The Who - The Kids Are Alright (Special Edition) List Price : $29.98 USD ProductGroup: DVD Actor(s): Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Keith Moon, John Entwistle, Tom Smothers Director(s): Jeff Stein Movie Release Date : 2003-09-30 Studio : Pioneer Label : Pioneer Avg. Customer Rating : (158 reviews) Running Time : 101
Reviews Customer Reviews for The Who The Kids Are Alright Special Edition Fee Fi Fo Fum! I Hear the Electrifying Sounds of Four Englishmen! Rating: And those Englishmen that I speak of are Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon, better known to the rock world and their fans as The Who. In this 1979 rockumentary directed by Jeff Stein, the band is shown in classic clips performing some of their best songs. When it opens, we see them performing "My Generation" on "The Smothers Brothers Show". After the documentary's titles are shown, we cut to a clip of them singing "I Can't Explain" on what would be the last broadcast of "Shindig", ABC's evening answer to their ever-popular "American Bandstand". About a half-hour or so into the movie, we're treated to their electrifying performance of "See Me, Feel Me/Listening to You" at the 1969 Woodstock Festival. In between these rocking performances, we get to see the four men reveal their true selves during interviews, such as the one done by English TV show host Russell Harty. Here, you get to see them display their sense of humor, with Harty not batting an eye. They are also asked, by various fans, questions on topics ranging from drugs to looks. Although all four members are interviewed, none is interviewed more often than Pete Townshend, who presents a thoughtful, serious side of himself. Of course, no Who documentary would be complete without clips of him destroying his guitar during concerts, for which he is legendary. During the "Smothers Brothers" segment, after Tom watches Townshend destroy his guitar, he tells his brother Dick to bring his guitar (so that Townshend could destroy it!). We also get to see drummer Keith Moon during his crazy, maniacal moments and on the drums. I would say he was The Who's equivalent of The Beatles's Ringo Starr, who, by the way, we see talking to Moon. Throughout this whole movie, we hear the best that these guys had to offer, including the aforementioned "My Generation" (we also get treated to a clip of them singing it at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival), "I Can't Explain", "Teenage Wasteland", "Happy Jack", "Tommy", "Pinball Wizard", "Won't Get Fooled Again", "Magic Bus", and at the end, "Long Live Rock".
These men knew how to rock; their music defined a generation. If you're a fan and think that they rock, like I do, then you should no doubt love this showcase of one of the best rock bands of all time.
Customer Reviews for The Who The Kids Are Alright Special Edition Cd Twelve stars Rating: I ordered this DVD on January 16, 2007 -- I can't believe that I didn't write a review at the time -- and I've played it so many times that the grooves are getting worn out. No, seriously, I'm so worried that it will get scratched that I just ordered two more copies.
I was a Who fan. This DVD turned me into a raving Who fan. It starts out with a bang (a real one, complete with drum shrapnel and burning hair) and ends with a blistering live performance of WGFA (Won't Get Fooled Again) from 1978 -- Keith Moon's last public performance with the band. There's also a live version of "Baba O'Riley" from the same session in 1978, and magical footage from Woodstock of Daltrey singing "See me, hear me, touch me, feel me" as the sun breaks over the horizon and floods the stage. Makes me want to have been there even more than Hendrix's performances do.
I just watched "Live at Isle of Wight" (as well as the Woodstock footage), and the '78 live versions of Baba and WGFA are every bit as electric as the performances in '69 and '70.
The bonus material is also fascinating: if you look at what they did during the restoration and audio cleanup of the original release, your jaw will be hanging on the floor (if you like such things).
This deserves twice as many stars as I can give it. No offense to anyone who doesn't like it, but how that's possible is beyond my comprehension.
Long live rock.
P.S. You should also get your hands on the DVD about the making of Who's Next: amazing, truly amazing -- behind the scenes info from Townshend, Glyn Johns, and many other people involved with the production of the record. It answers a lot of questions, like "Is that a *violin* at the end of Baba O'Riley?" (Yes, played by Dave Arbus) and "Is that a synth loop?" (No, but you'll have to listen to Glyn Johns's explanation because I don't quite understand it)
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