This is the song that totally got me into them because I'd never heard anything like it; the raw energy just radiates out of the notes he plays. This is pure rock at its finest..and it's their own unique sound...nobody played this type of stuff before them. Townshend is a pioneer, and I'd rather listen to this than endless monotonous shredding by the so-called "best"...
Brutal attack on a simple riff from Tommy. The almost chaotic energy of this sound, channeled by a master musician, is so unique no other rock guitar player comes even close
@artlover1477 To me, he seemed like a star that was dying and going into supernova at this stage of his career. Someone once wrote, God decided to become a Rock and Roll drummer. So for twelve years he came to earth and was Keith Moon of The Who.
I’ve always enjoyed Pete’s guitar playing style. From what I have read, part of the reason he has such a unique way of playing goes back to when he was a young teenager, and his guitar only had three strings and he was unable to get new ones for a while but spent many hours playing and experimenting. If I remember right, he only had the D, G, and B strings. This forced him to think outside the box and he discovered all kinds of chords he might not have otherwise. And when he finally got the other strings, (this part is speculation on my part), it led to his using one or more “drone” (open) strings along with a lot of these chords. The way I see it, he profited from that period of relative deprivation by expanding his guitar horizons and developing his one of a kind playing style. I’m so grateful that I can enjoy so many of his live performances on RUclips since the only time I saw The Who live (summer of 1989 in Raleigh,NC), for whatever reason he only played acoustic during that show, and I could barely hear him.
I've always been a fan. To me this proves how powerful a sparse guitar part can be. Pete doesn't play a lot here. In fact he never does. It's just a few riffs here and there and a couple of bends at the top of the neck with one of the most beautiful suspension chains in music history. (not just rock music history because according to Pete he was inspired by English Baroque composer Heney Purcell) Sparks is as great a dramatic moment as you'll find in Wagner, Verdi or Mozart, a brilliant piece of instrmental music that sets a dramatic mood. The Who's special contribution to rock is writing specifically for the dramatic stage. While Tommy and Quadrophenia have proven to hold the stage as full musicals/operas the fact that The Who in their prime presented these works as a quartet more powerfully than any larger production of them is still pretty stunning.
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This is the song that totally got me into them because I'd never heard anything like it; the raw energy just radiates out of the notes he plays. This is pure rock at its finest..and it's their own unique sound...nobody played this type of stuff before them. Townshend is a pioneer, and I'd rather listen to this than endless monotonous shredding by the so-called "best"...
SPARKS is the greatest rock song ever made
Hell yes
They really were unique. It’s a shame technology has robbed us of experiencing this raw primal energy.
Brutal attack on a simple riff from Tommy. The almost chaotic energy of this sound, channeled by a master musician, is so unique no other rock guitar player comes even close
Love Pete’s guitar….. But that bass tone…….That was my favorite Who “tone” era. My God!
Sparks!! I loved Live at Leeds version and there is a Woodstock version... but this is amazing...
Live at Leeds and Kids Are Alright albums contributed to my tinnitus for sure. Long live rock!
1:42 the glorious noise
That power chord opened a portal above the stage
Pete is a fucking monster!! The most radical guitarist ever to come from England. Simply Awsome!!
He wasnt like all the other guitarist coming out of the sixties he had his own unique stile which people tend to over look
Moon's looking good here too. Sparks from Tommy. Greatest live act in rock.
no one I know of these days even comes a million fucking miles close to this.
A true sage
He's like an orchestra...winds, brass and strings
It's spelled 'Townshend'.
You smart aleck. This is Pete Townsend of “The Wo”!
@@Napalm_God KEITH TOWNSHEND! ROGER MOON! JOHN DALTREY! PETE ENTWISTLE!!
@@jackcrane7853 Good one!
While I agree with this heading, I am still laughing because you made no mention that Moon tore it up as well
Oh, Moonie was washed up by this time......ya sure!!!!!!
@artlover1477 To me, he seemed like a star that was dying and going into supernova at this stage of his career.
Someone once wrote, God decided to become a Rock and Roll drummer. So for twelve years he came to earth and was Keith Moon of The Who.
Keath moon killing it
Magical....
Sparks.
Wow
Bossssssssss
Let there be..."SPARKS!" :)
Keith - always looking for something to hit!
SPARKS is the greatest rock song ever written.
TownsHend.
Anyone know the year?
1975
He plays melody guitar not like J Page, Blackmore and Hendrix etc.
I’ve always enjoyed Pete’s guitar playing style. From what I have read, part of the reason he has such a unique way of playing goes back to when he was a young teenager, and his guitar only had three strings and he was unable to get new ones for a while but spent many hours playing and experimenting. If I remember right, he only had the D, G, and B strings. This forced him to think outside the box and he discovered all kinds of chords he might not have otherwise. And when he finally got the other strings, (this part is speculation on my part), it led to his using one or more “drone” (open) strings along with a lot of these chords. The way I see it, he profited from that period of relative deprivation by expanding his guitar horizons and developing his one of a kind playing style. I’m so grateful that I can enjoy so many of his live performances on RUclips since the only time I saw The Who live (summer of 1989 in Raleigh,NC), for whatever reason he only played acoustic during that show, and I could barely hear him.
Even Pete would tell you Jimi was from another universe
Townsend is a parody of a guitarist.
WOW
I've always been a fan. To me this proves how powerful a sparse guitar part can be. Pete doesn't play a lot here. In fact he never does. It's just a few riffs here and there and a couple of bends at the top of the neck with one of the most beautiful suspension chains in music history. (not just rock music history because according to Pete he was inspired by English Baroque composer Heney Purcell)
Sparks is as great a dramatic moment as you'll find in Wagner, Verdi or Mozart, a brilliant piece of instrmental music that sets a dramatic mood. The Who's special contribution to rock is writing specifically for the dramatic stage. While Tommy and Quadrophenia have proven to hold the stage as full musicals/operas the fact that The Who in their prime presented these works as a quartet more powerfully than any larger production of them is still pretty stunning.