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12 Nov 2009

The Who To Perform Super Bowl Halftime Show

The NFL continues to mine popular music for halftime shows!

Posted by: Bill Barnwell on 12 Nov 2009

201 comments, Last at 24 Feb 2010, 4:46pm by jeff

Comments

1
by Sophandros :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 11:54am

Meh.

-------------
Sports talk radio and sports message boards are the killing fields of intellectual discourse.

60
by DrewTS (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:31pm

Agree 100%.

136
by Jimmy in Oz :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 10:26pm

Meh is right. Its a horrendous choice and has led to the worst music comment thread ever on a sports website.

The debate on innovative classic British bands comes down to: Beatles, Queen, Stones, Zepplin, or Who. Someone even threw Radiohead into the mix.

No mention of: Joy Division, Pink Floyd, Clash, Sex Pistols, Blur/Damon Albarn/Gorillas.

169
by Noah of Arkadia :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 12:28pm

I don't think the Who are innovative. They're just darn good. If you want innovative, try Frank Zappa or the Residents. British, you say? How about Cabaret Voltaire, Bauhaus, or King Crimson?

196
by Mr Skinner :: Sat, 11/14/2009 - 9:48pm

Muse

2
by Temo :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 11:55am

I couldn't be less excited.

19
by Marko :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:01pm

Agreed. They could bring back Up With People for all I care. I suppose casual fans and non-fans care, but to me it's a complete waste of time and makes for an interminably long halftime no matter who (no pun intended) is performing.

3
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 11:57am

For the first time in my life, I will watch the Super Bowl halftime show.

In the great Beatles/Rolling Stones divide, I am firmly on the side of the Who.

6
by Eddo :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 12:18pm

While I don't think anyone outranks the Beatles, I'm beginning to think the Who should be firmly entrenched as the "second-greatest band of all time," instead of the Stones.

11
by MJK :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 12:32pm

Never understood all the hype about the Stones. Yeah, some of their music is catchy, and they certainly made a lot of it, but it's not particularly innovative or classic, and Jagger's voice almost beat's Bob Dylan's and Axel Roses' for the "people who you can't imagine how they ever got famous for their singing ability" award.

In my mind, the other band that enters the "greatest band of all time" discussion is Queen. But they're kind of unlikely to ever perform a SB halftime show, given that Mercury is dead and Brian May is currently an astrophysicist and Chancellor of a British polytechnic university.

15
by MarkDuper85 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 12:50pm

C'mon man. Stones not innovative or classic? Have you even listened to:

Beggar's Banquet
Let It Bleed
Sticky Fingers
Exile on Main Street

Cause if you did, you wouldn't claim that the Stones are not one of the greatest bands of all time and that Queen is. I'll just leave it at that.

20
by Key19 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:01pm

I'm no Stones expert, but to say that Queen was less innovative seems a bit off to say the least.

29
by MarkDuper85 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:16pm

Is it really that innovative to merge theatricality and rock music?

36
by Key19 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:22pm

Maybe not, but I can't think of many groups that could write songs as ridiculous as many of Queen's songs are and yet still be quite good and extremely popular. They also had quite a controversial frontman I would say, and yet a lot of people didn't care because they were so good and different.

Queen wrote the kind of music that you'd think most people would hate, but in fact most people loved it. At least that's how I see it.

50
by Will Allen (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:56pm

Holy Cow, Freddie Mercury was a great, great, singer.....

66
by Kevin from Philly :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:46pm

Not really, since Alice Cooper did it ten years earlier. Not to mention Little Richard about 15 years before him.

71
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:54pm

If I had been on at the time, I would have said the same.

I think most of us who are into rock history have an artist we always say belongs among the all-time greats who doesn't get placed there. Mine is always Alice Cooper.

31
by MilkmanDanimal :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:19pm

Beggar's Banquet through Exile on Main Street is the greatest four-album run in the history of popular music. As for the Rolling Stones not being innovative, they're not. They're not trying to be. At their peak, they were the greatest bar band in the world, just five guys cranking out rock and roll at its utter perfection. It's messy, uneven, dirty, and utterly glorious.

Seriously, Exile on Main Street is one of the greatest things ever recorded.

44
by MarkDuper85 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:43pm

I actually think that the Stones were pretty innovative. They (along with others) took American Blues and turned it into what most of us think as the "classic rock" sound. And their country/rock songs were ahead of their time.

They're arguably the most influential band of all time.

110
by ibanez_ax (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 5:06pm

I'll say Tommy through Quadrophenia ranks as the greatest 4 album run. Tommy changed rock as much as Sgt. Pepper's. "Rock Opera" became part of our vocabulary. Live at Leeds just flat out rocked. In my humble opinion, Who's Next is the greatest record ever even if it was the result of the failed Lifehouse project. The story of Quadrophenia was lost on many living on this side of the Atlantic, but contained some of their greatest music ever.

116
by MarkDuper85 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 5:40pm

Tommy did NOT change rock as much as Sgt. Pepper. Its just my opinion, but really....It may have introduced "rock opera" into our vocabulary, but is that really a good thing? Name 3 great rock operas? You can't.

119
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 6:24pm

"Operation: Mindcrime"-Queensryche, "Quadrophenia"-The Who, "Streets: A Rock Opera"-Savatage, "Dead Winter Dead"-Savatage, "Scenes from a Memory: Metropolis Part 2"-Dream Theater, "Tommy"-The Who.

138
by Arson55 :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 12:50am

The Guy You Don't Want to Hear, mentioning Savatage, especially Dead Winter Dead propels you firmly into awesome territory.

Great band, amazing CD.

140
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 1:04am

When I saw the beginning of that sentence, I became frightened that I was going to be, as usual, excoriated for my love of progressive metal or for suggesting that "Dead Winter Dead" is great. What a pleasant surprise! That album is really on a par with "Streets," in my opinion. I just wish that Jon were still doing all the lead vocals at that time--I've never been able to understand how one of the great vocal talents in metal* had himself replaced like he did.

*If anyone questions this, go listen to "Hall of the Mountain King" and then "A Little Too Far."

This is a creepy CAPTCHA: Eager whizzed

141
by Arson55 :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 1:34am

You'll never hear me say that "Dead Winter Dead" is not great. Personally, I think it is their best CD. I love Savatage, the only musical performer who ranks above that band in my mind is Sarah Brightman.

Yes, I have strange and varied tastes.

158
by Mr Shush :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 9:50am

Bat out of Hell, Bat out of Hell 2 and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. There.

Although I did once co-author one myself (Xenu is Loose: Cower Puny Humans as the Dark Prince of the Galactic Federation Rains Atomic Death once more upon your Pitiful Planet - The Musical) and that was, um, really, really bad. Turns out writing a musical is harder than it looks. Whoda thunk? So without Tommy that pile of ass might never have been inflicted on the world. Or Shock Treatment. Or Phantom of the Paradise. So there definitely would have been some upside.

193
by Bright Blue Shorts :: Sat, 11/14/2009 - 4:45pm

"a British polytechnic university"

That comment suggests to me that you went to a university pre-1990ish ...

58
by Still Alive (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:26pm

I don't think there is any chance in 30 years Radiohead doesn't have that appellation (2nd greatest band). Even if they never produce another thing.

62
by Eddo :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:41pm

I don't know; it would help if they embraced their popularity a bit more. I saw an interview with Yorke where he said how he doesn't even feel like "Creep" was one of their songs anymore because it had been so popular (or something along those lines).

The Stones and the Who have had such staying power because they're willing to just go out and play the old stuff everyone wants to hear.

Radiohead could have a Beatles-like perception, for being very innovative, but remember, the Beatles kicked out multiple albums per year, packing so much quantity and quality into only seven years of existence. That's what separates them from other bands.

17
by Zack (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 12:54pm

Love the Who. Personally I have them second behind Led Zeppelin, but ranking bands is pointless.

27
by Marko :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:13pm

Led Zeppelin was more boom and bust and had a shorter peak, whereas the Who was/is more consistent for a long time. On the other hand, the Who consistently had a better supporting cast (e.g., dominant roadies), making their jobs much easier, while Led Zeppelin always was surrounded by inferior talent and incompetent management, making their brilliance all the more remarkable.

35
by Bowl Game Anomaly :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:21pm

Obviously, rankings always have to be understood in context. You can't just look at the numbers and say "This band is the best ever."

57
by Dales :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:24pm

The Eagles' roadies, if you really analyze it for context, were better. Even despite them flubbing a show or two more often than one would expect.

As for me, I have always been partial to the crew for They Might Be Giants.

65
by MarkDuper85 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:44pm

What on Earth are you talking about?!?!?

78
by Doug Farrar :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 3:13pm

They've been my favorite band since I saw the Woodstock movie as a pre-teen and first heard Tommy. The "Baba O'Riley" intro is my ringtone, and I have more Who bootlegs than I can count. It's a sickness, I tell you!

Yes, this is the moldy oldie version, but I'll still check it out. It's just great to see Townshend and Daltrey together on a stage.

115
by BroncosGuy (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 5:29pm

Yeah, I was a big Who-head, too, in the 1970s, which is also when they last produced anything better then "horrifically un-listenable". Now Daltrey can no longer sing, Moonie and Ox are gone, and Townshend is a tinnitus-ravaged specter. If this were for Super Bowl X, it would be cool as hell.

117
by MilkmanDanimal :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 6:14pm

Which leads to the oft-repeated joke that the next album should be called "Who's Left".

91
by Noah of Arkadia :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 4:13pm

Same here!

148
by Mr Shush :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 8:59am

Seconded. Likewise, in the great Blur/Oasis divide I am firmly on the side of Pulp. No-one else in the field of popular music comes remotely close to Jarvis Cocker as a lyricist (least of all that pretentious douchebag Dylan).

4
by Key19 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 12:04pm

The Who?

Sorry, had to do it.

10
by MJK :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 12:32pm

Who?

The band on stage.

Who?

The band on stage.

The Band is on the stage?

No, they play later.

12
by tally :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 12:44pm

Who is on stage?

Yes.

So the name of the band is Yes.

No, Yes isn't even at this concert.

21
by Key19 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:02pm

Yes would be a cool halftime show.

24
by MJK :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:07pm

Ah Ha.

46
by TXNiner :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:47pm

So now were trying to get Aha to perform?

47
by Karl Cuba :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:47pm

The Who?

The Them?

Yes

118
by Dunbar (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 6:18pm

None of those guys compare to The The.

127
by BroncosGuy (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 8:33pm

They should definitely book Matt Johnson for 2011.

5
by Jimmy :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 12:13pm

Only two of the Who are still alive and one of the remaining members (Pete Townshend) has a conviction for downloading worryingly large quantities of child pornography. I guess since all the Michael Jackson brou-ha-ha it is OK to abuse kids as long as you are really famous.

Unless I am getting this all wrong and the NFL has invited the World Health Organisation to perform at half time.

7
by Rover (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 12:24pm

Actually, the charges were dropped. (Link in name.)

Let's be careful with the accusations, shall we?

34
by Sander :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:20pm

In fact, he was never accused of downloading pornography (let alone 'worryingly large quantities', as if the amount matters). He was charged after having accessed a website that processed payments for porn sites, including some child porn websites. He himself, though, never accessed any of the child porn websites, apparently just enjoying some good old regular porn.

See: http://ore-exposed.obu-investigators.com/PC_PRO_Operation_Ore_Exposed_2....

Such a shame, though, that Keith Moon and John Entwistle are no longer with us.

51
by Jimmy :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:02pm

I am all in favour of guilty until proven innocent in most cases but there are areas where it really breaks down. Seriously wealthy people who can afford the kind of lawyers that can get an aquital on almost any charge is one case in point. There are also some crimes in which evidence is very difficult to come by. For instance rape; it is estimated that in Britain only one in twenty rapes that reach the point of the person being charged with the crime results in a conviction and that figure ignores the probably large number of rapes that simply are never reported.

I am not saying that an allegation should result in prison sentences, just that sometimes a large dose of cynicsm is appropriate.

92
by Rover (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 4:13pm

Only two of the Who are still alive and one of the remaining members (Pete Townshend) has a conviction for downloading worryingly large quantities of child pornography. I guess since all the Michael Jackson brou-ha-ha it is OK to abuse kids as long as you are really famous.

I'm just saying you shouldn't use the word "conviction" in reference to child pornography unless the guy was convicted. You can think him guilty in your mind all you want, but "conviction" is simply false.

146
by CandlestickPark :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 8:34am

Large doses of cynicism are usually appropriate - like in this instance there is very good evidence the police made up the charge.

72
by Floyd (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:58pm

I'd have an easier time believing Pete was innocent if he was able to keep his story straight. When the allegations first surfaced, he claimed he was doing it with his teen son to show him the depravity of man or something. Now he says it was all a misunderstanding and he was really looking at grown-up pictures. Whatever, Pete.

Also, having written songs like "Rough Boys" doesn't do him any favors:
"Tough boys, come over here, I wanna bite and kiss you!"

147
by CandlestickPark :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 8:37am

Read the article posted above. It's a pretty thorough deconstruction of what happened.

8
by MJK :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 12:25pm

You beat me to it. It's not actually the Who, it's the surviving members.

Still, I saw them live a couple of years back. They were touring with Robert Plant, and he played with them for a couple of songs. They can still rock.

22
by dryheat :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:03pm

I agree. I thought their performance in Olde Springfield was legendary.

9
by MarkDuper85 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 12:29pm

Anyone unimpressed by or unfamiliar with the Who should watch this. It is certainly worth the investment of your time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCKlr5qeiQY

Probably the greatest performance in the history of rock n roll. If you don't want to watch all 8 minutes, at least skip to the end.

14
by Stretch (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 12:49pm

Best Who song....ever.

Sure it is only the surviving members, but it beats the h@ll out of any current pop act they could roll out there.

13
by I am excellent at making love (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 12:46pm

What--Herman's Hermits weren't available?

16
by TomG :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 12:54pm

Couldn’t find a venue big enough for Peter Noone’s teeth. Or his head for that matter.

98
by Tundrapaddy (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 4:42pm

If you're jonesing for their music, though - you can get the 'When Pigs Fly' album. Hermans Hermits perform 'White Wedding' by Billy Joel.

Of course, the real gem on the album is 'Shock the Monkey' as performed by Don Ho. Or the Jackie Chan/Ani DiFranco duet 'Unforgettable'.

Yes, I said Jackie Chan.

133
by Tim Gerheim :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 10:09pm

"White Wedding" is by Billy Idol, not Billy Joel. (I'm pretty sure it's Idol, but definitely not Joel.) It would be pretty hilarious to hear it performed by Billy Joel though.

135
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 10:15pm

Yes, it's Billy Idol.

149
by dryheat :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 9:08am

I think they should each do a record of each other's songs. I mean, at this point it's really not going to hurt their careers any.

177
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 1:28pm

Billy Joel has retired from pop music. That's the only reason his career has dropped off, really. And his touring has still been very successful.

18
by Will Allen (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:00pm

Hey, I'm aged enough to have seen them live before Moon gave material to the writers of "This is Spinal Tap", but is there a limit to how old the NFL can skew with the Super Bowl Halftime Show? I'm really, really, tired of the extent to which Baby Boomers still drive marketing decisions, and I'm in that group, albeit of the very late variety. I can't imagine how bored younger people are with this phenomena.

23
by MJK :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:06pm

Well, there was the interesting phenomenon a couple of years ago when they tried "Aerosync" or "N-syncosmith", attempting to please the boomers and the teens/tweens. Pretty ghastly music, but it was worth it to see the closeup of Joe Perry's face when N-sync gave their rendition of "Walk This Way".

41
by Bowl Game Anomaly :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:27pm

A straightforward act by one over-the-hill boomer band is much preferable to bloated amalgam acts combining ever-increasing numbers of performers who each play roughly half a song as part of a massive medley, in the opinion of this child of baby boomers.

In other words, the last few SB halftime shows have been far better than the previous group.

85
by Esperanto Slim (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 3:36pm

I wasn't very impressed with McCartney, Springsteen or Tom Petty (I love the latter two, I just didn't think the shows were very good). But, on the other hand, the whole trend gave us Prince and the enormous wanguitar, which was worth it all on it's own.

26
by Todd S. :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:10pm

+1

While I like The Who, it's ridiculous that a band this old, whose music has been dated for so long (relative to the genre of rock) was picked to perform at the Super Bowl.

99
by Tundrapaddy (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 4:46pm

I hear they're already trying to line Rod Stewart up for the 2012 Super Bowl.

28
by Key19 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:16pm

Well, I can't blame the NFL for its choice. It makes sense. Large fanbase comprised mostly of baby-boomer or near-baby-boomer age. Why not get acts that they recognize and aren't turned off by? Also, older acts tend to be less... um... controversial? Also, I feel that young people are probably more tolerant of groups like this than old people would be towards "hip" new acts. A much larger portion of youthful America likes "old school rock" than older people like things like say, Black Eyed Peas or T-Pain or Kanye or anything like that. Even something as mainstream as "Daughtry" would probably put off more of the older folk than The Who will put off younger folk.

43
by Will Allen (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:42pm

Hey, I understand why Fox runs "American Idol". Doesn't keep me from hating it, however.

59
by Key19 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:30pm

True.

56
by tuluse :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:23pm

I think this is more due to Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction. They're making sure artists who aren't going to pull some kind of stunt to recapture the spot light for a few more minutes.

74
by ammek :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 3:01pm

I hope that was deliberately ironic — the Who having been described as "the most dangerous act in the world" during their time.

So the NFL picks an act known for smashing up equipment and blowing up toilets, the nasty (existential) amoralism of its lyrics, and drug abuse ..... just to make sure no-one sees a nipple on live TV.

89
by tuluse :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 3:44pm

Basically. American morals are kind of odd.

100
by Tundrapaddy (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 4:48pm

Just wait until Townshend's wardrobe malfunctions. That'll give the kids something to talk about!

102
by ammek :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 4:53pm

More likely that Roger Daltrey will whip out his tackle.

25
by MJK :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:07pm

For all the complaining about them playing old 'boomer classic rock, it could be worse. Country could take over the Superbowl, like it already has for MNF.

30
by Key19 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:18pm

Don't forget Sunday Night Football!

I've actually been surprised by how much "heavy" material FOX has used in their outros to commercials and things... they have some really aggressive sounding stuff in a lot of those! It's kind of refreshing actually...

33
by MilkmanDanimal :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:20pm

It's so that awesome Fox robot can rock out on his guitar! Woo Fox robot! Woo!

38
by Key19 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:25pm

Yeah, the robot is lame. But I don't remember seeing him when they play the handful of songclips I'm referring to.

101
by Tundrapaddy (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 4:52pm

That robot reminds me of the habitually first-to-inebriation-state guy at the bar on a Friday night.

Captcha = 'space fouls'. I presume these are called during a game of Space Balls.

69
by Kevin from Philly :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:53pm

Yeah, while Faith Hill looks a hell of a lot better than Pink, she can't sing a rock song to save her life. NBC, bring back PINK!!!

73
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 3:01pm

I still vote for Sharon den Adel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoQIFG0oub4

I'm just going to have to say "Trust me" that she can sound extremely aggressive, since there doesn't seem to be anyplace online where you can hear it. But she would be a great choice if she couldn't sing a lick.

79
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 3:14pm

Okay, here's more aggressive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMzpGry_tQA

Apparently I'm an idiot who can't type, because that's the one I wanted to begin with.

142
by Francisco (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 2:27am

Maybe Angela Gossow for some aggressiveness?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4Dn02bR4pg

178
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 1:33pm

More than a little bit of a downgrade in looks, though. Of course, just about everyone alive is a downgrade from Sharon den Adel, but come on we're talking about the only woman we ever see on "Sunday Night Football."

(I realize we see cheerleaders too, but it's not necessarily a guarantee and it's also not guaranteed that they will be attractive--just scantily-clad.)

If we skip looks, I suggest Anneke van Giersbergen (the greatest voice on the planet, bar none, for anything).

76
by Will Allen (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 3:03pm

I appreciate the subtle approach of the NBC producer who decided to have stars fly out of Ms. Hill's crotch during the song.

103
by Tundrapaddy (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 4:56pm

In NBC's defense, they were out of ping pong balls.

32
by DomM (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:19pm

Any young person who doesn't appreciate The Who, even in their current form, doesn't appreciate music. And before anyone says anything I'm 25.

On the Beatles/Who debate I always argued that The Beatles wrote were better songwriters (at least in terms of their depth/variety) while The Who were probably the most talented rock musicians of their era (possibly of all time, by my reckoning on Led Zeppelin come close). More interesting Beatles/Who trivia: Zak Starkey plays drums for the Who on tour. His father was Richard Starkey, better knows as Ringo Starr.

42
by Will Allen (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:40pm

In the same sense that a lover of classical music may not want to hear his millionth version of Beethoven's Ninth, one can appreciate The Who without wanting to have "Baba O'Reilly" roll down the aural pathway yet again. Here's a good rule of thumb; once a melody has been employed in countless commercials, video montages, or movies, it's too damned overplayed to use again, in the most widely watched television event of the year. What are the odds of it being left off the playlist? Or, God spare us, "Who are You?"?

94
by Noah of Arkadia :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 4:23pm

True, but how about "Magic Bus"? I'd love to hear that. "Pinball Wizard", "Sqeeze Box", "I can See for Miles", "Bargain", and a bunch of others, too.

112
by Daniel2772 (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 5:21pm

If the Who were so talented why did they employ a host of professional studio musicians (including Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones) to lay down the tracks for their albums? All I could think when I heard this announcement is, 'What, Pat Boone busy that weekend?' Really, is there a more irrelevant aging hipster band they could have picked? The Monkees?

144
by CandlestickPark :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 8:04am

I take it you have not heard the Who live then. Comparing Pat Boone to the Who is blissful musical ignorance, my friend.

And I'm 24 and more of a punk than anything else. Of course, the Who were one of the inventors of that.

150
by dryheat :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 9:12am

Jimmy Page also did studio guitar work for the Kinks and Steely Dan, among others. In fact, he wrote the riff on "You Really Got Me". It's really not that uncommon for a technically superior guitar player to clean up another band's playing on studio work, and I don't think anybody has ever been as technically proficient on that instrument than Jimmy Page, unless their name is Stevie Ray Vaughan.

170
by Will Allen (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 12:55pm

Gosh, this thread has brought back memories! I saw my last big arena show in late spring 1984, when Springsteen started his Born in the USA tour, in St. Paul. The previous night, however, I saw Stevie Ray Vaughn at a small St. Paul joint called The Prom Center, which, as the name implied, catered to high school events and wedding banquets. There couldn't have been more than 500 people there, if that, and I spent the show parked about five feet from Vaughn. It was like spending an NFL game in the huddle with Peyton Manning. Incredible.

Anyways, the next night, a few minutes before Springsteen starts his show, I'tm grabbing a beer at the concession stand, and I look to my left, and there stands Stevie Ray Vaughn, in full regalia, hat and all. I think he recognizes me as the doof who stood in front of him for three sets the previous night, jaw agape, and he kind of grins. I stammer, "Great show last night, can I buy you a beer?" He replies, "sure", so I do and stumble away, not being sure how one converses with a genius.

The Springsteen show was great for that sort of venue, as his shows almost always were in those days, and even though I really only thought "Born to Run" and "Darkness on the Edge of Town" were great albums. However, it couldn't come close to the experience of seeing a truly great musician in an intimate setting.

I'd been getting into small joints in the Twin Cties, starting as as a very underage teenager, since the mid to late '70s. A biker/music club called The Cabooze is where I saw the Stones do a set, saw James Brown and his full band to an entire show, same with Joe Cocker, and numerous legendary blues acts, like Albert King and Albert Collins, Gatemouth Brown, etc.. Hell, I even saw such diverse acts as Buddy Rich, with a full, old-style, big band crammed on that smallish stage! I had seen Elvis Costello and The Attractions, before they were widely known, at small downtown Minneapolis joint called Jay's Longhorn. Later, I saw Prince at First Avenue. Once I saw Stevie Ray Vaughn in a small setting, however, I was no longer interested in seeing any show with 18,000 other people, in a huge place with bad acoustics. It's a bloody shame he didn't get a second act. Take the limo, Stevie!

201
by jeff (not verified) :: Wed, 02/24/2010 - 4:46pm

Well, I was one of those 500 or so pepole with you at the Prom center that night.
Actually, I am doing a recap of the concerts I have seen over the years (a hobby, I guess) and I am trying to track down the actual dates that I saw some of these shows. Many of them i have tix stubs, some I dont but remeber well. The SRV show at the Prom center stands out in my mind. Do you happen to know the actual date?
You mention that it was the nite before the BOSS show in St Paul on the Born in the USa tour.
I was at that show also(I beleive he did 3 nites. I was at the first one. I remeber becuase that was the nite he filmed the Dancing in the dark video. The playeds the song twice ina row, to get eh shot right. They also pulled an unknow actress, Courteny Cox,laer of Friends fame, out of the main floor to dance with Bruce.

SO, do you think it was 6/28/84 the nite of the SRV show at the Prom Center?
Did you see any other SRV shows in Minnesota?

thanks
Jeff

PS ( I have also seen many shows at the Cabooze)

176
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 1:22pm

"Really, is there a more irrelevant aging hipster band they could have picked?"

Golden Earring?

(I would LOVE it to be Golden Earring, though. "Radar Love," "Twilight Zone," "The Devil Made Me Do It," "Candy Going Bad," "Clear Night Moonlight"--wow. Of course, I've also been pulling for years for a Jerry Lee Lewis halftime show, so obviously I'm crazy.)

37
by Tom Gower :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:24pm

As someone who has given their age in relation to "Who Are You"'s release date, I approve of this news and will not be watching Puppy Bowl like I did during last year's halftime show.

39
by Key19 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:25pm

No love for Bruce?

48
by Will Allen (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:49pm

I've seen Sprinsteen about a half dozen times, including a small venue before the release of "Born to Run", but I couldn't watch it. The only one I've ever watched, in fact, was Prince, because he's probably the best pure musician to ever play the event, and I'll rarely skip the opportunity to see him play the guitar.

53
by dryheat :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:12pm

...Or it's because of your love of all purply things out of Minnesota.

55
by Will Allen (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:20pm

Yeesh, left myself open to that one! If only a certain stubbled, jeans-wearing, older post Baby Boomer could play the drums! How positively DREAMY!!!!!!!

77
by Kevin from Philly :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 3:03pm

At least Brett's only had two comeback tours, unlike the Who. I was at their first comeback tour in Philly. It was held at JFK stadium, which was torn down about 15 years ago. The opening act was the Clash.

104
by Tundrapaddy (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 5:00pm

You saw the Clash open for The Who.

You, sir, are a lucky bastard. Growing up in Anchorage, I think my choices of music concerts were Dio or the Pointer Sisters. Nobody else made the trip up back then (and they still don't).

171
by Kevin from Philly :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 12:57pm

It wasn't as great as you'd think. This was during the "Combat Rock" era - not their greatest work. And as much as I love my home town, I'm very ashamed to admit a large portion of the crowd booed the Clash in an effort to get the Who on sooner (similar to going to the Linc and having Cowboy or Giants fans sitting nearby). Still a great show, but not as good as it could have been.

82
by Tom Gower :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 3:24pm

Springsteen has one legitimately great song in "Born to Run", a couple songs that aren't too bad, and I would gladly consign the rest of his discography to the trash can.

88
by MilkmanDanimal :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 3:44pm

Must . . . not . . . track Tom Gower down and set him on fire . . .

Born to Run generally wrestles with Exile on Main Street at the top of my "best rock and roll album EVAH" list. "Thunder Road" . . . what an utterly perfect opening.

120
by Dunbar (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 6:33pm

*Hides from MilkmanDanimal, as he too thinks Springsteen is overrated*

I completely agree with you about the Stones, though. They're my favorite band, although I slightly prefer Sticky Fingers to Exile.

128
by MilkmanDanimal :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 8:43pm

Ah, off-topic discussions. The internet would be about three web pages long without you.

Springsteen has a talent for being both awesome and utterly terrible, often on the same album. If there was a way to go back in time and prevent him from ever writing "Glory Days" I would be a very happy man. He has entire albums that I'll never listen to again (the less said about the Human Touch/Lucky Town era the better). When he's on, though, there's not enough good to be said. "Thunder Road" . . . just, wow. One of the most optimistic, romantic, hopeful songs ever written. It all boils down to "you're not that pretty, I'm kind of a loser, but none of that matters once we're behind the wheel". Just pure hope, the idea that it doesn't matter what we are, because heaven's waiting down the road.

http://www.lyricsondemand.com/b/brucespringsteenlyrics/thunderroadlyrics...

The problem, of course, is that classic rock radio is, in the end, classic rock radio, and an endless cycle of "Born to Run", "Glory Days", and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" is enough to annoy everybody. It's easy to get sick of the same hits over and over and over and over again. As a whole, though, Born to Run's just a big bucket of hope. Love it.

159
by Mr Shush :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 9:58am

Springsteen used to swing between the sublime and the ridiculous. These days he just sucks. The Rising . . . eesh. An album only Peter King could love. It's funny how some bands age horrifically (Deep Purple are pretty much shuffling corpses at this point, and a 54 year old Angus Young stripping out of his school uniform is something I will never be able to unsee, however hard I try), while others the same age or older continue to kick ass (Alice Cooper can't afford a stage show on the scale he used to any more, but he is still awesome).

172
by Kevin from Philly :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 1:02pm

Agreed. Back in the day, nobody loved Springsteen music more than I did. Unfortunately, he really lost his mojo with "The River" and never got it back for more than a song or two on any album since. I did really like "Radio Nowhere", though.

199
by MilkmanDanimal :: Sun, 11/15/2009 - 3:13am

I'm barely restraining running screaming from the thread. IMO, Tunnel of Love is one of the truly underrated albums of the 80s, really great songs. After that, he dropped off the face of the planet for years until The Rising, which is a perfect example of Springsteen--it's alternatively great and utterly godawful on the same album. Really, has some of his best and some of his worst songs. As a whole, I still dig it, but if I could invent time travel and prevent him from recording that horrible "Let's Be Friends" songs, I'd be there. Since . . . I really liked about half of Devils + Dust ("Maria's Bed" is one for the ages), but the last Working on a Dream thing sucked. You know, I don't care if you're in love with the Queen of the Supermarket, Bruce. Really. Not my thing. Just . . . write a good song again.

Tunnel of Love is great stuff, though.

95
by Noah of Arkadia :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 4:24pm

Yeah, Springsteen is waaay overrated

40
by Keasley (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:27pm

See Me: Chad Ochocinco
Feel Me: Brett Favre groin grope
Touch Me: Tommie Harris cheap shot
Heal Me: Dr James Andrews

Yes, I'm struggling to find a 'The Who'/NFL' connection. Most dinosaur bands that do superbowls: Bruce, Stones, U2 etc have big anthems that seem to fit the football mood from Born to Run to Start Me Up to Glory Days, Jumping Jack Flash, Where the Streets Have No Name, etc.

The Who? Their biggest anthems are cynical or angsty: Baba Oreilly (Teenage Wasteland), Won't Get Fooled Again, 5:15 or ridiculously dated: My Generation. Keasley's lock of the week: Pinball Wizard will feature prominently in the medley as it's as close to a sports hero song as they have.

45
by MarkDuper85 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:45pm

Squeezebox!!!

130
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 10:00pm

You make me cry bringing that up. Every time I hear "Squeeze Box" I consider giving up being a fan of the Who--I hate it that much. Not to say you can't like it, just that I can't stand it.

Here's what I would suggest as a setlist (note that this does not mean that they are their best songs):

1. "Won't Get Fooled Again"
2. "Join Together"
3. "The Seeker"
4. "I Can't Explain"
5. "Let's See Action (Nothing Is Everything)"
6. "The Real Me"

I know, I'm the only person on earth who likes "Let's See Action," but isn't it really the most befitting of all of their songs for this occasion? I would bet that "Won't Get Fooled Again" is the only one of these that gets played, but I would all but guarantee that one.

151
by Gruntled (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 9:22am

I would love to (but won't) hear 'Tatoo', which would also be appropriate.

Most of 60's vinyl has disappeared over the years and there was nothing I specifically held on to, but The Who Sell Out is one of the survivors. I also still have (fortuitously) Cheap Thrills and (inexplicably) The Plastic Ono Band.

166
by Noah of Arkadia :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 12:02pm

I love Let's See Action. Of the ones above, the one I'd change is Won't Get Fooled Again. We need the Magic Bus! Or maybe Trick of the Light. Christmas would be awesome.

How about Slip Kid?

175
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 1:19pm

I refuse to change "Won't Get Fooled Again." It's definitely my favorite song of theirs and I consider it one of the all-time lyrical masterpieces in rock history. Not to mention that it's always appropriate to the times in some way and it just rocks.

"Magic Bus" doesn't seem a bit light to you? I probably wouldn't include it anyway because I really don't like it, but I also just don't think it would fit that well.

184
by Noah of Arkadia :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 4:43pm

The studio version of Magic Bus is good, but they could really play it live. For example, in the Live at Leeds album. They really went crazy on that song.

Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3Y64dpZGnE

Or in a more recent live show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIzK8FHGZnM

Ok, if you insist, we can keep Won't Get Fooled Again :)

185
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 4:58pm

We could probably remove "The Seeker" instead. Especially since people are complaining about their "relevance" (A rant for another time.)--a song talking about Bob Dylan, Timothy Leary, and the Beatles would be rather dated. Also, realistically, can Roger Daltrey still sing it?

52
by dryheat :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:11pm

Oh, I think Join Together is a lock.

75
by Kevin from Philly :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 3:02pm

Personally, I'm hoping for "Do you think it's allright?/Uncle Ernie". Can't wait to see the interpretive dancers when they do the "fiddle about" part.

83
by Tom Gower :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 3:28pm

Here's a setlist for ya:

Pictures of Lily
Christmas
Trick of the Light
I've Had Enough

188
by Mr Shush :: Sat, 11/14/2009 - 8:07am

I want I Can See For Miles. Though if the Pats make it, dedicating My Wife to Belichick would win.

197
by Dales :: Sat, 11/14/2009 - 10:51pm

Big fan of Christmas (playing Poxie pinball, smiles picks his nose and pokes his tongue at everything... I believe in love but how can men who've never seen light be enlightened?"

That said, the Tommy song I'd want (but won't get) is "Go To The Mirror".

But I bet we will at least get the "See Me, Feel Me" refrain that was in Mirror, but more famously in the finale "We're Not Gonna Take It".

My guess for a songlist:

Pinball Wizard
Eminence Front
Won't Get Fooled Again
Baba O'Reilly

106
by Tundrapaddy (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 5:01pm

'I'm A Boy'

121
by Dunbar (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 6:51pm

Start Me Up: about sex, not really an inspiring anthem unless you're inspired by the thought of a girl who could "make a dead man come" (...so okay, it is a little inspiring)
Jumping Jack Flash: about the devil, heroin, or a gardener, depending on your interpretation; probably needn't say more
Where the Streets Have No Name: who the hell knows, most U2 songs aren't about anything in particular (I say this as a fan of theirs)
Glory Days: definitely has some relevance to sports, but not in a terribly happy or inspiring way; might make people think about how many of the players on both teams will end up destitute and brain-damaged someday with nothing but their long-gone "glory days" to sustain them, but that would kill the mood somewhat
Born to Run: same thing, although this fits better as a "sports anthem" song; could apply to how many players manage to escape bad circumstances to live a better life, but again, just makes you think about all the people who didn't escape said circumstances

Or, you know, we could just focus on the music and not pay attention to the lyrics. Most of the time, that's what people do anyway. Of course, if we focus on the music, we'll be reminded that the Who are 30 years over the hill, which kind of sucks too.

I know, I know, I'm a downer. :)

131
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 10:09pm

On the All Music Guide, the line "You make a dead man come" is described as "immortally dorky." I always thought that was very appropriate.

49
by forcefulmuffin (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 1:52pm

what about the kinks they're all still around right even though one of may have had a stroke or something... I've heard he can still walk and stuff, and they are pretty much the same thing as the who but a little bit better.

54
by Jimmy :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:15pm

I saw Ray Davies when he was on tour doing his one man show and he was awesome. The band he had with him was fantastic and he has a huge list of great songs to play. I am not sure he is allowed to enter the country though. He got a drug conviction in the sixties and was prevented from entering the US, which is why the Kinks never toured there back when they were in their prime. I have no idea if that would still be a problem but the question about drug convictions is still on the US immigration form.

61
by Karl Cuba :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:40pm

"the question about drug convictions is still on the US immigration form"

Just before the question asking if you are a terrorist with the aim of overthrowing the US government, which is the silliest thing I've ever seen on an official document. Or maybe I'm wrong and several jihadis a week are getting caught like that. They could also try mumbling "terrorist says what", that would probably be as effective or "terrorist says Ulalalaalalala!", that's bound to work.

70
by tuluse :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:53pm

No it just lets them charge terrorists with perjury as well as whatever they're doing.

160
by Mr Shush :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 10:00am

Which is crucial, when you think about it. Wouldn't want to just do them for murder, arson and conspiracy to cause explosions when you could get fibbing added to the charge sheet.

183
by tuluse :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 4:36pm

Well assuming you catch them before they succeed, it's only attempted crimes. Plus, a lot of conspiracy charges and attempted crime charges are hard to prove, but if they find you with a ton of c4 and you wrote "no," perjury is easy to prove.

189
by Mr Shush :: Sat, 11/14/2009 - 8:10am

Yeah, fair enough - I was just poking. I'm not saying I'd ever be in favour of relaxing the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt or abandoning trial by jury, but the system has some fairly quirky consequences.

105
by Tim Kirk (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 5:00pm

Peter Ustinov is reputed to have put 'Sole purpose of visit' on the form when asked whether he planned to overthrow the government etc... I guess him being let in and not locked up is a sign of times changing. Maybe they will change back someday.

I've know of someone who answered 'yes' about the drug convictions (he'd been cautioned - ie not even arrested - for a tiny amount of dope once). The response he got was "I'm going to deport your ass" from the custom official. Though from memory after some pleading he did get let in to go to the event he was going to, but had to report straight back to the customs office after and is unlikely to ever get back into the US again. [captcha 'weediest' hmm...]

Maybe someone should start asking the players before the Superbowl some of the dumb official questions from around the world - wouldn't be any worse then the 'what kind of tree would you be?' stuff.

107
by Tundrapaddy (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 5:03pm

'Terrorist says' what' sounds ripe for an SNL skit, doesn't it?

63
by Floyd (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:43pm

Ray was living in New Orleans last I heard. That was pre-Katrina, so he's probably somewhere else now.

Also, IIRC he was injured (shot?) in a mugging there. Trying to defend his female companion.

67
by MarkDuper85 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:46pm

Correct on all points.

64
by DrewTS (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:43pm

I vote for a remake of the PacMan/Ms Pacman wedding, featuring music from Olivia Newton John.

68
by Will Allen (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 2:47pm

Hell, let's have Adam "Pacman" Jones produce the event! No need to change over to the Lingerie Bowl!

80
by zlionsfan :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 3:16pm

I like The Who, but I hate the halftime show ... in fact the Super Bowl itself is pretty much interminable. If it weren't for gambling, I doubt I'd have much interest in it at all. The extra hour-plus of bad commercials and exceptionally bland commentary just sucks my will to live.

84
by Eddo :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 3:28pm

Well, what if your favorite team were to make it to -

oh, sorry zlionsfan :P

81
by Theo :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 3:17pm

Good choice. Good music.

86
by Will Allen (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 3:36pm

If only The Ramones could re-animated!

108
by Tundrapaddy (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 5:05pm

I'd still not watch.

I won't budge on my stance of holding out my halftime show viewership until I get a Zamfir/Shane McGowan combo. What a magical tandem...

87
by Will Allen (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 3:37pm

If only The Ramones could re-animated!

109
by dryheat :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 5:06pm

Weren't they?

113
by Eddo :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 5:24pm

Have the Rolling Stones killed.

90
by Martial (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 4:10pm

Why, oh why don't Americans play rock n' roll anymore? Really, why do Brits and Irish get to play ever other Super Bowl? It's our game, dammit.

If not the Black Eyed Peas (who would be awesome, you have to admit), then I want some old fashioned ROCK - I nominate Nashville Pussy. Girl guitarist who flatout shreds and lead singer who looks like he should be the drunk in back punching out the guy yelling "Freebird". That is one AMERICAN band!

(Not too safe for workplaces that don't approve of cussin': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eiz12SkD-hE).

93
by MarkDuper85 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 4:16pm

Plenty of Americans play good, rock music these days. Check out any band on In the Red Records: http://www.intheredrecords.com/pages/2ndindex.html

Just cause Americans don't buy good, solid rock music en masse, don't mean the stuff don't get made.

97
by Martial (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 4:36pm

I need to learn to not ask rhetorical questions over the internet where people can't see my hand gestures and eye-rolling. I'm complaining that the NFL doesn't agree with you and me, MarkDuper. They seem to think that old Brits - who as far as I can tell don't sell a lot of records anymore, so how popular can they be? (oops) - somehow have something to offer red-blooded Americans during one of our national holidays.

NFL, hire an American band.

123
by Jerry :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 7:19pm

Grand Funk Railroad?

182
by KillerB (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 2:43pm

I got one work for you.

Clutch.

www.pro-rock.com

PS - my CAPTCHA would be an awesome band name. "Of Hibiscus." Actually, that sounds like it would be something mentioned in a Clutch lyric. There isn't any other band I can think of that would pull off a line like "I fashion my crown from Quetzlcoatl's quills."

111
by Tundrapaddy (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 5:11pm

Why, oh why don't Americans play rock n' roll anymore? Really, why do Brits and Irish get to play every other Super Bowl?

The NFL obviously does agree with you:

2007: Prince (Minnesota, USA)
2008: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (Florida, USA)
2009: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band (New Jersey, USA)

200
by Martial (not verified) :: Sun, 11/15/2009 - 2:51pm

You think I'm gonna let facts get in the way of a rant?

Old Brit rockers are clearly ranked too high because they aren't American. Steve Albini's favorite band of the moment is way better than the Who. Brit baby BOOM is teh SUX!!! FUNKEE 43ver!!!!!!

96
by Noah of Arkadia :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 4:25pm

Football rocks!

114
by T. Diddy :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 5:28pm

Of course they picked The Who. It's on CBS, after all.

I predict a CSI medley of "Who Are You," "Won't Get Fooled Again," and "Babba O'Reilly."

122
by wr (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 7:15pm

While I love the Who, I don't look forward to this at all.
I would much rather see the Grambling University marching band (Or any other really good college marching band).

124
by dmstorm22 :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 7:23pm

Considering they go the old-school route all the time, I was hoping for Van Halen, who said they are touring again next year. O well, there is always Super Bowl XLV.

I'm fine with the Who. It will be interesting when they do groundshots of the cheering and dancing teenage girls, since they probably have no idea what the song is that is being playd.

143
by DeltaWhiskey :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 3:23am

RE: Van Halen - It is hopelessly optimistic to believe that they will still be touring by teh time Super Bowl XLV rolls around

125
by I am excellent at making love (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 7:53pm

It's too bad the NFL never got to G.G. Allin before his time was up.

134
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 10:14pm

There are jokes to be found here . . . jokes regarding the Browns or the Lions . . .

126
by AnonymousB10Fan (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 8:17pm

One word...Rush!

129
by young curmudgeon (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 9:53pm

The best halftime show ever was on Living Color, back when the Wayans brothers were funny. If you've never seen "Mens on Football," you're culturally deprived.

"Ooooh, I'd rather watch the Oilers and the Packers!"

132
by mm (not verified) :: Thu, 11/12/2009 - 10:09pm

This is clearly an omen. This year the Super Bowl will feature the "Who 'Dats" of New Orleans versus the "Who 'Deys" of Cincinnati, with "Who" as the halftime show.

The only question is 'how the media will label it?'
Whopocolypse?
Who Convergence?
Whopalooza?
Whowinnit?

Any other ideas?

174
by Kevin from Philly :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 1:10pm

The'll probably have the headline: "Internet poster MM arrested on drug charges". New Orleans and Cinncinatti in the Super Bowl?

137
by Gruntled (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 12:21am

Should be a good show, relatively speaking.

As a teenager in the 60's it was the Beatles, then the Stones, then everybody else. It took the Who a while to emerge from everybody else. Still, the majority of the Beatles songs have grown pretty tiresome (to me) over the years; the same is not true of either the Stones or the Who. Pretty much a toss-up between them but I would still lean towards the Stones.

However, the best performer/band of that era was Hendrix, hands down. He's not going to be at any superbowls, though. The best band of that time that could at least theoretically still appear with all their original members would be Cream. Probably not a good choice for the superbowl, but still - they could play Crossroads, morph into Derek and the Dominoes and do Layla and I would walk away happy.

But if I could pick one band from that time period that would just be a heck of a lot of fun to watch and listen to - it would be Sly and the Family Stone. That's sort of, more or less, technically possible, but not going to happen.

139
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 12:59am

They can't morph into Derek and the Dominoes--Duane Allman is no longer available.

And I actually quite dislike their version of "Crossroads." I far prefer Robert Johnson's.

However, Hendrix definitely deserved some sort of mention. I learned to play guitar about 90% because of Hendrix (and probably 6-7% because of Fernando Ser, which is probably proof that I'm a lunatic). He was amazing. I can't imagine what it was like being alive to see his career arc.

156
by Gruntled (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 9:44am

And the Who is not the Who either. It was more a remark about early Clapton and his impressive array of co-workers.

I have the Johnson collection CD's too, and of course he was a genius, but it's just two completely different things. I still love the Cream version.

This'll kill you. Late 1968 or early 69, I'm living in Chicago and I've got two tickets to see a Hendrix concert. The day of the concert I have a huge fight with my girlfriend and we don't go (gave the tickets to friends). Never got another opportunity - never saw him. We saw Ravi Shankar a couple of months later; What a thrill.

173
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 1:07pm

They are very different things, certainly--I actually sort of feel bad about it because I otherwise like Cream, but I hate their covers (especially "Spoonful"). My favorite cover version of "Crossroads" is actually Lynyrd Skynyrd's, which doesn't seem to be well-liked overall, for some reason.

That is a sad story. One of my favorite bands, the Drive-by Truckers, did a song called "Let There Be Rock" that includes:

"Skynyrd was set to play Huntsville, Alabama, in the spring of '77, I had a ticket but it got cancelled.
So, the show, it was rescheduled for the 'Street Survivors Tour.'
And the rest, as they say, is history."

(The bizarre punctuation is theirs.)
The song is largely about how this character (It's supposedly an "opera"--though even they have admitted that it tells an "incoherent" story.) ends up growing up seeing every second-class southern rock group around but he's still missed the seminal band of all of them (and of course it mirrors his life and emotions--it's actually quite literary). I always thought it was devastating.

190
by Mr Shush :: Sat, 11/14/2009 - 8:17am

I saw what's left of Skynyrd at Wembley Arena a few years back, and they were actually very good indeed.

145
by CandlestickPark :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 8:16am

Cream can't really bring it anymore. Their Royal Albert Hall DVD was fricking boring. For a band that can arguably be described as proto-metal at times they had absolutely no fire to their performance at all. Probably a legacy of the decades of drugs.

Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey still have a little life on their fastball, though they will only play the big anthemic rock hits and none of their operas or earlier stuff which is the Who I actually really like.

153
by Gruntled (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 9:29am

Hence 'theoretically'. I heard a bit about their reunion and I have no desire to watch or listen.

Captcha: cleverly loud. Wow.

191
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Sat, 11/14/2009 - 11:56am

I do suggest giving a listen to "Dirty City" from Winwood's latest album, though. Clapton plays on it and it's just awesome. I remember reading a critic somewhere saying basically, "This is everything that was missing from the Cream reunion."

194
by dryheat :: Sat, 11/14/2009 - 6:12pm

Seems more Blind Faith-y to me.

195
by The Guy You Don't Want to Hear (not verified) :: Sat, 11/14/2009 - 8:22pm

Shh. I realized that after I posted it and hoped no one would notice.

I have no defense for the sudden mix-up, either. They were both gone 15+ years before I was born, but so was half of the music I like. I will be forever memorialized on FO's comment boards as the idiot who doesn't know the difference between Cream and Blind Faith. (Although I'm not sure about the reviewer--s/he may have instead referenced the Cream reunion. Since I cannot remember where it was or the exact statement, I'm not sure.)

152
by DeltaWhiskey :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 9:29am

The Who is clearly ranked too high because half of them are dead. The Rolling Stones is way better than this because Keith Richards is almost like dead but not.

155
by dryheat :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 9:43am

And if he dies between now and then, Al Davis would fit right in.

154
by DeltaWhiskey :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 9:37am

Deleted Double Post

157
by Emperor McDaniels (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 9:48am

Once he called Kurt Cobain washed up, a druggie, and a wannabe musician, I lost all respect for him. I will make sure to change the channel at halftime. Couldn't they have found a more modern band? How about the Foo Fighters? Why not RHCP? How about Pearl Jam? Even (can't believe I'm saying this) Green Day.

161
by Mr Shush :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 10:08am

You're right, that's outrageous. How could anyone possibly think Kurt Cobain had any desire to be a musician? He certainly never played any music.

There has never been a more baleful influence on popular culture than that bloody awful band. Except possibly Dan Brown. Everything else aside, System of a Down are their fault.

164
by CandlestickPark :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 11:29am

When did Pete TOwnshend say that? His writing on Cobain has been pretty sympathetic.

162
by B-Rick (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 10:16am

Greatest British Rock Artists

1. Beatles
2. Led Zeppelin
3. The Who
4. The Rolling Stones
5. Pink Floyd

The Who easily had the best rhythm section in history of rock music, unfortunately Keith Moon and John Entwistle are gone, but they still are great.

167
by Noah of Arkadia :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 12:03pm

Don't forget Yes. My fav.

198
by Dales :: Sat, 11/14/2009 - 11:02pm

Have a big time weakness for prog rock, and likely have seen Yes more than any other band (close between them and the Dead, though).

While they would have to do "Owner of..", them doing "Starship Trooper" to finish would be full of win and would likely make a whole bunch of people go "wow". In a good way.

(People should find the "Keys to the Ascension" video of Starship Trooper-- it's up I think-- and watch the ending keyboard/guitar battle. Just great.)

163
by B-Rick (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 10:29am

I would love see Van Halen play half-time for two reasons:

1. Van Halen kicks ass
2. David Lee Roth is much more of a wild-card when comparing him to others who would carry the microphone (Daltry, Jagger, etc). He could possibly go on drunk or totally start ranting about sex, drugs, etc. His unstable nature would make the half-time show much more watchable.

168
by Mr Shush :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 12:27pm

Well, if you got Whitesnake you could pretty much guarantee that Coverdale would go on stage drunk and start ranting about sex, drugs, etc. If you got Guns n' Roses, on the other hand, all bets would be completely off. Who knows what that crazy bastard might do? Launch into an incomprehensible paranoid ramble about how the entire NFL is actually a conspiracy against him? Get in a fight with a fan/ref/roadie/Reggie Bush? Sing One in a Million? Just not turn up at all, later explaining that he stayed at home because the Superbowl was on TV and he wanted to watch it? The possibilities are endless.

165
by mrh :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 11:53am

How awesome would it be to have the stadium PA system play "Don't Get Fooled Again" when the ref goes under the hood?

179
by Bill Barnwell :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 1:51pm

I was hoping for Shudder to Think.

180
by Pharmboy (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 2:11pm

When comparing David Lee Roth to Axl Rose and David Coverdale...

Van Halen was/is/and always will be much more popular than Whitesnake.

When comparng VH to GnR, David Lee Roth is unstable in a much more "likeable" way than Axl Rose. Roth might something like, Tom Brady you'll get some leg tonight for sure, tell us how you do it". While Axl would have a spoiled brat meltdown or sing 'One in a Million".

187
by Mr Shush :: Sat, 11/14/2009 - 8:03am

I couldn't agree more. I guess it just depends what you'd find more entertaining. Personally, I'm not sure I can think of anything I'd find funnier than watching/hearing what CBS (or whoever) would do if Axl did get up on stage and sing One in a Million. Especially because they probably wouldn't realise there was a problem until he actually reached the relevant passages . . .

On the subject of support acts getting booed, I once saw GNR in Paris. The support act was, if I remember correctly, Bullet for my Valentine. This was, um, not a good choice. They were booed non-stop by the entire crowd from the moment they came on stage, except for the bit where they went (booo) "We'd like to thank Guns n' Roses," (waaaayyyyyy) "for having us tour with them" (booo). They should have got Alice, or Skynyrd, or even frickin' Thunder or someone. Hell, Viking Skull would have gone down better. It was a relatively mild night for Crazy Axl - he was about two hours late going on stage, and from his ramblings about four songs in it was pretty clear that he nearly didn't go on at all, but the crowd going quite so crazy for them obviously put him in a better mood and it was actually a great set, with the exception of You Could Be Mine (Stinson is not an adequate replacement for Duff McKagan, and that's the song it shows worst on) and Don't Cry, for which everyone except Bumblefoot went off stage and he tried to get the crowd to sing it. The crowd were not native English speakers. They did not know the lyrics well enough for that to work.

181
by ammek :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 2:28pm

Thanks, everyone. This thread has made me feel young again.

186
by The Other Ben Johnson (not verified) :: Fri, 11/13/2009 - 5:18pm

Any year it's not the Black Eyed Peas is a good year.

192
by B-Rick (not verified) :: Sat, 11/14/2009 - 1:29pm

I saw Guns and Roses 1992 in Las Cruces, NM when they were touring with Metalica. It was one of the first shows they had done since Axl walked off stage in St Louis caused a huge riot and was sued by the city.

In a "monlogue", Axl went off on St Louis and was wearing the funniest t-shirt. It was a big letter t-shirt (like WHAM or FRANKIE) and it said 'ST. LOUIS SUCKS!'. Hilarious.

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