probably has never experienced such a thing. The wisdom tooth is loose inside the shaking walls. And the aprox. 7.000 freaks gathering on the square take care, that the earthquake is hitting a the top of the Richter scale.
I remember back buying my very first longplay record, when I was a young girl, aged 12 in 1973. It was 'Tommy' - the rockopera by the Who, not the film- but the band's version of course. And since that very day the who have always had a place in my musical backgrounds and roots.

To tell the truth, first I've been a bit sceptic about all this, because I remember at last year's Nokia Night of the Proms, when Roger Daltrey appeared on stage accompanied by a huge orchestra, performing some greatest hits of the Who. And it was everything else than spectacular according to major voice problems. Today I pray to heaven, that there won't be a Du ja vu' of this, and my disappointment from last year is gonna be increased. But fortunately it doesn't. Yep, with a slight irritation between the first and the second track thanks to technical reasons, they stand the test.

Whereby you can realize very soon, the Who are most and first of all - Pete Townshend, and then there is long nothing. He is the mentor, the head. He's the one, who let's the dolls dance, and he transfers the most instensity and power you can think of. He still swings his right arm through the air while playing his guitar and jumps up his own typical way. Only guitars don't get destroyed nowadays, due to financial aspects I guess. Roger Daltrey is the other tower, not as lively, not as energetic, but still producing a lot of energy with his voice on stage. Compared to the nokia nights, mentioned above, the little frontman is topfit tonight. You can see, that he feels so much better and comfortable with the band, instead with an orchestra in his back.
'I can't Explain' makes the polposition of this show and leads into a 2 hours's performance which is filled with diamonds like . ‚Who Are You’, ‚Behind Blue Eyes’, ‚Better You Bet’ and ‚Substitute’. And yes of course 'My Generation' is the highpoint including an extra bonus performed by Pete underlining the slogan - 'I wanna die before I get old'. It's followed by some solotunes like 'I See The Action' . And it continues with the 8minutes track Won’t Get Fooled Again’ and also a taste from the upcoming new studioalbum - out in oct.
Yeah, of course John Entwistle is missing. And yes of course Keith Moon's spirit is sailing across this stage here and is probably having a good drink right now up there to cheer his mates and the devotion of the fans they just right now receive.
But Pete Townshend has taken care about it and has got some damn good people in the band like his brother Simon Townshend, who is substituting John Entwistle, and on drums is none other than Zak Starkey, Ringo Starr's son. My first thought about his is: jesus wept, this guy looks like his dad.

Meanwhile the square is standing on it's head, and granny and grandson, and daddy and daughter are moving along to this great show ending with the encore
Pinball Wizard’ and last but not least ‚See Me Feel Me’.
Congratulation, this is an absolute phantastic debut again of the loudest band of the sixties early seventies. Or are they still the loudest??? After today's decibal thunderstorm, I'm not quite sure about that. - However, they don't need a monster stage like the Stones, or a big lightshow or special effects to show, that Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey and Co. still know how to rock and spice a hot chilly even hotter. They are no tired oldies and most of all, - there is no - I wanna die before I get old. Because for that - they are really too old....