Classic Rock Musings, Rants & Raves

The third annual VH1 Rock Honors, staged at the Pauley Pavilion on the campus of UCLA on July 12, was the first time the show celebrated the music of just one band: The Who. And what a celebration it was.

As is the custom of VH1 Rock Honors programs, younger artists came on to play the songs of the honoree. Pearl Jam held no punches when it came to delivering rockin’ versions of “Love Reign O’er Me” and “The Real Me,” both from Quadrophenia. The Foo Fighters opened the show with “Young Man Blues” and the always excellent “Bargain,” from Who’s Next.

The Flaming Lips played a Tommy medley and Incubus fired off a couple of early Who singles, “I Can See For Miles” and “I Can’t Explain.” To keep things loose and fun, Tenacious D, with Jack Black and Kyle Gass, plucked out a spunky reading of “Squeeze Box.”

The Who, of course, blew the roof open with a slew of hits including “Baba O’Riley,” “Who Are You,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and “My Generation.” Throughout the night, Adam Sandler, David Duchovny, Mila Kunis and other celebrities made introductions, while taped tributes from luminaries like Sting, Coldplay and Billy Idol filled in the gaps.

Speaking with reporters on the red carpet before the show, Roger Daltrey expressed gratitude for the honor, adding that John Entwistle and Keith Moon (both deceased but never forgotten as the Who’s irreplaceable rhythm section) were “here tonight, here in spirit.”

Pressed about a follow-up to The Who’s 2006 album, Endless Wire, their first studio album in over two decades, the singer said it all depends on Pete Townshend. “You never know what he’s writing,” he said. “It might be a rock opera or it might be a Who album. The main thing is he’s writing.”

Townshend feigned surprise when asked about a new album. “What new album?” he smirked. And what about the influence The Who has had on America? “I stole your music, ” the guitarist asserted with a grin before walking off into the sunset.