Spinner

Roger Daltrey Gives Thumbs-Up to New Who Film He'll Never Watch

'Amazing Journey: The Story of the Who,' a just-released two-DVD authorized documentary of the legendary British foursome, picks up and expands where 1979's acclaimed 'The Kids Are Alright' left off. The new anthology uses interviews as well as exclusive and rare live footage spanning the entirety of the Who's more-than-40-year career, beginning with the mid-'60s up to today, to widen the scope of the band's story. Roger Daltrey himself gives the film his highest endorsement -- and that's considering he has never seen it and has absolutely no intention of ever doing so. "Because I'll only watch myself and I won't see the film in its entirety; I'll be just watching me," Daltrey tells Spinner. "Like when people first see their home movies, they don't ever see the big picture. But I find it too uncomfortable. And I lived it, I remember it all, I don't need to see it."

The longtime Who frontman says that when the creative team behind 'Amazing Journey' proposed the project to Pete Townshend and himself, the duo knew they could trust the documentarians to give the band's story a fair telling. "They had an incredible track record of filmmaking behind them," Daltrey says. "We looked at the quality of the work they were doing -- at the time they were doing a Bob Dylan documentary with Martin Scorsese, and, you know, they've got pretty good credentials."

In addition to the live footage of the band in action, 'Amazing Journey' also contains newly recorded interviews with Townshend and Daltrey, along with fellow rockers such as Sting, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam and U2's the Edge. According to the filmmakers, their telling of the story behind the Who's rich and sometimes tempestuous career differs from previous versions mainly in that it illustrates a belief that the band's more recent history, especially the complex relationship between Daltrey and Townshend, deepens their legend.




"The initial, obvious story," says co-director Paul Crowder, "is, well, we're going to tell the history of this band and how they went from A to B, from starting the band back in the early '60s to where they are now still on the road. What I didn't realize was going to happen was that I was going to unearth this fantastic story of brotherhood that came out. I think that the most surprising thing was how fantastic the relationship between Roger and Pete is. You know, I knew all the old stories of fighting, fighting, fighting -- I didn't realize there was a lot of love. It may not have seemed there was a lot of love, but there was."

Adds co-director Murray Lerner, "After Keith [Moon] died, I think that the Who managed to go on, which is amazing, and really be successful even though there were periods of tremendous tension, which is an exciting story in and of itself. And then [John] Entwistle died and they still went on. And I think what's exciting is there's some fundamental musical character of the Who that remains, and it's really an amazing thing."

And as for exactly how long the Who will remain the Who, Daltrey tells Spinner he still enjoys singing onstage and isn't quite ready to retire to the pastoral life of an English country gentleman. "Well, you know Johnny Cash made his best album just before he died," he points out.

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Debrina woods

I recently viewed AMAZING JOURNEY and was so touched by it's poignancy... It took me on a journey of my own recalling the parallel paths that my life took over that same period and how TRULY influential the music of THE WHO was to me and (pardon)"my generation".

I too was profoundly grateful to see the relationship between Roger and Pete ...Good GOD somebody got it right...to have them come out OF IT ALL and through this vehicle share with us the simple fact that their relationship is a well tempered friendship and that LOVE IS ALL THERE IS.

Thank you Roger, THANK YOU PETE, Thank you John and Thank you Keith. The WHO's music made the tapestry of my life richer and more fun in so many thousands of ways...and as you were growing I grew too.

One of the most unexpectedly remarkable moments for me watching this film was when Pete while at a time in his life when he was seeking spiritual influence... just looks straight into the camera and says

" I want you to know that you are all very loved...that you are not alone...and not to worry so much" !!!!!!!!!

So simple...so profound...so wonderful. That scene and moment have stayed with me for days...will never leave me for years. I was expecting a documentary...and got sooooo much MORE.

I love you guys. For your music...for your crazy journey... for surviving ALL your trials and adventures...and your genius......and making it this far....in love and light.

Long may you rock man...and Thanks again for the ride. I fully intend to recommend and share this AMAZING JOURNEY story with as many as I can.

November 07 2007 at 10:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply