It took me too much time to find the time to read this serial, but I'm so glad I did.
How has Max not become a common resource for Who writing (of any length) to date? Other authors have never heard of him? Well, it's their loss. Like other people here, I am sure, I started a bibliographic relationship with Our Exulted Leaders about half an hour after the musical love affair began. From all that reading, over decades, you become familiar with the characters in Who World, of course. And, Max's name has never been added to the Sacred Scrolls until now.
It was particularly rewarding to hear not just the good, bad, and ugly from a real OG, but to learn how he feels about the journey he started so long ago.
The interview was easily worth at least a few months' subscription shekels all by itself. Thanks much, Tony - It was also a great pick me up.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I think the reason Max is not in the books is the thing he explains on at least two if not all three posts... He is not looking for rewards or awards. He appears happy not to meet the group not to make any claims other than that he figures he has probably seen them more consistently, over a longer period of time, than anyone else. That said, I do wish I had got him into Dear Boy. Cheers.
Sure, that makes sense. But you know what this brings to mind - the value of oral history. Max is not a young fellow, and it's really important to archive his experiences (particularly since they span the full arc of The Who), whether those recordings have a home waiting or not. Where are the other voices who can tell us about their view from the front row?
I'm actually interviewing Max myself for the podcast later this week, which I'm looking forward to (even more so after reading your posts). If there's anything in particular you think I should ask him, please feel free to message me privately or email me.
Great article. Love the Pete/Noel photo. I saw the Kenny Jones’ Who tour at the Cleveland Coliseum in 1979. At that point, It was the loudest show I’d ever heard in my rock ‘n’ roll life. I got to see them after 9/11 at the Garden in New York. That was an amazing show.
Hi Dusty, I wanted to rewatch the "Concert for New York" (i.e. the post 9/11 all-star for first respondents) before responding to you as I hadn't seen it for a while. It had occurred to me if not when talking to Max on tape, then when writing this last piece, up that they "stole" the show that night and demonstrated not just a generational bond with an audience that had all just lost friends and colleagues, families and loved ones, and not just their love of and for NYC, but that when they have something to prove, an urgency, a real desire, they were the best band on the planet. So I rewatched last night, and the performance is just astounding, everyone is on fire but as a particular Pete "fan," rewatching last night confirmed why I have continued to go see The WHo myself. I may be chasing something that he is no longer capable of at this point, but he's 56 years old on that stage in 2001, and performing like most 20-years can't manage... I can not imagine what it was like to be in the audience. I also rewatched some of the House of Blues from two years earlier, the shows Max and I traveled for as it was the first 5-piece in forever, and it's not the same band, it's a much thinner version of what you saw.
As for volume, check back on my first piece about tinnitus. The WHo at CHarlton 76 - I was 12 - was in the Guinness Book of Records for a long long time. Equivalent to standing next to a Boeing 747 taking off - and that from 50 yards away! Yep, The Who thrived on volume, that's for sure.
It took me too much time to find the time to read this serial, but I'm so glad I did.
How has Max not become a common resource for Who writing (of any length) to date? Other authors have never heard of him? Well, it's their loss. Like other people here, I am sure, I started a bibliographic relationship with Our Exulted Leaders about half an hour after the musical love affair began. From all that reading, over decades, you become familiar with the characters in Who World, of course. And, Max's name has never been added to the Sacred Scrolls until now.
It was particularly rewarding to hear not just the good, bad, and ugly from a real OG, but to learn how he feels about the journey he started so long ago.
The interview was easily worth at least a few months' subscription shekels all by itself. Thanks much, Tony - It was also a great pick me up.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I think the reason Max is not in the books is the thing he explains on at least two if not all three posts... He is not looking for rewards or awards. He appears happy not to meet the group not to make any claims other than that he figures he has probably seen them more consistently, over a longer period of time, than anyone else. That said, I do wish I had got him into Dear Boy. Cheers.
Sure, that makes sense. But you know what this brings to mind - the value of oral history. Max is not a young fellow, and it's really important to archive his experiences (particularly since they span the full arc of The Who), whether those recordings have a home waiting or not. Where are the other voices who can tell us about their view from the front row?
A truly fascinating three-parter, thanks Tony.
I'm actually interviewing Max myself for the podcast later this week, which I'm looking forward to (even more so after reading your posts). If there's anything in particular you think I should ask him, please feel free to message me privately or email me.
All the best!
Again, the granular detail is so key here, but loving the (self)reflection too, very much. Something that all too often goes missing in this genre....
Thanks Seth, this interview connected with many people, glad you enjoyed it.
Really enjoyed reading these conversations Tony. The power of music and fandom.
Rock on the both of you.
Thanks Tom, I am glad you enjoyed.
Great article. Love the Pete/Noel photo. I saw the Kenny Jones’ Who tour at the Cleveland Coliseum in 1979. At that point, It was the loudest show I’d ever heard in my rock ‘n’ roll life. I got to see them after 9/11 at the Garden in New York. That was an amazing show.
Hi Dusty, I wanted to rewatch the "Concert for New York" (i.e. the post 9/11 all-star for first respondents) before responding to you as I hadn't seen it for a while. It had occurred to me if not when talking to Max on tape, then when writing this last piece, up that they "stole" the show that night and demonstrated not just a generational bond with an audience that had all just lost friends and colleagues, families and loved ones, and not just their love of and for NYC, but that when they have something to prove, an urgency, a real desire, they were the best band on the planet. So I rewatched last night, and the performance is just astounding, everyone is on fire but as a particular Pete "fan," rewatching last night confirmed why I have continued to go see The WHo myself. I may be chasing something that he is no longer capable of at this point, but he's 56 years old on that stage in 2001, and performing like most 20-years can't manage... I can not imagine what it was like to be in the audience. I also rewatched some of the House of Blues from two years earlier, the shows Max and I traveled for as it was the first 5-piece in forever, and it's not the same band, it's a much thinner version of what you saw.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aruDK5EmAl8
As for volume, check back on my first piece about tinnitus. The WHo at CHarlton 76 - I was 12 - was in the Guinness Book of Records for a long long time. Equivalent to standing next to a Boeing 747 taking off - and that from 50 yards away! Yep, The Who thrived on volume, that's for sure.
Cheers
Tony