vintage

A recent conversation I had with a friend went something like this:

Him: I saw the Who last year.
Me: Man, I don’t think they should be touring with that name anymore.
Him: Why not? They’re still playing their old stuff.
Me: I know, but two of the members are dead. I just feel like it’s disrespectful to Keith and John.
Him: How would it be? Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend were the best known.
Me: But it doesn’t matter. They’re not the Who if half of them are different.
Him: What would they tour under, then?
Me: It doesn’t matter. They could tour as anything and people would go see them.
Him: I don’t think they would. I think they need the name behind them.
Me: But that’s like Paul and Ringo picking up two guys and touring as the Beatles. I’d be offended.
Him: I wouldn’t be. They’re still the Beatles.

Discuss.

I guess my take on the matter is … there are some bands you don’t mess with. The more iconic they are, the less likely I’d be inclined to call them the same band with a different lineup, basically. And bands gel with certain members. They could still play the same music, obviously, but half the reason a band is so great the way it is (or so terrible, on the other end of the spectrum) is because of the interaction – musical, physical, etc – between its members. Even introducing an extra member to an otherwise intact lineup can drastically change the dynamic.

I can’t deny the fact that I’d still go see “The Who” today, but I definitely would object to them calling themselves that. After Keith Moon died, okay, I can understand touring under the same name. But once Entwistle went, the name should have been hung up like a retired hockey jersey – revered, remembered fondly, but no longer used, out of respect. They’ll still make all their money. And certainly, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr touring as the Beatles would get them lynched. It doesn’t matter how well-known they were, nor how good the surviving members are; a band with only 50% of its old members is not the same band. Dig?

Or perhaps I’m just an idealist, out to confront the big bad world of making money in the music business. What a(n oxy)moron.

Here’s my solution: the best 1960s British revival band ever. I don’t care what they call themselves, as long as it isn’t something horrific like the “Whotles” – but I guess beggars can’t be choosers. Daltrey and Townshend with McCartney and Starr. They’d pull in astronomical amounts of money, and it would be a seriously excellent band. They’d probably all kill each other by the end, but you know, it’s rock and roll. And what a way to go!