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.
The Acid Queen
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This girl could put him right
I'll show him what he could be now
Just give me one night
I'm the Gypsy
The acid Queen
Pay before we start
I'm guaranteed
To tear your soul apart
Give us a room and close the door
Leave us for a while
Your boy won't be a boy no more
Young, but not a child
I'm the Gypsy
The acid Queen
Pay before we start
The Gypsy
I'm guaranteed
To tear your soul apart
Gather your wits and hold on fast
Your mind must learn to roam
Just as the Gypsy Queen must do
You're gonna hit the road
My work is done now look at him
He's never been more alive
His head it shakes his fingers clutch
Watch his body writhe
I'm the Gypsy
The acid Queen
Pay before we start
The Gypsy
I'm guaranteed
To break your little heart
If your child ain't all he should be now
This girl will put him right
I'll show him what he could be now
Just give me one night
I'm the Gypsy
The acid Queen
Pay before we start
The Gypsy
I'm guaranteed
To tear your soul apart
"The Acid Queen" is a song by English rock band The Who, which was featured in the film "Tommy" released in 1975. It is one of the most controversial songs on the rock opera album "Tommy" as it explores the themes of sex, drugs, and spirituality. In the song, the singer takes on the persona of the Acid Queen, who offers to transform a child who is not living up to their potential, through an acid trip that will supposedly "tear your soul apart."
The lyrics of "The Acid Queen" suggest that the titular character is a sexual shaman, who uses mind-altering drugs to initiate her clients into a new level of experience. She offers to transform the child's consciousness through an acid trip and in the process, effectively changes their identity, thereby allowing them to discover their true selves.
The song highlights the dangers of searching for deeper meaning through drug use and how it can lead to a complete destruction of the self. The Acid Queen is portrayed as a carnival-like figure, drawing in those curious about the unknown and then leaving them an emotional wreck.
Line by Line Meaning
If your child ain't all he should be now
If your child is not living up to your expectations
This girl could put him right
The Acid Queen claims she can help fix your child
I'll show him what he could be now
The Acid Queen will demonstrate his potential
Just give me one night
With a single night, she can help him become his best self
I'm the Gypsy
The Acid Queen identifies herself as a Gypsy, a nomad and a fortune-teller
The acid Queen
The Acid Queen claims to have special powers or knowledge with LSD
Pay before we start
Payment is required before her services begin
The Gypsy
The Acid Queen repeats her identity
I'm guaranteed
She is confident in her abilities
To tear your soul apart
She can have a profound impact on your psyche
Give us a room and close the door
Privacy is essential for her work
Leave us for a while
The Acid Queen needs time alone with the subject
Your boy won't be a boy no more
After her work, he will be transformed into an adult
Young, but not a child
He will retain his youth but gain maturity
Gather your wits and hold on fast
The subject needs to be prepared before undergoing her process
Your mind must learn to roam
Her work will expand the subject's mental capacity
Just as the Gypsy Queen must do
The Acid Queen refers to herself in third person to illustrate the point
You're gonna hit the road
After her work, the subject will be taking a new path in life
My work is done now look at him
She has completed her work and is confident in the results
He's never been more alive
The subject is now living life to the fullest
His head it shakes his fingers clutch
The subject experiences intense physical sensations
Watch his body writhe
His body is moving uncontrollably with sensations
To break your little heart
The Acid Queen will have a profound impact on the subject's emotional state
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PETER TOWNSHEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JJ
on Won't Get Fooled Again - Original Album Version
It was Racist
Philip Kassabian
on Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere
The Who have so many great songs it's difficult to even describe.
Philip Kassabian
on See Me, Feel Me
Yet another excellent song by The Who one of the best bands of the 1960's.
Philip Kassabian
on I Can't Explain
A really good song by The Who.
Philip Kassabian
on I Can See for Miles
A song that definitely gets stuck in your head.
Philip Kassabian
on My Generation
An amazing song by The Who.