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.
Road Runner
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let me live a life free and easy
Put a toothbrush in my hand
Let me be a travelling man
I'm a roadrunner, baby
Roadrunner
Roadrunner
I'm a road runner baby,
I'm a road runner,
You might look at me
And I'll be gone
Well you can love me if you wanna
But I do declare
When I get restless
I got to move somewhere
Yes, I'm a road runner baby,
Anywhere is my home
And I love the life I live
And I'm gonna live the life I love
Roadrunner baby
Roadrunner Roadrunner
Don't want no woman to tie me down
Gotta be free baby to roam around
All my life I've been like this
You can love me at your own risk
When the dust hits my shoes
I got the urge to move
'Cause I'm a road runner baby,
Gotta keep on, keepin' on
And I live the life I love
And I'm gonna love the life I live
Roadrunner baby
Roadrunner Roadrunner
The Who's song Road Runner, is a classic rock song that narrates the life of a travelling man who goes by the nickname Roadrunner. The song mentions that Roadrunner does not need money to live his life freely, as long as he has a toothbrush and the ability to keep travelling, he's content. Roadrunner is a restless soul that cannot stay in one place too long, and if he gets the urge to move, he will go anywhere. He is a free spirit that values his freedom more than anything else, and he doesn't want any woman to tie him down.
The lyrics can be interpreted as a celebration of the nomadic lifestyle and the freedom that comes with it. Roadrunner is portrayed as someone who values freedom and independence more than anything else. He is always on the move and doesn't want to be tied down by material possessions or social expectations. The song's upbeat rhythm and guitar riffs complement the theme of the song, which is all about free-spiritedness and living life on one's own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
Money, who needs it
I don't care about money and would rather live a simple life.
Let me live a life free and easy
I want to be able to live my life on my own terms without any restrictions or obligations.
Put a toothbrush in my hand
All I need is the bare minimum to survive, such as a toothbrush to maintain my hygiene.
Let me be a traveling man
I like to travel and explore new places, and I want to live a life where I can do that freely.
I'm a roadrunner, baby
I'm a free spirit who doesn't like to stay in one place for too long.
Can't stay in one place too long
I get restless and need to keep moving to feel satisfied.
You might look at me and I'll be gone
I don't like to be tied down, so don't expect me to stick around for too long.
When I get restless I got to move somewhere
I feel an urge to move on and explore new places when I start feeling restless.
Anywhere is my home
As long as I can keep moving and exploring, I don't need a fixed home or place to settle down.
And I love the life I live, And I'm gonna live the life I love
I'm happy with my current lifestyle and plan to continue living it the way I want to.
Don't want no woman to tie me down
I don't want any romantic relationships that will restrict my freedom or movement.
Gotta be free baby to roam around
I value my freedom and independence above all else, even in relationships.
When the dust hits my shoes I got the urge to move
I feel restless and get the urge to keep moving whenever I get too comfortable in one place for too long.
Gotta keep on, keepin' on
I need to keep moving forward and living my life the way I want to, no matter what obstacles I face.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ELLAS MCDANIEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
RJ67
For the hardest rocking band of all time, I have to go with these guys. This is the Who at their best.
Jack Crane
The Mc5 were the hardest
HaoleboySurfEC
One of the most original bands of all time. They covered some songs extremely well (Roadrunner, Shakin' All Over, Summertime Blues, Eyesight to the Blind) but they have never been accused of stealing music. In a league all their own. Phenomenal.
richiebear1969
I would have gladly risked losing my hearing at this concert. The Who are one of my favorite bands.
Brian Willing
Pete Townsend is on fire! Number 2 guitar didn't get smashed, did what it was designed to do, awesome! 😇
Tom Fear
LONG LIVE THE WHO !!!!!!! Greatest rock band of all time.
Jon Applegate
The sound quality and the feedback, no matter what volume you listen to this, you just know it was LOUD!
Joseph LoPresti
Love the way Keith and Pete are in the zone at 4:14. This gig (Pontiac Silverdome, '75) was one of their loudest and most energetic.
Kelcy Dial
The part where Roger sings, "WHY DON'T YA ALL" just gets me so worked up every time, it's the epitome of rock and roll.
Corina Placious
Love this version of My Generation. Roger’s voice so incredibly powerful 😍