The Who & The Small Faces | The Most Controversial Tour of 1968 [mini-documentary]

[@PFay]

I always feel privileged to say I was there. First concert i ever attended Sydney stadium with a couple of school mates. We were just kids and the show blew my tiny mind! Indeed, there were difficulties with the revolving stage causing some delays, but we were lucky enough to see the headliners Small Faces and the Who from the best aspect facing us. As we were at an early show and due to the delays we'd been subjected to, it was announced that the audience could remain and watch a following later performance. Cool, but in 1968 me and my mates would have been dependent on public phones and permission from our mums to do so. Attempted to exit to make the calls, but were informed that once we exited, we'd need to buy new tickets, so we were back on the bus to Town Hall then back on the train to the suburbs. The now senior me would like to add. While members of the Small Faces and the Who are renowned for their roles in the greatest musical era of the sixties, their biggest critics during that 1968 tour, State Premiers Robyn Askin and Henry Bolte are notorious for being the most corrupt leaders in Australian State politics. And given that rogues gallery of crooks dating back to colonial times, that means they were absolute scoundrels! Furthermore, Australian media have only become worse.

[@heighwaysonthewing]

after reports like that bloody right you were there ! with a write up like that no way would I not be, kind of a pre run to the Punk and Sex pistols thing love it , great bands and performers and singers too though.

[@timapple9157]

'Small Faeces'come on the Australian media today would not print that. Ever watch Sky news? Now that is awful Australian media.

[@antithug7942]

Cool story.

[@liammccaul6587]

Fantastic! This Melbourne concert was my first. I was 15 years old, and I remember the fire, the destruction! OMG, still the best concert I have ever been to. I still have the tour program, which survived (unlike like Pete’s guitar)🤣🤣. Yes,I remember the controversies, the plane trip story. But for a 15 year old school kid, this was an apocalyptic experience. After this show, I went to every concert I could through the remainder of the sixties and seventies. This show: fresh in my mind!!

[@mariam5991]

I'm an Aussie and I remember the controversy when I was a little girl. Thank you, listening to this was fantastic. I'm a big Small Faces fan.

[@VagueRANT100]

SMALL FACES were the absolute equal of the WHO....maybe a smidge better even!!

[@jgm64productions27]

I'm a huge Small Faces fan as well. However, I was 4 when the tour happened and was living in England.

[@heli-crewhgs5285]

@@jgm64productions27I’m a small Huge Faces fan!

[@nealzokan2680]

I'm a large, faceless fan of the Small Faces and I also believe I like the Who ??

[@VagueRANT100]

@@nealzokan2680 !!!

[@weehudyy]

The antiquated sound system at the Wellington Town Hall blew up at soundcheck , so the Who and The Small Faces combined their gear and constructed their own . I know people that were there who claimed it was the first real Rock n Roll show they had ever seen ... Loud and wild !

[@Tajhad]

As an Aussie - I can’t apologise enough. The press and authorities didn’t change until the mid 70’s. As fans we were embarrassed by their treatment. The press was rabid.

[@TheJoshuamooney]

As I recall, Zeppelin had a good experience there in 1972, and played some epic shows.

[@paulvon2378]

BUT the press was just doing their job.

[@joeswan6747]

Watch a clip of Lou Reed meeting the Australian press

[@Moonie804]

There's a chapter in Moon's biography by Fletcher (Full Moon or Dear Boy, depending on where it's published) describing this tour, which the band considered a nightmare for a long time... especially Moonie! It's a great bio that every Who fan should read.

[@garylucas5558]

Best channel on KZbin

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thanks!

[@bobtomlin6813]

I was at the Sydney show .... still got the programme .... I loved it ❤❤😊

[@TheTempest1944]

EVERY new video on this channel is Christmas Eve! The material is ALWAYS interesting and informative and BEAUTIFULLY presented!!!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thank you very much!

[@spatrick8035]

@@TheTempest1944 Well stated!

[@Ogma3bandcamp]

He delivers yet again. Many thanks! I've heard stories of this tour before, but not in this detail. Your content, sir, is consistently excellent. My son's over there down under, working right now. Thank goodness he wasn't given that kind of reception. I feel almost as protective of Steve Marriott as I do my son.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thanks!

[@mikeowen1192]

@@Ogma3bandcamp Marriott a legend,

[@jonathansteadman7935]

Absolutely smashed and flaked, deep joy of a song load in the ear droves.

[@Warp75]

The Aussies were very uptight back then even making the British look chilled. Saying that Marriott & Moon would of been a handful for anyone

[@ArtsNet]

As a 16 year old, I was at Essendon Airport to meet them. I got all 4 members of The Who to autograph a copy of Go-Set. Unfortunately, my mother threw it away when I left home at 18. The concert at Festival Hall was fantastic.

[@procyonant6805]

I'm not surprised. Even Bon Scott was performing in a neat suit and singing bubble gum songs at the time.

[@charlescharalambous7111]

As an Australian, I find it typical of what we had to put up with in the conservative press led by Murdoch's hacks. Never let the truth get in the way of a sensationalist story. The Premier Bob Askin was accused of taking bribes in the form of cash in paper bags, not a person that should be lecturing on morals. 1968 was a great year to see The Who and The Small Faces, I bet the shows were great. I saw The Who on their return in 2009, and Pete told the crowd that he had changed his mind on Australia and he took too long to return. One other thing, the sound at concerts in Australia was terrible until the 1990s. Another great video from Yesterday's Papers.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers!

[@radomirratkovic9014]

The Who were back in July 2004. Zack Starkey ( Ringo's and Maureen's son was a drummer) ...I think it was 24/07/ 2004. when they played in the Sydney Entertainment Centre ...It was Thursday and than they played a Friday show at the same venue ...My little band cashed the same night $7.800 behind the till in the venue not far away ...That's how I remembered and than friend digged out exact date when we played (started residency) ....The pub crew could not believe their eyes when they counted the money ...

[@NoosaHeads]

BTW, I think this channel absolutely rocks. The commentaries are great and the subject matter is always interesting and involving.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thanks!

[@VX_XI]

From 1968-1976. The Who was the best live band ever. 1968 was a very powerful year for The Who and the second year of thier reign of pure rock theatre (starting 1967)

[@paavoviuhko7250]

The 60's the way I remember them was a warfare of generations. Personal abuse was constant. The hard hats and the doves. Anyone with long hair got called a monkey. My parents refused to let me grow my hair long. My father was always ready with the clippers to restore me to civic respectability. But it's all a distant almost forgotten memory.

[@williamwalton583]

I can remember Frank Zappa calling those arseholes out brilliantly in the 60's. Playing their game better than them. John Lennon also

[@djweight]

​@williamwalton583 funny thing is now the kids probably need that

[@jogischulz2576]

THANK YOU, two of my absolute favorite bands, wish I was on their concert ! Australia was very conservative back then !

[@elmolewis9123]

What a great story. Had never heard of this problem tour before but your research and presentation brought it to life. Excellent work.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@tattyshoesshigure5731]

Fascinating video to watch, I didn’t realise the Aussie media were still showing such hostility to ‘long haired’ bands in 1968… did Oz miss the summer of love a year earlier? I read that seeing the Who perform their incredible live act on that tour directly led to Steve Marriott quitting the Small Faces at the year’s end.

[@daijones101]

I’m also Australian and a friend of mine went to see the show in Melbourne. He thought it was Wild. I was 15 and in fourth form at high school and I wished I could have gone. I loved both of those bands

[@mikeowen1192]

@@daijones101 don't think so they performed a lot together in the UK and where great friends small faces where as good as the who live seen them both,

[@briangallagher2236]

At one stop in Australia, Pete got up around noontime but couldn’t get room service. So he bought a box of cornflakes, a pint of milk, poured it in bro the bathroom sink, ate a few bites, and left it there. Dried-out cereal turns into concrete.

[@robfrancis711]

I was at the Melbourne concert and as a big Who/ Small Faces fan (still am) thought it was great. Pete had a guitar that he was supposed to pretend to smash, but it fell apart while he was playing. So he really smashed it at the end (difficult with a solid body!). I remember the hall getting filled with smoke during the final "My Generation". It was the Aussie press who were the problem. They gave Joe Cocker and (even) Frank Sinatra shit some years later. i believed we have improved since.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Very cool. Seeing the Who live in 1968 must have caused quite an impression.

[@neilforbes416]

As I see it, genuine *PROFESSIONAL* musicians *take loving care of their instruments!* So for a fuckwit like Pete Townshend to smash his guitar to pieces shows him to be exactly that, an out-and-out *FUCKWIT!*

[@boomtownrat5106]

“…the national press accused them of being scruffy long-haired junkies that wanted to corrupt the youth of the country…” To which I say: yeah? And…? You would think by ‘68 most people wouldn’t have cared about long hair? As always, YP, I love these obscure rock n roll stories that you dig up and share with us. This is definitely not your run-of-the-mill KZbin music channel.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers!

[@Rochfordessex2]

Great documentary as usual YP - thanks for highlighting my top 2 all time groups. ❤ There's a live version of the SF cover of If I were a carpenter somewhere on KZbin. Recorded in Oz during the tour. The sound isn't all that bad actually. And full of energy.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@olivierlusseyran]

Fascinating documentary by Yesterdays Papers ! In times when Rock 'n' Roll was disturbing and dangerous. Thanks again YP's !

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers, glad you enjoyed it!

[@KeelsF2F]

Ah, the good ol' days. Major Who and Small Faces freak from way back but was not aware of this. Thanks so much for posting. Rock on!

[@dja69]

Thank you so much as you documented this brilliantly. 👍

[@tomrobinson5776]

Fantastic video. I always wondered what happened on this tour. Thanks again Yesterday’s Papers. 😉

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers!

[@ainsleyperry5192]

The tour played 2 shows at the Auckland Town Hall, 5p.m & 8 p.m. The amps on stage just gave constant feedback through the mic's. After the first show the Who and Small Faces said they would'nt do the 2nd show. The promoter said he'd get a better set of mic's for the 2nd show.( never did). So finally after much delay the 2nd show went ahead. Finding that nothing had changed the Small Faces only did 2 songs and walked off never to come back. The Who did their set and then at the end smashed all the mic's.Like the Kink's disastrious U.S. Tour with no management assistance so this tour was the same. They were on their own. When the Stones or Beatles toured they had full management support to smooth the wheels. Not even the local promotors on both sides of the Tasman gave them much help, if any. In some way's the Who had the last laugh by going on to be one of the headline acts at Woodstock later that same year. Fun Times. Cheers, Chris Perry.

[@convaitsas5514]

Fantastic back story. I wasn't fully aware of the many problems the tour encountered only knew they didn't want to return.

[@colinmartin2921]

I remember a report in the music press in the Seventies of a Marriott gig, where he responded to a rude fan 'with inevitable crassness'.

[@willminkorea2010]

FWIW, flying in 1968 was much different than it is today. In 1968 men wore suits, women also dressed up, and it was an upper class experience all around.

[@douglasb5046]

And a certain level of decorum

[@Krzyszczynski]

And there was more personal space even in economy class - not crammed in like sardines the way they are now.

[@ritabyrne8070]

Absolutely love the Small Faces, especially Steve Marriot. Great voice - gone too soon ❤️

[@Fuzzbrain61]

Great insight into the tour that inspired the song Postcard from the Who's Odds and Sods LP. People tend to forget how conservative the Atipodes was in the 1960's, certainly not swinging and more on a par with South Africa in terms of social norms. I had some Aussie friends who were still talking about that tour in the 1980s!

[@faeembrugh]

'Sensation' from 'Tommy' was also inspired by the Australian trip although it was originally about a girl Pete Townshend met there.

[@spyderlogan4992]

Another great 'untold' but now told story from Down Under. But it breaks my heart to see Pete abuse that 'Strat'...This channel needs 100k subs. Thx YP~!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers!

[@unclenogbad1509]

"F*ck it, let's make it a Grand." Rock'n Roll personified, right there. Cheers, mate.

[@walterfechter8080]

Well, that was "refreshing." I never cared for mass media coverage of wars, let alone what they've said in the past about "scruffy no-talent musicians." LOL! I was one of the aforementioned. Ha! I'm a Who'ligan, Small Faces fan and Paul Jones fan til I die! Many thanks, Yesterday's Paper! Keep up the great work, mate(s)!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers.

[@walterfechter8080]

@@YesterdaysPapers Your channel is treasure! Cheers!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

@walterfechter8080 Thanks, Walter!

[@walterfechter8080]

@@YesterdaysPapers You're welcome!

[@dennisbenn2065]

I like the visual overlay at first of the boring early 60s couple looking with interest/bewilderment to news of a Who/Small Faces tour. shout out for how much thought and work goes into crafting just a few minutes of the footage we watch

[@Senna-xi1gr]

What an amazing gig this must have been. Am 57 & been a Small faces & WHO fan since I was 8 . 🇬🇧🏆👍

[@neilfriedman]

How things changed, 15 years later, in 1983, I watched Steve with Humble Pie in Sydney, and there was no controversy or mention of the '68 tour. Being from south africa, I took Steve some Durban Poisons after he sang about them in 30 Days in the Hole😂😂😂😂

[@weehudyy]

Ha ... I remember that shit

[@cargumdeu]

wonderful stuff, used to make me laugh til tears were running down my face. A real 'creeper'.

[@DissTopia-o7p]

What are Durban Poisons ?

[@weehudyy]

@@DissTopia-o7p A particularly strong strain of cannabis from South Africa

[@neilfriedman]

@DissTopia-o7p marijuana

[@davidellis5141]

I only saw The Who 🇬🇧 once , in the summer of 1980 at The Forum in Inglewood , CA. They were awesome as were opening act The Only Ones who were handpicked by Pete as support.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

I love The Only Ones, great band. That must've been a great show.

[@VagueRANT100]

I was at one of the SYDNEY concerts my first ....it was a BLAST....PURE CHAOS!!!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Very cool!

[@VagueRANT100]

@@YesterdaysPapers I have a framed repro TOUR POSTER which was from a limited edition signed on the back by the artist.I was a big WHO fan and was chuffed when Pete was being driven into the venue and we made eye contact from a few feet away......Paul Jones threw one of his shoes into the MOSTLY MALE audience thinking someone would treasure it as a souvenir.....NO SIR!...it promptly flew back and hit him in the head!.....also,luckily for me and mates when the revolving stage broke down we got to see them front on ....unlike some angry punters....I was 17 at the time....Malcolm and Angus Young were at one of the 2 Sydney concerts and I am sure this was an absolute inspiration for them!!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

@@VagueRANT100 Great story! "Paul Jones threw one of his shoes into the MOSTLY MALE audience thinking someone would treasure it as a souvenir.....NO SIR!...it promptly flew back and hit him in the head!". Hilarious!

[@VagueRANT100]

@@YesterdaysPapers if the audience had been 80% female he would have had a much happier experience!!

[@alp-1960]

A new Yesterday's Papers video featuring the greatest live band ever! The sweetest of Halloween treats!

[@Truckngirl]

Although the political pendulum has swung in the opposite direction, the behavior of the establishment in Australia is still notoriously bad.

[@hanajinks1044]

Authoritarianism is always of the Left, which is what liberalism is.

[@elkiebeerepoot5829]

@@hanajinks1044 In fact, that's not true. There is an easy to find test on the internet to check it out, but there are many others, based on psychological and historical evidence. You can check this by triangulation.

[@Lola-AreaCode212]

​@@hanajinks1044 😄🤦‍♀️

[@mikoshmitty]

Oh, hana.

[@littlelovely1211]

​@@hanajinks1044 🤡

[@michaelholycross2633]

Outstanding work once again, sir!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@maloz63]

My Auntie was actually at the Sydney gig , she never mentioned any controversy, I managed to see the WHO about 35 years latter in Sydney,

[@johnwalton9668]

Small Faces are the best band ever. Sadly,never saw em live. Seen the other two though. The who were fantastic.

[@ronnie3280]

I was at the Sydney Stadium concert, seem to remember the sound for the Small Faces was terrible but was much improved when the Who came on. Also saw the Monkees there later in the year. 56 years ago remarkable.

[@spatrick8035]

This channel just keeps getting better and better! Not sure how that is possible. The vintage photos are amazing! I’m also astounded by the fact that you acknowledge almost every comment. Impressive indeed. Thanks for your efforts!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thanks, glad you enjoy the videos. Cheers!

[@408SanJo]

What an amazing story, very entertaining to watch. Too bad for Small Faces and The Who, but fun to hear the story so many years later.

[@MrSnappy67]

Previously untold tale for me, thanks!

[@familydogg1234]

Wow! Brand New!- I know cause Ive been watching YP!! As Im watching this I am amazed at all the photos and hearing The Small Faces side. Nice work- including the remake of the SF song around 6:35- name escapes me as they recorded literally all the time. When I first heard THE WHO Odds and Sods- the week it was released I read the liner notes for " Postcard"- parts were recorded in actual countries they toured. As all of you know the lyrics are " thrown off the plane for drinking beer". At least the plane wasnt moving! One Hermans Hermits TV date in Australia- girls are throwing balls of ribbons at Noone and he is ducking. Must have been fun then...... hey thanks YP!! PS- anyone know how the SMALL FACES members felt about returning to Australia??? RIP Mooney, the Ox, Plonk and Marrit

[@janerkenbrack3373]

Sounds like Australia was pretty uptight back then.

[@weehudyy]

It continued to be ... Frank Sinatra insulted a journalist in 1974 and they closed the country to him ... trapped in a hotel suite . Check out the movie ' The night we called it a day '

[@georgeprice4212]

Then came AC/DC, and…..

[@doctorbohr1585]

​@@georgeprice4212I think Zep's tour in 1974 and the 1973 Sunbury festival loosened us up too.

[@doctorrobert1339]

Seems like they were that way up until the 90s with Oasis

[@Krzyszczynski]

It was! I remember reading in IT (International Times - a UK underground newspaper of the time) about how radio stations would even bleep out the "bloody" in the Royal Guardsmen's 1967 hit Snoopy vs the Red Baron.

[@phosphorescentscotsman]

Pete attempted to get room service one morning and was ignored by the hotel staff. So he went round to a corner shop and returned with milk and a Corn-Flakes packet. Dumped the lot into the bathroom sink, ate a few spoonful left it there. Everyone knows that when corn-flakes dry up, they stick like CONCRETE! 🤣🤣

[@trudimcpherson55]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 brilliant

[@pencilpauli9442]

I'm so confused by the contradiction of the stiff conservatism of the Aussie establishment, and the stereotypical beer swilling digger in the outback calling a spade a bloody effin shitshovel! 🤣🤣 Loved the comment about The Seekers. Maybe they should have arranged a tour for the Bachelors, Frankie Ifield and the St Winifred's Girls' School Choir instead! lol

[@matthewashman1406]

Would of been epic 😂

[@paulvassallo3317]

Hi. Im a Aussie too. Great work YP. The place was choka full of wowsers back then.that's for sure.p

[@YesterdaysPapers]

@@paulvassallo3317 Cheers!

[@matthewashman1406]

Your no ocker mate. Struth

[@weehudyy]

I remember the manufactured press outrage , my parents had a corner shop and I remember the Truth article . For those that don't remember The Truth was a scurrilous rag that existed on scandal and the racing news , it died when women's magazines took over the scandal and outrage market . MY mum wouldn't put the posters up , I had a bunch of the classics . Fun Fact . NZ band Larry's Rebels bought the Small Faces' Sunn amps and improved their sound no end .

[@flamencoprof]

I was just about to make the same comment. To call the Truth a newspaper at all would be a big stretch.

[@juliusschwencke142]

..Larry's Rebels used Sunn? I've never seen Sunn amplification used in NZ in the 60s.

[@weehudyy]

@@juliusschwencke142 They bought the entire backline and the strobe the Who used . I have an idea Midge Marsden ended up with one of the guitars Townshend trashed

[@juliusschwencke142]

@@weehudyy ..interesting. SF used Vox/ Marshall in the UK, and Sunn was a US brand. The Who dabbled with Sunn, though. Saw Larry's Rebels on a college tour in 68, and it was all Jansen.

[@Krzyszczynski]

@@flamencoprof No more truth in it than there was in Pravda (which means "truth" in Russian").

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a great weekend also happy Halloween and also happy last day of October Yesterday's Papers ❤😊

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers!

[@Terrilliser2024OZ]

I'm an Aussie and love both of these bands.

[@LouiseTENNANT-c5w]

I have four brothers and Steve Marriot was a star at our house in Australia...still is!

[@paulramon3353]

This was close to the end of the use of inappropriate venues like the Sydney Stadium, which was built for boxing. Unfortunately the alternative for big acts became summer tours of racecourses and similar outdoor venues with comparable acoustic problems plus heat and thunderstorms - building sporting venues remained the priority here. It wasn't until the 80s that suitable large indoor venues became the norm.

[@Krzyszczynski]

Yep - I reckon the Aussies just didn't have the know-how back then when it came to putting on rock events.

[@Chiefmismaker]

Well done lads!

[@xdef1ne]

As a New Zealander, I find it hilarious that every time a UK R&B group would tour the country, they’d create a huge scene in the media which would piss off all the parents but the kids went absolutely wild. The Pretty Things (who were banned) The Stones, The Who & The Small Faces. The only band that didn’t create a spectacle in the media was The Beatles lol. (Take that how you will..) These bands had a HUGE impact & influence on our own R&B/garage scene. I’d love to see a you make a video on some NZ bands, the Audio Culture website has a lot of great information on these groups. The Pretty Things were a bigger influence here than The Beatles & Stones combined.

[@matthewashman1406]

Bollocks

[@xdef1ne]

@ What’s bollocks?

[@matthewashman1406]

@@xdef1ne that the pretty things were bigger in NZ than the Beatles or stones combined. If true then no wonder we are stuffed

[@xdef1ne]

@ have you listened to the 60s r&b/garage groups from NZ?

[@moorlock2003]

To think The Small Faces could have toured America without all that drama, and without The Who as headliners. CBS wanted the band to tour on the back of “Itchycoo Park” and the wonderful “There Are But Four Small Faces” LP but they declined. Bad move.

[@wildflowers123-k1z]

Two of the great bands ever!

[@delbertstringbreaker7686]

And yet the Australian government thought so little of their young people that they sent them off to die in Vietnam! I remember seeing the Small Faces and the Who in the Roundhouse a bit later on. Great stuff! But how did they end up on tour with the anodyne Paul Jones? Thanks muchly for another fantastic YP!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

@@delbertstringbreaker7686 Cheers!

[@weehudyy]

Paul Jones was the original Manfred Mann singer , and is still performing with London legends ' The Blues Band ' and occasionally touring with ' The Manfreds ' along with his replacement Mike D'Abo .

[@weehudyy]

A more bizarre bill was The Pretty Things with Sandy Shaw and Eden Kane ...

[@Krzyszczynski]

Same sort of reasons Jimi Hendrix was once on the same bill as the Walker Brothers, Cat Stevens and - yes! - Engelbert Humperdinck!!

[@VonL]

As was once published by investigative reporter Johnathon Kwitney, the government in Canberra, back then, was effectively owned by the CIA.

[@CarlDraper]

THe Who later released a song about that tour, called "postcard" which appears on Odds & Sods

[@jonathanpearl5379]

Written by John Entwistle.

[@bid84]

Love both bands, but the SF were amazing

[@anyatranter5588]

How things have changed ,now the pop stars can't say boo without being demonised and they are the ones launched out of windows.

[@michaelwills1926]

Retrospectives help illuminate how far down the social devolution slide we’ve all been taken. They really did a number on everyone

[@EdwinJack64]

Yeah, I once read something about that infamous tour but still knew too little about it. Your new docu shows well how all this could happen. Well, whatever people think of it, at least things were shaken up a bit there 😂!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

No doubt!

[@KatharineShaw-z8u]

There was another controversial tour of NZ in 1965 by the Pretty Things and the mayhem they caused. The NZ parliament even got involved. Their loony drummer Viv Prince had an influence on Keith Moon. The 1968 packaged tour of Australasia was just as controverisal.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

Very interesting and well done video, YP. Thank you!. One thing I don't understand. What is all this about long hair? I mean the Beatles and Stones had been around long before 1968 and the Easybeats had long hair too in 65inflamatory . Was it the aggressive music of the Who that got their panties in a bunch? The Small Faces are not like that. Or was it the press that just wanted to create inflammatory copy that sells papers? I'm sure they didn't say the Beatles were there to take money out of Australia's depressed economy or empty the pockets of all those poor Aussie kids.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers, Willie! At the time, the Australian press was very conservative and they still saw long-haired musicians as scruffy degenerates. The Stones also got a lot of negative remarks when they toured Australia but they were used to that so they mostly ignored the comments and didn't take the bait. The Beatles usually got a warmer welcome because they were seen as "nice and lovable".

[@willieluncheonette5843]

@@YesterdaysPapers thanks mate. Happy Halloween!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

@@willieluncheonette5843 Happy Hallowen, Willie.

[@deannagoldston4276]

Great stuff.

[@PaIaeoCIive1684]

Loved that Who roadie's rock'n'roll attitude when the band had clocked-up $750 in damages bunging TVs and other stuff out of the hotel window: "let's make it a grand!" That's what rebellious youth was expected to do.

[@SuperNevile]

At least the roadie knew the value of an antique chair.

[@matthewashman1406]

Yeh destroying people property is what music is about 😂

[@ballhawk387]

But judging from the comments of those who were there, the *fans* loved really dug it, and thought it worth every penny.

[@alexalexin9491]

well, australia seems to have a history with british bands heavier than the Beatles since 1965, when the Pretty Things had a disastrous tour there.

[@weehudyy]

Legendary ! Drummer Viv Prince got a lifetime ban from Air New Zealand for his inflight behaviour and another from the Dunedin Town Hall for wobbling onstage with a lit rolled up newspaper and scaring the bejeebers out of a white suited Eden Kane who was trying to sing Boys Cry ... Mind you the Dunedin Town Hall denied use of the Bluthner Grand to any ' pop musicians ' after Jerry Lee Lewis abused it in the 50s ...

[@matthewashman1406]

Australia liked music 😂

[@dantean]

Love hearing stories from when the press treated things like concert tours as if they were significant political events, and not just some horny 20 year-olds there to be paid and get laid--in whichever order. And any story about the Who from the years BEFORE Tommy is always pure gold to me--I don't know why. Maybe proximity to the mod moment gives it a little more luster and makes it somehow...cooler? I dunno. Maybe also because after Tommy they became megastars and this period still feels somewhat innocent in comparison. Thx for posting, as always.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

I know what you mean. That period when they were stars but not mega-stars is fascinating.

[@dantean]

@@YesterdaysPapers I read Richard Barnes' "The Who: Maximum R&B" when it came out in the early 80s and have been fascinated by that period ever since.

[@flatlandr4141]

I hope the self-righteous "journalists" from that time lived to realize the incredible insignificance of their contributions. Their efforts amount to an argument that water isn't good for the human body, when seen through a historical lens.

[@davidellis5141]

Shame The Who took so long to return to Australia 🇦🇺. They never got to appear on the great Countdown show with the legendary Countdown Kids !

[@honved1]

Where can I find the version of shaking all over you used in the video????

[@radomirratkovic9014]

How many shows in Sudney in Randwick ? Was told by some acquaintance that there was a show on that tour were The Who played before S.F. and late Stece Narriot got pissed off because The Who trashed the equipment on the stage ( drum set etc.) so by the time S.F. came to the stage there was not much of the drum set keft in ine piece ...That fellow also mentioned that rotatibg stage ...Was it just one shiw ir two shows in Sydney were groups backed each other ?

[@lib556]

Two of my favourite all-time bands. Funny fixating on hair length ... in 1968!

[@trudimcpherson55]

We mostly all had hair like that loved it!!

[@Ncharlestun]

I'm lucky to have gotten an autograph from both Roger (2010) and Steve(1983) in person.

[@weeooh1]

I think they would have been treated similarly in other countries at the time as well. Rock bands were seen as hooligans and a threat to conservative societies at the time. The Beatles and their southern US tour where they refused to play to segregated audiences and their disastrous Philippines tour where they similarly vowed to never return.

[@doctorbohr1585]

A great episode on a notorious tour that's now largely forgotten down here (as is the legendary Sydney Stadium - demolished in the 1970s to make way for the Bondi rail viaduct) Australia was still punishingly puritanical back in the day, despite the many progressive movements afoot then. Ever since I learnt about the Small Faces / Who tour of 68, I have believed that Oasis deliberately aped the controversy as an homage when they came out in 1998 (getting drunk on the flight and punching a heckler).

[@MarkkuKoljonenwTinja]

;D Thanks! T&M

[@fractalmusicj]

How scary was the Oz press back in day, hmmmmmm hang on, another great video, well done

[@beekay5914]

I can't imagine any better pairing of bands for a tour. That could have been so much fun! They should have brought that tour to the US.

[@stannousvortalux5655]

Never heard this crazy tale!!

[@VonL]

If I recall correctly, Small Faces lore had it that Steve’s alter ego “Melvin” made his debut during that tour.

[@thereunionparty]

What a curious attitude of the Aussie press to accuse these bands of taking money from the fans. Did they think they would perform for free? This episode shows that it wasn't all fun for touring British bands in the 60s. The Beatles fell foul of Ferdinand Marcos' goons in the Philippines in 1966, The Kinks got banned from the U.S.A because of some little fracas and The Pretty Things had a hard time from the New Zealand press on their 1965 tour.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Very true.

[@Krzyszczynski]

I remember reading once (late 1965) how Bill Wyman pissed off some sparkies' union in the States because he'd dared to change his own plug on an amp!

[@VagueRANT100]

THE QUESTIONS provided backing for P.J.......their singer DOUG PARKINSON went on to become Austrailias greatest soul singer....big man big voice RIP Dougie!

[@VintageWanderer]

Wow! It was really tough to be a rock and roller back in the day. Equipment was not made for big stages and long hair was still a issues with most people.

[@mjh5437]

Australia has always been really backwards,I spent six months working there in 1981 and as a Londoner I felt like I`d stepped into some kind of timewarp and gone back at least a decade to 1971 lol..The Aussie people were all incredibly small-minded.

[@timcoakley5498]

That’s not true of all Aussies.

[@Zappa943]

Oh yes it is.

[@Signalfromabove]

I've just got back from there and it's like living int the 2000's at the moment 😭🤣😂

[@briangray00]

Really interesting; ta.

[@edwinwise6751]

Why is Rupert Murdock allowed to ruin the world one country at a time ?

[@rokarolla]

I like that "Friday on my mind" band.

[@cindyfalstrom7231]

Thea Easybeats - a fantastic Aussie band!

[@DezDogg]

8:14 Francis Begbie! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂