London in the 1960s conjures up iconic images of miniskirts, modernists, and an abundance of amazing musicians. Capturing the spirit of such a legendary era was no simple feat, but talented songwriters like John Lennon of The Beatles excelled at expressing the zeitgeist. Despite his own contributions to rock and roll, Lennon was quick to criticize other musicians of the time, including The Who.
The Rise of The Who in the 1960s
In the 1960s, England saw a creative explosion with numerous revolutionary musicians debuting. Despite the oversaturated scene, few bands could compete with the defiant sounds of The Who. Emerging from the mod subculture, The Who took inspiration from various sources, including American pop art and the swinging sixties vibe of London. Pete Townshend’s songwriting heavily borrowed from earlier American rock musicians, a nod to the rock ‘n’ roll that initially inspired him to pick up a guitar.
Influences and Iconic Covers
The Who frequently covered rock and roll legends like Eddie Cochran, Bo Diddley, and Howlin’ Wolf, especially during their wild live shows. These covers, despite being some of the band’s greatest live hits, were not well-received by all their peers. For instance, John Lennon publicly criticized The Who for their preference for cover songs.
John Lennon’s Criticism
In a 1974 interview featured in “Lennon on Lennon: Conversations,” Lennon reminisced about the London music scene of the 1960s. He recalled, “There was a discotheque scene in London, and the Ad Lib was the main club we all went to.” Lennon was a regular at the Soho club, which many pop stars frequented until it closed due to a fire in 1966. He mentioned, “We played ‘Daddy Rollin’ Stone’ by Derek Martin all the time in the Ad Lib, with all of us sitting there, listening and dancing, looking super stoned.” Lennon was not a fan of The Who’s cover of the song, used as the B-side of their iconic pop art piece “Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere.”
The Who’s Legacy in the 1960s
Despite Lennon’s criticism, The Who remained remarkably evocative of the English music and subculture scene of the 1960s. The band’s influence extended beyond their covers, as they captured the spirit of the era through their original music and dynamic performances. While Lennon acknowledged that The Beatles performed many American records during their early years, he overlooked the significant contributions of British bands like The Kinks and The Who to the 1960s m
usic scene.
