I watched this live on tv that night. Everyone was great but the 2 best acts that night were Billy Joel and The Who hands down no question about it and this really did lift everyone's spirits in the tri state area at least for a little while. It basically snapped everyone out of the shock we were in and recharged the batteries so we could at the very least start functioning again. And I think The Who should've been the closing act because, how do you follow this performance?
Ok kids make a note this is The Who in their mid 50's, 37 years into their stellar career's and still out there!!! Thank you Zach for your incredible talent, Uncle Keith would be so Proud!
The Who ruled that concert. They were the right band, with the right songs, for that moment. They channeled all the anger and the hurt and the sadness, and they turned it into a set of pure musical catharsis.
I always thought Queen at Live Aid was the greatest live performance by a band ever, but this topped it by a mile, the emotions of the moment and reactions of the band and crowd. Still moves to tears 21 years later.
I remember watching this live. Just seeing the joy on the faces of the first responders, knowing what they were still going through, still moves me whenever I watch this. What a performance!
The greatest *classic* rock band. The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and the Rolling Stones are, like, *the* classic classic rock bands, and although they don't get more credit than they deserve, it often seems like The Who gets *less*, which is a shame, since I put The Who and Who's Next as the greatest examples of classic rock band and album, respectively. Now, as far as rock as a genre (and here I am including classic rock, alternative rock, and hard rock (and including heavy metal too, maybe? Maybe not), I think there are a number of modern rock bands that kick as much ass as anything put out by any band from the '60s up to today. Say, The 1975, Angels & Airwaves, All-Amercan rejects, Nate Ruess (either solo or with fun.), Twenty-One Pilots, Goo Goo Dolls, Counting Crows, Dave Matthews Band, Queen (who should really probably be included as classic rock)... I could go on and on and on. Now, this does *not* necessarily mean that all -- or any -- of the musicians I listed are as good as or better than The Who. I could not in good conscience claim that *any* of the bands listed are *the* greatest rock band (or band of *any* kind for that matter). But, they are *all* definitely legitimate competitors for the title. That having been said, Who's Next was my absolute favorite album when it first came out (Pop Goes the World by Men Without Hats was probably a second). Now, is Baba O'Riley the Who's best *song*? Ehhhh... yeah, I'd probably say yes (if I didn't, I'd probably say Behind Blue Eyes).
Roger Ramjet yes, that's the reason cause i don't like 1989/90 tours....i prefer just the band on stage, just the original members Daltrey-Entwistle-Townshend!
@@threalismaradona9899I’ve always thought of Pete and John as one lead instrument. I know they were all leads, but Pete and John’s sounds just blended together and played off each other so well. It sounds like one godly player sometimes.
What impressed me the most about the Who's performance here was how they simply played their biggest hits, and rocked their arses off in a way to make people happy. No new material, no proselytizing, no fluff - just a straight dose of what those people needed. For that, I call this the greatest concert I've ever seen.
I am Ret. NYPD lived thru the attacks on September 11th 2001, I called in cpl of favors and was sitting 1st row on Pete's side - I was dumb struck by the power of THE WHO that night, Damn near tears, They blew the fffn doors off The Garden that night, ALL the bands were terrific but THE WHO stole the show,
I remember the radio broadcast of this show at MSG. An emotional time in this nation’s history for sure. We got a kick in the nuts for sure on 9/11 and after we buried our dead and cleaned up the rubble, the cops and firefighters and EMTs needed a party. Just a night to drink a little too much and allow themselves to have a good time. I remember when The Who took the stage, they were like a smoking flamethrower of awesome brain shaking rock. An invisible fist grabbed me by the throat and I was frozen in place for this entire show…I didn’t move an inch. The power and anger and eventually the joy of this music held me. The greatest moment in rock and roll history.
Let’s put this into context: This is about a month after 9/11. Our nation - the world - was still extremely sad. Terribly, terribly sad. Paul McCartney had witnessed the attacks first hand - he was sitting on a plane on the runway at JFK when he saw the planes hit with his own two eyes. He wrote that song “Freedom” which he closed this concert with right then and there in his seat in the plane while it was happening. So he organized this concert to support 9/11 first responders, their families, and survivors. Paul’s dad was actually a volunteer firefighter during WWII in Liverpool which took heavy bombing from Germany. Paul’s heart was in this full tilt. Paul brought in as many pop and rock acts he could. He got everyone from The Who to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to David Bowie and Jon Bonjiovi to Melissa Ethridge, Elton John, John Mellencamp, Eric Clapton, John Lee Hooker..... and even Destiny’s Child. Yeah, they were out of their league in this show to say the least. There were some entertainers who were better than others, some were pathetic, but in the spirit of what it was all about it was intended as a reprieve from the solemnity of the situation and as well as a fund raiser for those families. For one night, everyone could at least try to forget what was happening (again - this is one month after..... there were still uncontrollable fires at ground zero and an almost zero-visibility haze above the tip of Manhattan) But for the 4 hour concert, all the acts that night….. when The Who played to close the first half of it…. Well, as you can see here they owned it. They just fucking owned the entire show. They blew everyone else on that show out the building and that night watching it live myself I felt The Who fucking blew Bin Laden and those mother fuckers who attacked us out too. It was such a HUGE fuck you to terrorism and those animals who tried to destroy our way of life, and The Who were like a goddamned nuke on them. At least, that’s what it felt like. And then when Roger first refused the fire helmet (which a lot of the “stars” that night were wearing) and then said “we could never follow what you did”, it was so cathartic I lost it. I cried like a baby. God Bless The Who. They still might not know what they did for America that night.
@@sarahbgln Yes he did. As it unfolded he got out a pen and jotted down his thoughts at that moment, that it was obviously an attack on freedom and our way of life. Before it was over he had the song "Freedom" which you can find the video of him playing it at this concert on youtube.
This is the best damn reply on this whole thread! You put everything I felt about this band, this particular performance, and the way all of us felt inside.
@@WolfKing-dv6xd One of them - and what gets me is that, after this show, he took his own band to B.B. King's NY club and played another set. They called him the Ox for a reason but I wish he could have put his addictions behind him.
So Pete Townsend takes a single coil Fender guitar, plays it through a bunch of Fender Twins, and makes everyone who plays Les Pauls or any other "hard rock" guitar through Marshalls, Mesas, and the like sound like Barry Manilow. Mad respect.
This was an astonishing evening. Some acts came in and misunderstood the moment and suffered from thinking it was about themselves. The Who gave themselves to the moment and to the heroes in attendance.
There are some things that cannot be f$&@& with. Michael Jordan in the finals. Secretariat at the Belmont. And the Who, live, with something to stand for. This is the greatest live band ever.
As a 9/11 survivor- while I wasn’t at this show, I watched from my apt in NYC and this performance was such an extraordinary comfort during such a horrific time.
Indeed. I'll say just a few words. In December of 1968, The Who showed John Lennon and Mick Jagger the one band in the world that their bands could never touch live...before Tommy, before Who's Next. Check out: The Rolling Stones Rock And Roll Circus
NYC The Who gave you their very best, strongest 27 mins I've ever seen. No way, No way I would want to even attempt to follow that performance. Could you imagine walking on stage after that whew!! Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Who and their performance owned this event! They and the songs they played that night were the right band at the right time to play for New York and the world.
Makes me proud to be British, Lifelong fan of the boys and what a great reception from the NYC crowd, R.I.P To all the victims of 9/11 especially the NYPD, NYFD and Emergency Medical Crews, Never Forgotten🇬🇧🙏🇺🇸♥️🎸✌️X
When Daltrey said he wasn't worthy to wear the fireman's helmet, he showed true humility and respect. They then followed that with 30 minutes of rock genius. The best rock band ever and certainly one of the greatest live performances
Another one who never saw The Who, just an apparition. But without the Ox, Pete's songs had no balls and still don't. Without John to put the power in Pete's music, it's pretty ordinary.
@@petebradt While John Entwistle is simply irreplaceable, and a lot of the musical lifting that he did has since been shared by John Button (their touring Bassist since 2015), Pete and even Simon (Pete’s brother), I wouldn’t go as far as saying that Pete’s songs have no balls without him. That’s actually a bit of a lame thing to say.
This performance was badly needed. By the date of this concert things were still bleak. The clouds had not yet lifted. This show was a noble effort and featured some heavyweights. Then The Who, with a version post-the loss of Keith Moon, the purest form of the band, came out and told everybody, "Fuck it! That hurt, but you will learn how strong we are." Baba O'Rielly and New York City were born of the same spirit. That night, The Who, in front of an audience one generation younger, The Who showed them what legends are capable of!
Yep,,was thinking the same myself,imo definitely at least on par with Queen at live aid,if someone says it even better,I honestly would not argue with them
I watched this as it aired. I said to my father The Who stole the show. All the performers this night were great but The Who just blew the roof off of MSG. You can hear the anger and support in their playing.
They just effin’ killed it at this show. You can tell they gave this performance everything they had in them. Queen had their Live Aid; The Who had their Concert for New York City.
One of The Who’s most incendiary performances. Sadly, one of the last times Entwistle played in concert. The set list and performance is absolutely mesmerising.
They headlined all the greatest festivals. Monterey……Woodstock…….Isle of Wight…….Live Aid Wembley…….Concert for New York. The Ultimate legendary live Rock Band, of All time!
This is, hands down, THE BEST performance of that evening. This entire set should go down as one of the top 3 best Who performances (in my humble opinion). We lived in a town home at the time and when I turned this up, it literally sounded like you were at the concert. I played it during the summer with my front door open and every neighbor could hear it... especially the ones on the other side of the wall in the living room.
Agreed and whoever produced it deserves to be heaped with praise. Every time Zak Starkey hit the drums, every note of Entwistle's bass, every strum of Townsend's guitar ... the sound balance and production was outstanding as was the camera work - the lights, the screen imagery, the editing - before you even start on their actual performance - they played out of their skins. There is an old saying 'cometh the hour, cometh the man'. As far as this performance goes it's a case of 'cometh the hour, cometh the band'. Just so perfect from song choice to each individual on that stage and totally in communion with that audience and the occasion. I come back to this video again and again and again.
The Who upstaged the Stones at their Rock Circus, and they came here decades later and upstaged McCartney at this concert. Probably the best rock performance I’ve ever seen. I remember watching this live and thinking “God help whoever has to follow this act” So damn awesome . . .
The Stones organized a huge charity concert in Toronto 18 years ago and got upstaged by AcDc. I like their music but they can’t match the energy of a Angus Young or Pete and Roger. Sadly, The Who’s most interesting guy to watch on stage was Moon.
The power of rock'n roll in 27 minutes. Gave me goosebumbs watching this live in 2001 and still moves me to tears watching these cops and firemen jumping around and going crazy. Probably one of the Who's best gigs ever - they really wanted this. Amazing!
Yes! Yes! Yes! Me too! They deserved a night out. One said he expected to have his spirits lifted, instead his feet were lifted 6 inches from the floor!! Sheer joy!! That’s how music should be. NEVER FORGET- EVER!! Watch the audience.
The Who really stepped up and knocked it out of the park with an amazing set. "Who Are You?", "Baba O'Reilly", "Behind Blue Eyes", and "Won't Get Fooled Again", all played with incredible power and love for the very special audience of the surviving 9/11 first-responders that emotional evening. When Daltrey simply states at the end "We could never follow what you did", what an incredible tribute, indeed.
Absolutely one of their best performances post Keith moon and abt a year before John's passing. This concert did for the who what live aid did for Queen - reintroduced them to a new generation.
I watched this with my father when this aired. I felt the same exact way. After The Who walked off, I said to my father...The Who f&$king stole the show! Powerful performance and sadly Entwistle's last time at MSG.
I was in the 10th MTN, getting ready to deploy, when I saw this. I used to recruit in NYC. My 3 and 5 year old boys loved it. Like everyone, they felt 9/11 personally. 90% of our division deployed in the next few months. It seemed like wherever there might be a fight, we were going. This night was special to all of us. God bless The Who.
From a hard core Stones fan - your words are 100% true - this performance was far more important and incredible than Queen...nothing else comes close not even Mick and Keith who reunited that night
I agree. Something about the combined energy of the band, euphoric energy of the audience, underlined with people's pain and loss from 9/11. Makes my eyes leak everytime I see this brilliant performance by The Who.
I normally try to limit any negative commentary, but I feel compelled to say the people who gave a thumbs down don't know a fucking thing about the power of rock and roll.
These guys really stole the show. At the end of their set Roger says to the crowd "We could never follow you" which is what everyone that had perform after The Who must have felt. Zach Starkey just crushes the drums, his old man taught him well.
If you have ever seen a exorcism this was it, we were there, Ox, Roger, Pete and Zach chased the demons from the the concert with one mighty scream of Roger during We won't get fooled again, the negative energy was banished and people learned to live God Bless the Who in what is one of their greatest shows ever!
AKA, the finest bass guitarist who will EVER live. No other bassist even deserves mention in ROLLING STONE, or anywhere else. I miss the Ox every day and will be until I join the Great Orchestra.
Really an emotional performance. The Who completely crushed it that night... a real reminder of what the band could do when playing with peak passion and intensity.
@@lesliepoole8705 I saw them in the early 70s when they were going through a phase of playing smaller venues. They were at our local concert hall - which to be fair has superb acoustics but has a capacity of around 900. I was still at school, just a kid really and didn't really appreciate what I was seeing and hearing, but I do now!
Right band for the right time. People were feeling angry and the music was an outlet for that anger. You can't ask for a better pick me up. Well done the Who. Probably the best I have ever seen them
Saw this live via satellite. The Who OWNED this concert. Outstanding performance. U2 was next on stage, and Bono’s first words on a hot mic were “How do you follow THAT? Lord almighty.”
I’ve been looking for this on RU-vid for years. I think the original video of it must have been blocked. Hopefully this last. Absolutely my favorite performance by The Who.
The lyric was timely, "I get on my knees and pray that we don't get fooled again." The officers or firefighters at 25:42 - they got a second on the broadcast and it was very empowering to see their exuberance in the aftermath... the power of music and the power the resolve of the American people when united as one against our enemies and for our fellow American. The line from Daltry at the end is beyond perfect... and a great honor... "We can never follow what you did."
Its gone down in rock folklore as being the best cameo gigs ever! And who cud argue on the strength of that epic performance. What a fucking brilliant band the who are!
Utterly brilliant. I fell out of love with The Who for a while, just listening to Live At Leeds, and thinking they've forgotten how to be a workingman's band. I saw this and remembered how all those working-class guys from New York put their lives on the line to save other people. The firemen. The ambulance service and nurses. The ordinary Americans trying to do what they can. The police. At this concert The Who reconnected with the working class men and women who were always their fan-base. I saw them in 1975 in Manchester for £1.50. It was good to see that that they hadn't forgotten their roots.
this was not just another gig for the Who. They were moved by 9/11 and their hearts went out to the lost, to their survivors, to the first responders, to the people of NYC, and to all of us in America. The Who loves America and took that attack personally. They expressed themselves by delivering one of their most electric and powerful performances ever. Also, Pete and the band are very competitive ( ala Hendrix at Monterey Festival ). There were other legendary bands there that night and the Who came out on fire to prove they are the best. Townshend was feeling it....extremely animated.
@@lesliepoole8705 I loved this performance so much. I really felt like the UK was giving us a gift that night. All the UK-origin acts were fantastic but the Who just took the roof off the Garden.
@@dvchel I remember it being a mixed bag. Jay-Z rather bombed; Melissa Etheridge had trouble getting her song started. By and large the American acts just weren’t a match for the moment with the exception of Billy Joel, whose NYC connection and cred were unimpeachable. David Bowie’s opening, where he sat crosslegged on the stage singing Simon & Garfunkel’s “America” while strumming an Omnichord and launching into his own “Heroes” was absolutely perfect. But no one could touch The Who that night.
Still the most brilliant performance that night. Even after almost 20 years, I still FEEL this. This WAS the band of the night and the one that the audience needed.
He made his own bass guitars from scratch and put together his own rig of sound (amps, processors, compressors, effects, EQ, etc and then dialed everything in for his taste) so there is absolutely no way anyone can replicate his sound.
his bass sounds different than his usual tone here, but i still love it, especially in Baba O'Riley, sounds menacing going with the synthesizer backing track
So so true!! Ive been sick with Covid a month ago and have post covid symptoms and wanted something to boost me up...now this is my go-to performances!
Simply put, the greatest 30 minute live performance in the history of rock and roll. Pete's songwriting mix of snarl and vulnerability perfectly fit the moment. From Cusack's intro to the final note, pure bliss. Watching the cops, EMS and firefighters in the audience mourn but simultaneously rejoice still gives me goosebumps. Only the Who could kick ass but heal the broken spirits that night.
John Entwistle is going to fucking TOWN. Insane that he and Keith Moon got paired together. Truly the best rhythm duo in rock, even above Bonham and John Paul Jones. So legendary. R.I.P boys.
@@petebradt Not according to his Wikipedia. Keith gave him his first drum set but never sat at the drums with him (and, therefore, never taught him). He was actually taught by Keith’s replacement in The Who, Kenney Jones.
I read that Pete Townshend came offstage worried that he overdid it in this performance, effectively having, in his words, “machine-gunned” the audience, and not showing the proper reverence for both the occasion and the First Responders. He expressed his worry to Elton John, who set him straight by having him look at the crowd from behind the curtain. Pete’s concerns were put to rest when he saw the crowd’s response to The Who’s performance. Cathartic indeed.
Yeah, he did. I didn’t know who he was when I first saw this, much less how good he was until he played. I just knew he wasn’t Kenney Jones. Then, my mom pointed out that he’s Ringo Starr’s son and it blew my mind.
We wont get fooled again. I saw it live and chills went up my spine when I heard those words. Possibly the most appropriate and meaningful live set ever played. EVER.
They were bringing a little extra this night for obvious reasons.. love to hear that bass crank.Townshend is quoted saying it took an entire orchestra to replicate what John did on bass. The Ox
The most poniagnt moment of this spectacular performance can be easily missed. Although the cameras did not capture the moment, it would appear that at the beginning of “Behind Blue Eyes”, it SOUNDS like someone must’ve tossed a cap of a deceased fireman to Roger Daltrey, and you can clearly hear him say, “I’m not worthy of wearing this.” I think Pete senses that Roger is in emotional trouble after the opening verses, so he playfully crashes into him before the “When my fist clenches, crack it open” verse to help him through it. I know Roger was quoted as saying if he could’ve seen the audience, he simply would not have been able to perform. This is the single greatest and most important rock performance of all time, and it ain’t close.
My best mate past away 5 year ago he was older than me I his 60s im 45 he was always sayin chris get into the who you will love it I never did when he passed I thought right on you tube started listen Jesus christ I'm glad I did what an awesome band !!!
There was a moment in the beginning of this song when the drums kicked in and you knew that everything was going to be alright. From a New Yorker. God bless the memories of our fallen heroes. Gone but not Forgotten
