Drummer reacts to "My Generation" (Live on the Smothers Brothers) by The Who

[@davescurry69]

The destruction was planned but the explosion was planned by Keith alone. Unbeknownst to everyone else, he loaded his bass drums with explosives before the show and you saw the result. A piece of one of his cymbals ended up in his leg and the explosion sent him flying off the drum riser, lol. It remains the most incredible TV performance of all time.

[@sirslice7531]

And Pete is still impacted by Keith's explosion.

[@sib183]

keith bribed the stage hand to include more black powder for the show ender, i think it was 10 times the amount originally planned. this based on what books have told me, but i don't have the titles at my fingertips.

[@robertsaul234]

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour was the #1 show in America when it was canceled due to it's lampooning of the government and replaced by Hee Haw. This clip is from the great documentary on The Who called "The Kids are Alright". RIP Mooney, The Ox, and Tommy Smothers.

[@dougj7295]

Glad you go to this. Keith Moon was a true madman. Townsend said the prank started the loss of hearing in one of his ears.

[@CliffordLake]

Pete experienced hearing loss because of this.

[@michaelgray4964]

Without telling anyone else, Keith packed his bass drum full of flash powder and set it off. Unfortunately he misjudged how much was needed and you see the result. The Smothers Brothers were a former folk act who had a variety show. They were what passed for liberal TV in the late 60's - they were doing marijuana jokes long before television censors were ready for that. This was a legendary performance. The production title is because this clip was the opening scene of a Who documentary called "The Kids Are Alright", which is full of rare clips, well worth tracking it down and watching it.

[@NancyMoran-r3b]

That’s Tommy Smothers. It’s the Smothers Brothers variety show. They were two funny guys . Dick Smothers is the straight guy and Tommy is the goofy one. Their show was taken off the air because their humor started including criticism of the Vietnam war. They pushed the envelope like most other entertainers did not want to.

[@beatmet2355]

The whole movie this is from should be reacted to. It’s exciting, musically and also hilarious.

[@chrisowoc3463]

The WHO ARE LEGENDARY FOR SMASHING EVERYTHING ON STAGE EVERY PERFORMANCE

[@bobschenkel7921]

This is the first scene in the movie "The Kids Are Alright", a really cool film about the early part of The WHO's career. Many clips of deep cuts like "Pictures Of Lily" and "Happy Jack". You can see Pete fingering his ear, because it was the beginning of his going deaf. Thanks Keith, you can call me John.

[@hugh8329]

Punk before punk, except these guys could actually play.

[@stevenspringer1599]

I got to see them on tour with 'Blue Cheer' and both bands were dressed like that and both did their versions of Summertime Blues...good times

[@lordbyron6293]

Blue Cheer's version of Summertime Blues is excellent...I like it even better than The Who's version.

[@MikeOstrowski-iq8wf]

Legendary, nobody destroyed their equipment on stage on live tv before this !! …….you got to check out “My Generation “ (Live at Leeds) !!

[@MTB-Idle]

As others have said they had a plan for a small explosive charge in the bass drum for a bang at the end but Keith persuaded the effects man to put in way more than was sensible ending up with the resultant explosion and injuries. You can see from Pete’s hair and dazed look that he was really close to it when it went off.

[@patrickcadge-moore6916]

The Smothers Brothers also debuted Mason William's "Classical Gas" that was backed by a kaleidoscopic visual of hundreds of classical paintings and which as far as I know, has never been rebroadcast because they didn't have the rights to any of those images. Blew my mind as a little kid

[@Jude_196]

Planned ONLY by KEITH!! Knew you weren't ready for it....none of us were, either! LOVED The Smothers Brothers Show! THANKS, LEE!

[@scottgelb2650]

The Who holds the Guinness World Record for the loudest band, reaching 126 decibels (dB) during a concert at The Valley in London on May 31, 1976. This was measured 32 meters (105 feet) from the speakers and is roughly equivalent to the noise a snowmobile makes. The Who's performance beat Deep Purple's previous record of 117 dB, set in 1972 at the London Rainbow Theatre. However, Guinness later canceled loudness as a measure of achievement to protect music fans' hearing. Its

[@rydelldownward7808]

Check out “The Real Me” and “Love Reign O’er Me” - the beginning and the end of the epic Quadrophenia.

[@yenlard6683]

Whole album is needed.

[@genegarrett3372]

I watched this show.

[@shemanic1]

A Wonderful Performance.

[@johntarnowski9086]

Greatest rock band ever

[@Peejay1966]

Ah, this is also the opening scene of the wonderful documentary The Kids Are Alright. The A Quick One (While He's Away) live performance you watched recently is also in this, as are Won't Get Fooled Again and Baba O'Riley from Shepperton Studios. It's a funny and thrilling documentary.

[@BertJamesMcKinney]

Keith and the props guy were drinking together. Watch John protect his bass from the blast.

[@nikosalmpanis-ty3jt]

The start of film"The kids are alright".

[@TTM9691]

Right on! Love The Who! I'm sure you can tell that this was a mimed performance (with live vocals), but The Who are such amazing performers that it doesn't matter (and of course the infamous explosion!). That's the beginning of a FANTASTIC movie, "The Kids Are Alright" which is just a compilation of incredible live clips. You can literally just work your way through that movie for reactions! Keith (and Pete) are incredible in all of 'em. An incredible version of "Young Man Blues" from the London Coliseum is in that movie.

[@mijmijrm]

this clip was taken from the intro to a movie documentary about the History of the Who called: The Kids Are Alright. ps: my favourite Who track = Waspman (1972 written by Keith Moon), the flipside to the single: Relay.

[@bostonwhofan]

While Pete's hair was still smoldering, Keith Moon was laying on the floor in front of his drum kit. Keith's leg got cut from shrapnel flying off the exploding drum. Bette Davis was also a guest on the Smothers Brothers show that night, and supposedly she fainted from fear when the explosion happened.

[@alrivers2297]

Yeah that wasn't planned except by Keith. The funniest part is Pete's hair sticking up and Roger laughing his ass off. If you notice after the explosion Keith immediately runs off because a shard of metal went into his arm. Crazy stuff 😂

[@rydelldownward7808]

I love how they totally aren’t taking the lip synch seriously. There are times when neither Keith nor Pete are playing what we’re hearing. It looks like they pre-recorded a “live” track.

[@brianshockledge3241]

As your favourite Who track is Eminence Front watch them do it live in 1982.

[@yenlard6683]

Absolutely 🔥

[@MaddyN999]

Please hit “Don’t get fooled again”Live at Shepperton Studios

[@tommelle5074]

I believe that was the last performance with the Who before his death!

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Yup gotta do that...Don't know why wimpy boys always just request the studio version

[@BaccarWozat]

For more of Keith Moon's madness, check out the Who's "Cobwebs and Strange".

[@j.jennings1722]

As a kid in the '60s, I remember watching this episode as it aired for the first time on a black & white TV, and I thought it was the wildest thing I had ever seen that wasn't in a movie or on the news. It was shocking to watch, but I also thought it was rebellious and cool AF. What a trip! ❤✌

[@MrsRosencranz1]

The folks in the booth said that the glass actually bowed when the explosion went off. There were dampeners on the mikes so we didn't get the sound of explosion quite like they did in the studio. Dickie was standing with Bette Davis off-screen and when it went off she dropped the ciggie she was smoking, snuffed it out with her foot and said. "Well that was a big bang!!" Dickie had to get on the platform and then take control of the show.

[@ac9110]

Yes, the explosion wrecked Pete's hearing to this day.

[@gmgroucho77]

Moonie and cherry bombs were a heady concoction.

[@dougca7086]

The Smothers Brothers comedy hour was very controversial during that time it was a number one show on television and they took it off because of talking too much about the draft and the Vietnam War but you could react to the Smothers Brothers comedy skit and other live performances on the Smothers Brothers show

[@yenlard6683]

You really need to check out the documentary “The Kids are Alright” It’s definitely worth it. Also the My Generation medley from Pontiac Silverdome in 75. Epic

[@tommelle5074]

More collection of awesome clips than a documentary. I had the soundtrack to it on vinyl since its released the DVD with bonus tracks, one with a camera on John for a whole song. John does not like to draw attention to him while playing. Hardly moves while the rest of the seemed crazy. Off stage he was as crazy as Keith. God I miss The Who!

[@gadam53]

Great Reaction, Priceless, No one owned a stage like Townshend and The Who!!!

[@genegarrett3372]

this was total rebellion. Parents were shocked. The end of the world was nigh.

[@NigelOrmsvik]

I saw them at the Guildford Surrey England University in I think 74, a friend of mine was a roadie and got me in on stage about 40 feet from Pete. People 3 miles away complained about the noise that night, and I lost my hearing for 2 weeks. Now have severe Tinnitus, but would experience it all again no hesitation.

[@gerrydantone6834]

I was a Who fan at the time and watched this live! Yes, it WAS planned except Keith Moon put some explosive in his drum kit but didn't tell the others. Pete said afterward that he lost his hearing because of this.

[@timholder6825]

The drums were meant to explode in the finale, but not like that. Keith got the special effects guy drunk and persuaded him to pack 10x the flash powder into the squib. Pete's hair was set on fire, he suffered permanent hearing damage and Keith got a hit and cut by a shard of cymbal when one of them shattered. They didn't call him Moon the Loon for nothing.

[@bobsongs2023]

Most acts on variety shows except for the SB in those days were not 100% live. The doors on American Bandstand was a playback. But them on Ed Sullivan was live. I love the mime performances where they are too lazy to at least have a guitar cord plugged in to make it look half real. The Smother's Bro's were great because there were no VCR's or MTV in 1967. We had limited access to our rock favorites TV performances. Smothers Brothers, Ed Sullivan , American Bandstand, Shindig and Hullabaloo had mid 60's Rock performances. For early live rock Hullabaloo was great. The Rascals, Chuck Berry and the Beatles doing a fantastic "Kanas City".

[@stannelson8306]

Keith being Keith, having fun!

[@fenderchamp8241]

Many versions of this song. THE BEST, Live at Leeds. The changes are awesome.

[@johnnyfrederick01]

I don’t remember seeing this as a kid, and we watched “The Smothers Brothers” variety show every week, and had some of their comedy albums, too. Tommy and Dickie Smothers were excellent musicians, playing folk music, but also had a killer comedy act that incorporated their music. You would like to see them in one of their videos. As to Pete and his anger issues, this is legendary and has a lot to do with (along with John Lennon) growing up in post-WW II England when times were really hard and the adults were shell-shocked from how much their country lost in terms of blood, soldiers, money and time. He also had some serious, personal inner demons which (I believe) has dealt with for the most part. This was 1967, and the Who would be one of the main acts at Woodstock just 2 years later…..

[@dalemcmillan7231]

The WHO were Amazing ❤

[@alloccasionsgiftwrapping4767]

They always did that in concert. Smash at the end! Saw them do it live on their farewell tour 1981.

[@ignatzmuskrat3000]

Pete said that explosion wrecked his hearing more than two decades of loud gigs did.

[@mojorider8455]

ha! that's where Townshend said his hearing loss began!

[@GiannaEmme]

They were crazy 😂

[@panktendeez5548]

It was planned, and everyone who needed to know, knew. That is to say Keith. Keith knew. The others knew (or should have known) as they are known to have been well- advised to expect random explosions when in the vicinity of Mr. Moon.

[@steveshattah]

Oh boy I want to see your reaction to this video.

[@walterpanovs]

There's a great TV clip of their "I Can See for Miles," featuring Keith's amazing drumming. It was their only USA Top Ten hit.

[@nikosalmpanis-ty3jt]

I tell you to see this video,it's amazing🤘.

[@pierretoureille7359]

"What the fuck just happened?" was not an uncommon question from folks seeing the early Who for the first time.

[@dhfenske]

I recommend to you that you go through all the songs that are in the movie The Kids are Alright with us here on the channel, and then watch the movie. The movie has convinced me that The Who are the best live act ever. They are SO fun and entertaining.

[@toddk2737]

Moon had an explosive device put in his bass Pete just happened to be standing in the wrong place

[@johncollier9280]

Recommended Who tracks: Run,Run,Run...Pictures Of Lily...Substitute...

[@JohnLancaster-b5x]

Keith was the definition or rock and roll.

[@patriciahunt9818]

Crazy band. The hairstyles back then were mad lol.

[@hongfang2348]

Pete suffered hearing loss from that explosion at the end of the song

[@mikeross14]

I heard Keith got some damage by extra charge in the explosive! the destruction is part of the act since Monterrey Pop, this made Hendrix lite his Guitar on fire to Top them!

[@scottgelb2650]

Townshend attributes his tinnitus to a memorable incident during a 1967 television appearance on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, where drummer Keith Moon's explosive-filled drum kit caused an excessively loud bang, directly affecting Townshend's hearing.

[@Beatlejamie]

Apparently, at different times, two members of The Who added to the recommended amount of explosives in the drum kit (not knowing the other had done it). Watch again and you’ll see shrapnel from Keith’s cymbol hit him in the arm and injure him quite badly. You can see him grab his arm just after the explosion.

[@MrGb1965]

I believe this cut was recorded in an L.A. studio. Excellent version.

[@aceball7076]

This is great! Vintage.

[@msfoodiediva]

Thank u for playing this

[@jonathanroberts8981]

Tommy Smothers’ schtick was playing the “dummy.” He was actually quite sharp. Note that he walks in at the end with a cheap guitar rather than his high-end Guild.

[@Dr3amtime]

Punk before punk. If you're into the vibe, you might want to check out Jimi Hendrix's performance at Monterey Pop.

[@Wizardjudge]

That explosion is what Pete claims began his battle with tinnitus.

[@stevedotwood]

That was their act at that time

[@randy8297]

Only Keith knew.

[@paulehney4581]

Yeah, it got a bit wild.

[@jasonralph4286]

Wild Man! I loved The Who but it always made me cringe when they ruined their equipment at the end! Then Hendrix is out there lighting lighter fluid on his guitar. How did we survive our teenage years? Lucky to be alive to enjoy those amazing years...

[@alanhall2216]

I keep looking out for your full Tommy album review/reaction L33.

[@L33Reacts]

You're gonna keep looking, probably. The full album thing is off the table for the who. Attempted quadrophenia and it was blocked so I'm taking a break from full albums.

[@rydelldownward7808]

You should just watch all of The Kids Are Alright.

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Should have only done this version

[@damonhines8187]

The Smothers Brothers had a half-hour sitcom before their variety show, featuring Tommy's tag-line "Mom always liked you better", addressed to brother Dick, the straight man and bassist of the duo. Tommy Smothers also played on John Lennon's 'Give Peace A Chance', recorded in a Montreal hotel room during John and Yoko's honeymoon bed-in for peace.

[@jamessomers8808]

I like that you like eminence front. I think my favorite is mommas got squeeze box.

[@MrGb1965]

If you haven’t seen 1967 Marquee Club or 1973 Voorburg, there are more MG versions to watch.

[@mamared56]

The Smothers Brothers had a great show but were considered controversial at the time. The Who were known to destroy their instruments after performances. Their trademark move.

[@MrThumbs63]

Check out Moon's pupils. The Kids Are Alright is an excellent movie.

[@marcdaviddecker]

Saw them live back in the day. Fucking killed it. Pete wore knee pads so he could slide across the stage on his knees. Used to be billed as the loudest band in the world. They weren’t lyin. Yeah- they wrecked their shit most every show. Those were the days bro.

[@TedArchbold-ih3tc]

Keith put an explosive device in his drum kit unbeknownst to anyone. The cymbal cut his arm. Pete said later that the explosion hurt the hearing on one at. When I saw them on this show I knew something new had just arrived.

[@WilliamHomer-o3i]

Yes it was planned by Keith Moon the drummer

[@msfoodiediva]

Love reign ovr me or going mobile by the who are a must

[@WilliamEdwards-ko8sc]

hate to say it buuuut you need to listen to My Generation from Live at Leeds. you will not regret it. love the channel,

[@jasonralph4286]

Live at Leeds was the second album I bought after. The Rolling Stones Got Live if You Want It. I think I was 12 and my parents were probably shocked but I was the last of five kids so they were probably just tired and happy that I was the last.😂

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Should here the bass solo on 515

[@toddmills2651]

They were the very first punk band

[@AirDOGGe]

It is estimated that Pete smashed hundreds of guitars over the years. He broke 35 in one year. Crazy times.

[@toddk2737]

And that is what caused Pete's hearing problems all his life

[@johncampbell756]

This is how the documentary The Kids Are Alright starts. Pete was bending over in front of Keith's bass drum when Keith's explosive went off. You can see the front drum head is gone. His tinnitus began right then. He and Roger are both pretty much deaf now. Even though they tour together, they have no relationship off stage.

[@notquitedone51]

I heard that they all new there was an explosive in the drum, but Keith secretly substituted a much larger one. Of course, Pete had a right to be pissed off. Tommy Smothers looked pissed off too.

[@coinneachmaclellan3121]

I saw them in 1967...they triggered off smoke bombs in "dummy" amps while Townshend destroyed a Telecaster guitar and Moon kicked his drums all over the stage...Entwhistle being the last man left on stage took off his bass, dropped it butt end on the floor and walked off..

[@donpardo2510]

@L33Reacts it began accidentally but Pete would call it auto destruction as art. At this point in their career they were deep in debt because of constantly replacing equipment

[@corvus1374]

Keith Moon was one of the best drummers ever

[@Robert-tj3qq]

Relax Gameboy , the sky isn't falling . They were getting down on the Smoothers Brothers show

[@davidburton9136]

The story I heard was that when they did the explosives during dress rehearsal, it came off like "a wet fart", I think Roger called it. So, both the crew and then, separately, Keith loaded some extra explosives. Pete blames his hearing loss to this event.

[@charlesharris2749]

That was the same year I saw them in Dallas. I was 16, just got my drivers license and some girl talked me into taking her to see Herman's Hermits. Well, the opening act was The Who, and they did Summertime Blues, Happy Jack, and My Generation ... and some more, then they destroyed their instruments on stage. WTF! This was Texas, man. No one had ever seen anything like it. For me, my musical life was changed forever!

[@TheHogsEarReport]

Opening for Hermans Hermits was the Who's first US tour, 1966. Also on the bill was The Blues Magoo's. I have a Herman's Hermits tour program from that tour.