Pinball Wizard, Baba O'Riley, Who Are You

This was a lot of fun!  Five great Who songs powered-out in 12 minutes while standing on top of a giant spaceship with circular lights dancing around them and fireworks exploding above.

In keeping with the classic rock theme of recent Super Bowl half-time shows that have included Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty in recent years, the 2010 choice was the most classic of rockers, The Who. Or at least the two Who are left.

Joining them on stage to make it a six-piece band were Ringo Starr’s son Zak Starkey on drums, who’s been playing with them since 1994; Townshend’s younger brother Simon on guitar and vocals; Pino Palladino, who's been the only other bass player to play with The Who other besides the late great John Entwistle.   And on keyboards is long-time 5th Who member John “Rabbit” Bundrick, who began playing keys with them in ’79.

They performed a fairly seamless and fast-paced medley of some of their most well-known songs — “Pinball Wizard,” the only Who song that was ever a hit for another artist (Elton John), into “Baba O’Riley,” the opening track from Who’s Next and that is often mistakenly referred to as “Teenage Wasteland;” Then into the masterful “Who Are You,” the last great song they recorded with Keith Moon, into a total surprise and the second song from Tommy, “See Me, Feel Me.” And they ended it with their anthemic, “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” the 2nd song of the night and album closer from Who’s Next.

In fact, it was "Baba" and "Fooled" that were given the fullest treatment by far — the other three hits were just one verse, chorus, and out.

Rock n roll was invented by the young, and not that long ago.  In an era of “I hope I die before I get old,” which was coined by this featured songwriter, no one had any idea how rock would age, or even if it would, or could.   I mean, The Who have been around longer than the Super Bowl by several years.
“How do you think he does it?”
“I don’t know?”

You can form your own opinion pro or con, but this is what rock n roll sounds like when its practitioners are 65 years old.  The lungs aren’t as strong, the fingers less nimble, the clothes don’t fit as well, but the original spirit and passion has never faded.

One of the most touching and revealing moments occurs right at the end when Townshend takes off his guitar and starts to walk towards Daltrey and you can see him breaking out into a big laugh. May we all be as happily rocking at their age.

Part 2 with Who Are You, See Me Feel Me, and Won't Get Fooled Again can be seen here.

— Brian Hassett