In addition to compiling rare clips, Jeff Stein arranged for The Who to film a concert for invited fans. The show, performed at Shepperton Film Studios in London on 25 May 1978, turned out to be Keith Moon's last concert with The Who before his death on 7 September at the age of 32.
The band's performance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967) ends with "My Generation" and their trademark wrecking of their equipment - the climax being the explosion of the drum kit. During rehearsal, Keith Moon ("Patent British Exploding Drummer") had persuaded stage hands to load more flash powder into the kit than usual (possibly by bribery) so that when the explosion occurred at the very end of the performance, it was so big that it temporarily blinded the TV cameras and injured the rest of the band. Singer Roger Daltrey was deaf for a long period after the show, Moon was cut on the arm by a cymbal, and guitarist Pete Townshend's hair was singed - he can be seen in the film with smoke coming from his head. Townshend later attributed his partial hearing loss to the incident, though years of extreme on-stage sound levels are probably more to blame. Contrary to urban legend, Bette Davis did not faint backstage.
Director Jeff Stein had to talk The Who into performing live again for the new footage shot for the film in 1977 and '78 (The '77 footage ended up not being used except for very brief excerpts.) The band acceded, but after turning in an unsatisfactory performance of their show closer "Won't Get Fooled Again" at the second filming, Stein had to coax a very reluctant Pete Townshend into going back out to perform a more "definitive" version of the song so they'd have a better end to the film.
Thelma Schoonmaker wasn't originally involved in the film, but happened to be working in the editing suite next door and ended up with a credit.
TRACKLIST:
MY GENERATION From The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, CBS TV Studios, Los.Angeles, recorded September 15, 1967, broadcast September 17, 1967 I CAN'T EXPLAIN From Shindig! filmed at Twickenham Film Studios, August 3, 1965, broadcast October 2, 1965 and January 6, 1966. BABA O'RILEY Recorded at B Stage, Shepperton Film Studios, May 25, 1978. SHOUT AND SHIMMY Recorded at 5th National Jazz And Blues Festival, Richmond Athletic Grounds, August 6, 1965 and broadcast on Shindig! Goes To London', December 9, 1965. YOUNG MAN BLUES Recorded at the Coliseum, London, December 14, 1969. PINBALL WIZARD Recorded at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, Bethel, New York, August 17, 1969. SEE ME, FEEL ME / FINALE Recorded at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, Bethel, New York, August 17, 1969. ANYWAY, ANYHOW, ANYWHERE Recorded at Rediffusion Studios, Wembley, July 1, 1965, broadcast on Ready, Steady, Go! July 2, 1965. A QUICK ONE, WHILE HE'S AWAY Recorded at The Rolling Stones' Rock and Roll Circus, December 11, 1968. SPARKS Recorded at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, Bethel, New York, August 17, 1969. BARBARA ANN Recorded at J Stage, Shepperton Film Studios, July 21, 1977. ROAD RUNNER / MY GENERATION BLUES Recorded at the Silver Dome, Pontiac, Michigan, December 6, 1975. WHO ARE YOU Promotional video shot at Ramport Studios, Battersea, May 4, 1978. MY GENERATION Recorded at the Monterey International Pop Festival, June 18, 1967. WON'T GET FOOLED AGAINRecorded at B Stage, Shepperton Film Studios, May 25, 1978.
MY GENERATION From The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, CBS TV Studios, Los.Angeles, recorded September 15, 1967, broadcast September 17, 1967 I CAN'T EXPLAIN From Shindig! filmed at Twickenham Film Studios, August 3, 1965, broadcast October 2, 1965 and January 6, 1966. BABA O'RILEY Recorded at B Stage, Shepperton Film Studios, May 25, 1978. SHOUT AND SHIMMY Recorded at 5th National Jazz And Blues Festival, Richmond Athletic Grounds, August 6, 1965 and broadcast on Shindig! Goes To London', December 9, 1965. YOUNG MAN BLUES Recorded at the Coliseum, London, December 14, 1969. PINBALL WIZARD Recorded at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, Bethel, New York, August 17, 1969. SEE ME, FEEL ME / FINALE Recorded at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, Bethel, New York, August 17, 1969. ANYWAY, ANYHOW, ANYWHERE Recorded at Rediffusion Studios, Wembley, July 1, 1965, broadcast on Ready, Steady, Go! July 2, 1965. A QUICK ONE, WHILE HE'S AWAY Recorded at The Rolling Stones' Rock and Roll Circus, December 11, 1968. SPARKS Recorded at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, Bethel, New York, August 17, 1969. BARBARA ANN Recorded at J Stage, Shepperton Film Studios, July 21, 1977. ROAD RUNNER / MY GENERATION BLUES Recorded at the Silver Dome, Pontiac, Michigan, December 6, 1975. WHO ARE YOU Promotional video shot at Ramport Studios, Battersea, May 4, 1978. MY GENERATION Recorded at the Monterey International Pop Festival, June 18, 1967. WON'T GET FOOLED AGAINRecorded at B Stage, Shepperton Film Studios, May 25, 1978.