The Who is an English rock band formed in 1964. Their classic line-up consi… Read Full Bio ↴The Who is an English rock band formed in 1964. Their classic line-up consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century, selling over 100 million records worldwide and holding a reputation for their live shows and studio work.

The Who developed from an earlier group, the Detours, and established themselves as part of the pop art and mod movements, featuring auto-destructive art by destroying guitars and drums on stage. Their first single as the Who, "I Can't Explain", reached the UK top ten, followed by a string of singles including "My Generation", "Substitute" and "Happy Jack". In 1967, they performed at the Monterey Pop Festival and released the US top ten single "I Can See for Miles", while touring extensively. The group's fourth album, 1969's rock opera Tommy, included the single "Pinball Wizard" and was a critical and commercial success. Live appearances at Woodstock and the Isle of Wight Festival, along with the live album Live at Leeds, cemented their reputation as a respected rock act. With their success came increased pressure on lead songwriter Townshend, and the follow-up to Tommy, Lifehouse, was abandoned. Songs from the project made up 1971's Who's Next, which included the hit "Won't Get Fooled Again". The group released the album Quadrophenia in 1973 as a celebration of their mod roots, and oversaw the film adaptation of Tommy in 1975. They continued to tour to large audiences before semi-retiring from live performances at the end of 1976. The release of Who Are You in 1978 was overshadowed by the death of Moon shortly after.

Kenney Jones replaced Moon and the group resumed activity, releasing a film adaptation of Quadrophenia and the retrospective documentary The Kids Are Alright. After Townshend became weary of touring, the group split in 1982. The Who occasionally re-formed for live appearances such as Live Aid in 1985, a 25th anniversary tour in 1989 and a tour of Quadrophenia in 1996–1997. They resumed regular touring in 1999, with drummer Zak Starkey. After Entwistle's death in 2002, plans for a new album were delayed. Townshend and Daltrey continued as the Who, releasing Endless Wire in 2006, and continued to play live regularly.

The Who's major contributions to rock music include the development of the Marshall stack, large PA systems, use of the synthesizer, Entwistle and Moon's lead playing styles, Townshend's feedback and power chord guitar technique, and the development of the rock opera. They are cited as an influence by hard rock, punk rock and mod bands, and their songs still receive regular exposure.

The Who is one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century. Their appearances at Monterey and Woodstock helped give them a reputation as one of the greatest live rock acts and they have been credited with originating the "rock opera". The band has sold over 100 million records worldwide.

The group's contributions to rock include the power chord, windmill strum and the use of non-musical instrument noise such as feedback. The band influenced fashion from their earliest days with their embrace of pop art and the use of the Union Jack for clothing. The guitar-smashing incident at the Railway Hotel in 1964 is one of Rolling Stone magazine's "50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock 'n' Roll".

Pink Floyd began to use feedback from their early shows in 1966, inspired by the Who, whom they considered a formative influence. Shortly after arriving in London in 1966, Jimi Hendrix visited Marshall's music shop demanding an amp setup like Townshend's and manipulated electronic noises in ways that Townshend had pioneered. The Beatles were fans and socialised with Moon in particular during the mid-1960s. In 1965, Paul McCartney said the Who "are the most exciting thing around" and was inspired to write "Helter Skelter" in the group's "heavy" style; John Lennon borrowed the acoustic guitar style in "Pinball Wizard" for "Polythene Pam".

The loud volume of the band's live show influenced the approach of hard rock and heavy metal. Proto punk and punk rock bands such as the MC5, the Stooges, the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, the Clash and Green Day cite the Who as an influence. The Who inspired mod revival bands, particularly the Jam, which helped other groups influenced by the Who become popular. The Who influenced hard rock bands such as Guns N' Roses. In the mid-1990s, Britpop bands such as Blur and Oasis were influenced by the Who. The Who have also influenced pop punk band Panic! at the Disco.

The Who has inspired many tribute bands; Daltrey has endorsed the Whodlums, who raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Many bands have covered Who songs; Elton John's version of "Pinball Wizard" reached No. 7 in the UK.

Naked Eye
The Who Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Take a little dope
And walk out in the air
The stars are all connected to the brain
Find me a woman and lay down on the ground
Her pleasure comes fallin' down like rain
Get myself a car, I feel power as I fly
Whoa now, I'm really in control

It all looks fine to the naked eye
But it don't really happen that way at all
Don't happen that way at all

You sign your own name
And I sign mine
They're both the same
We still get separate rooms
You can cover up your guts
But when you cover up your nuts
You're admitting that there must be something wrong
Press any button, milk and honey flow
The world begins behind your neighbor's wall

It all looks fine to the naked eye
But it don't really happen that way at all
Don't happen that way at all

You hold the gun
And I hold the wound
And we stand lookin' in each other's eyes

It all looks fine to the naked eye

But it don't really happen that way at all
Don't happen that way at all

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Who's song Naked Eye are indicative of a kind of disillusionment with the ways in which people portray themselves and their lives to the outside world. The opening lines suggest an escape from reality through drug use, followed by a desire for physical pleasure with a woman. The subsequent reference to power and control via a car mirrors this sense of desire for control over one's environment - the world appears simple and easy to understand. However, there is a sense of unease throughout the song, with references to the fact that things are not as they seem. The repetition of the line "it all looks fine to the naked eye" suggests that there is a surface level to things that is misleading.

This becomes clearer towards the end of the song, when the line "you hold the gun and I hold the wound" suggests a mutual destructiveness that is hidden by appearances. The final use of the refrain "it all looks fine to the naked eye" reinforces this message - despite the attempts to cover up insecurities and vulnerabilities, there is a lack of authenticity that is ultimately destructive. The song is reflective of a cultural shift in the late 60s and early 70s towards greater introspection and skepticism about the role of society and authority.

Line by Line Meaning

Take a little dope
Consume drugs

And walk out in the air
Go outside

The stars are all connected to the brain
The universe is connected

Find me a woman and lay down on the ground
Have sex outside

Her pleasure comes fallin' down like rain
She enjoys it

Get myself a car, I feel power as I fly
Driving gives me control

Whoa now, I'm really in control
I have control

It all looks fine to the naked eye
Things may seem good

But it don't really happen that way at all
Things aren't as they seem

Don't happen that way at all
Things won't go as planned

You sign your own name
You have your own identity