“I didn’t think I realised”: The album that made Pete Townshend recognise The Who’s genius
Most band members know the risks when first starting out. Even for ones as monolithic as The Who, those crucial early stages are filled with immense what-ifs, not to mention the struggle of navigating that alongside figuring out a trademark sound. For Pete Townshend, it took a little longer than most to believe that what they were doing actually meant something.
Perhaps a big part of this is ego. After all, it’s not just Townshend who holds high standards for himself on stage—many artists struggle with performing to the level they know they can achieve, and anything less often feels more disappointing than it likely feels to the unsuspecting audience member. Only, in Townshend’s case, this was the biggest downfall at any given moment, especially if it seemed boring.
However, the interesting thing about The Who was that, for the most part, they did operate in their own league, even if they had moments Townshend would consider less than par. This was mainly because very few actually did what they did on stage, not just technically but in terms of the energy they fostered and how that made anyone feel for one special moment a couple of hours per night.
For a while, however, Townshend seemed to think there was a heady amount of coasting involved, especially when it came to The Who’s longevity. There were undeniable moments of clarity when he thought they maybe had everything it took to make it properly, but it wasn’t until Quadrophenia that something in his mind sparked out like a sizzling, ready-to-burst lightbulb.
Discussing the moment this realisation set in with The Guardian, the musician said, “I had this fantastic band and I don’t think I realised what I had in the guys until we made Quadrophenia in 1973,” he said, continuing, “I thought, ‘I’m going to write this thing and it’s going to be really challenging and there’s no fucking hope they’re ever going to do it properly.’ And they did – they did it brilliantly and quickly.”
However, it wasn’t just the specifics of their sound that made him sceptical. After all, by this point, they had already released two records that many consider to be their career-defining moves: Tommy and Who’s Next. But Townshend also had a front-row ticket to the dark sides of rock ‘n’ roll and understood that, while The Who had made it in many ways, there was always the risk of alienation.
At the same time, every moment before Quadrophenia felt like something was missing. Perhaps this was because everything felt inherently “easy”, as he recalled, which gave him a sense of detached complacency. This record, however, reminded him of the talent that surrounded him and just how much everybody wanted it, including himself.
As he put it: “I couldn’t work out why I wasn’t fulfilled by it. So, there were periods when I was sarcastic. I look back and think, ‘Didn’t I realise what I had?'” After 1973, his mindset changed, and he suddenly felt a part of something bigger, all while appreciating that things could change at any given moment.
