How The Who overcame internal strife and a drummer behaving like a ‘Saudi prince’ to make their most poignant album. “Roger punched me once, and I’m sure I asked for it”

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How The Who overcame internal strife and a drummer behaving like a ‘Saudi prince’ to make their most poignant album. “Roger punched me once, and I’m sure I asked for it”

Louder · 2 hours ago

A feature revisits the turbulent making of The Who's 1973 album Quadrophenia, focusing on the band's fractious relationship as they toured to promote Pete Townshend's ambitious concept record. The piece recalls a chaotic gig at Newcastle's Odeon Cinema on Bonfire Night 1973, where technical failures with backing tapes and audiences struggling to follow the album's storyline pushed tensions to breaking point, illustrating the pressures the band faced in translating a complex studio work to the stage.

The article details how faulty tape synchronisation during the song 5:15 caused Townshend to lose his temper, grabbing soundman Bob Pridden and smashing his guitar on stage. It also touches on wider band strife during this period, including drummer Keith Moon's excessive, "Saudi prince"-like behaviour and a physical altercation in which singer Roger Daltrey punched Townshend, with Townshend admitting he likely provoked it. The feature frames these conflicts as part of the difficult backdrop against which Quadrophenia, now regarded as one of The Who's most poignant records, was created.

  • The Who's Quadrophenia tour was marked by chaos and infighting.
  • A 1973 Newcastle gig ended with Townshend smashing his guitar in anger.
  • Keith Moon's excess and a Daltrey-Townshend punch-up added to tensions.

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