Fans React to the Who’s Super Bowl Halftime Performance
Photo: Martinez/Getty
More than 100 million people tuned in to Super Bowl XLIV last night, and it seems like each one of them has an opinion on the Who’s 12-minute halftime performance. Readers flocked to Rolling Stone’s report on the Super Bowl set to leave comments praising and criticizing Daltrey and Townshend’s pyro-packed show. “The Who were an amazing band, but you gotta face the fact that they really didn’t sound good,” Bob wrote, while Redsox argued, “Everyone can say what they want, but I’ve seen them 28 times over the last 25 years and last night at the ripe age of 65 and 64 they were unreal, living the dream and spreading the genius of Pete’s music onto a new generation.”
Relive the Who’s halftime set in photos.
Many readers lodged complaints over the band’s sound issues — a common issue when rockers perform on impromptu stages in open-air stadiums. Some commenters remarked that their telecast of the performance suffered from a slight delay between sound and visuals. Others felt that the Who showed their old age in the performance, and a small minority claimed that the band onstage wasn’t the Who at all since they were missing drummer Keith Moon and bassist John Entwistle.
However, an army of Who devotees applauded the Who’s energetic performance and marveled at their ability to rock in their 60s. Of course, some used the hyperbolic “Best halftime show ever,” but most of the positive comments suggest that the Super Bowl performance was just the latest chapter in the Who’s ongoing legacy. Drummer Zak Starkey — yes, Ringo’s son — was credited with channeling the spirit of Keith Moon, and Daltrey’s scream on “Won’t Get Fooled Again” managed to scrape the same heights as it did almost 40 years ago. And there’s no one who can deny that the stage setup was pretty remarkable.
Check out photos of music’s big names rocking football’s big game.
Here’s a cross-section of RS’ best reader comments:
Who-Fan: “The Who will always be great, but that was not singing…they are long past their prime.”
Proud: “How many of you could get up and do that 60 50 40 whatever it was fun it wasn’t like 45 years ago but it was great just the same”
Are you kidding?: “worst performance at half-time in a while”
Timmyy: “Truly a great example of Live Arena Rock! People are so used to lip sync techno produced pop that they just don’t get live rock. Its not supposed to sound perfect, its not a CD. The Who showed why they are best of all time at LIVE ARENA ROCK!”
Siberia: “brilliant staging brilliant pyro brilliant stage design. the performance? sub par at best. what i wanna know is how oprah got letterman and leno to do a commercial together”
Lorraine: “The Who were Whorrible!! WHO came up with the idea of booking them? Who Dat???”
Moon the Loon: “25 or 65, The Who Rocked!! Best half-time show ever. Sad that so many of you are so f’n clueless!!”
Robin: “I didn’t enjoy The Who’s performance, but the lighting display was pretty cool. I find it hard to believe many people like the halftime show. People need to separate nostalgia from their opinion.”
Goatherd: “The Who were never noted for impeccable live rendition, but rather energy. There was plenty of energy here. And Daltrey hit the only note that matters: the HEYYYYY!!! at the end of Won’t Be Fooled Again. Rock on!”
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• The Who Rock Super Bowl XLIV With Explosive Medley of Big Hits
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View full post on Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily
The Who rock. From 1964 to 2010, The Who just plain ROCK.
David Gilmour and what is left of Pink Floyd would keep everyone in their seats and watching during halftime. Eric Clapton or Neil Young would be a good choice to. Hows about all 3? Together! Gilmour is way under rated.
The Who rocked, Roger is still hot and Pete has still got it! So there…..and my 17 year old son loved it! so much for just the old people liking it.
Yo, Gerald, I love the UK bands too…. but i’ll be remindin ya that U2 are sons of Eire.
Tears of joy – to see an’ hear the Who still rockin!!!!!!
Nobody complains about Tony Bennett,he is 83 and still gives me chills,as well as all those people mentioned above.I Think it’s cause they love music,and don’t want to quit because you don’t like grey hair.
Maybe you should close your eyes and listen for a change
i like the who and loved their music as a teen but i didn’t get to see a show until 2000 since i wasn’t old enough. they were ok in irvine and hollywood bowl (right after they lost entwistle) but they definitely are not the band that i saw in concert videos in their prime. i don’t know if they do it because they still love it and miss it or for the money. if it is because they still love it then ok i get it but if it’s for the money….then give it up guys and go fishing.
Not to mention another British Rock band 1 of the greatest ever…Led Zepellin!! aND LOOK IT UP AMERICANS ive been told they were american theyre english just performed there another british gem!
Long live the British Rock Legecy. The Stones, The Who, The Beatles, U2 and many other greats. Is there an American band that can clean these bands shoes? Nope. Who has America got? Some guy said Green Day should go on superbowl…please…few good songs yeah but dont deserve to go on the superbowl. Metallica? naa too heavy for the show and another overrated american rock/metal band. The Eagles? Another overrated rock band from the states. Is there even an American Rock Band or any band for that matter from the states that has been around since the 1960s? Im struggling to find one! So you haters out there hating on the who…..keep listening to your mediocre music from britney, lady gag gag, mariah, christina, Jay-Z, Kid Rock etc and let the legends do their business! One band I’d like to see,,and yes theyre American…Linkin Park would do a great show! The only band that formed after the year 2000 that have sold 60 million albums. Just about the only american rock band i respect! Oh and i love Nirvana! With the lights out, Entertain us!! Here I am now entertain us!!! A denial! a denial! a denial! a denial! a denial! a denial! a denial! a denial! a deniallllll!!!!
You are right Sean, they are old now and wont sound as good, these people dont get it. Its a feat in itself that they had the guts to get infront of so many people there and watching at home to perform some of their biggest hits Live. Not like overated performers like Mariah Carey and The Eagles who in my opinion had 1 good song with Hotel California, or like Britney Spears miming. The Who are true Legends of music give them some credit. Could you haters have done better? And who would have been a better replacement for the half time show? The best halftime show ever! Rock on WhO!!! And for those saying The Who suck now without Keith and John,,, well yeah, all bands would be affected if some of their key performers leave or pass on. Look what happened to Queen. Freddie died and theyre rotten since. Kurt Cobain died and the best grunge band ever Nirvana dont perform today. It’s obvious stuff your saying here haters give the new guys in the band time!