The Kids Are Alright (1979) [Review]
| Category | Reviews |
| Written by | Brian Dorsey |
| Published on | August 30, 2011 |
Summary:
A rockumentary about the English rock band The Who, featuring live performances, promotional films and interviews from 1964 to 1978. Jeff Stein, an American admirer of the band, approached guitarist [...]
A rockumentary about the English rock band The Who, featuring live performances, promotional films and interviews from 1964 to 1978. Jeff Stein, an American admirer of the band, approached guitarist Pete Townsend in 1975 about assembling a collections of film clips, mainly for fans of the band. Although he had no previous experience in filmmaking, Stein convinced the West London foursome to go along with the project.
The Kids Are Alright – the title of one of The Who’s first singles – begins with their unforgettable September 1967 appearance on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. At the request of drummer Keith Moon, a stagehand overloaded Moon’s kick drum with explosives. After the band had roared through a guitar- and speaker-smashing rendition of “My Generation,” a deafening explosion literally blew Moon off the stage and supposedly caused Pete Townshend’s permanent hearing damage.
Other highlights chronicle the madcap adventures of Keith Moon, who died six months before the film was released, as well as bassist John Entwistle shooting up copies of his gold records. An energetic, diversified tribute to one of the best British rock bands of the 20th Century.
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