The Who: Maximum Randb

A wonderful book loaded with factual information and first-hand observations, filled with fascinating photographs. The definitive source for Who history from its original publication in 1982 until last year when Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere was published. My only complaint is that this new edition no longer includes the soundsheet recording in the original that reproduced Pete Townshend's original demo of My Generation, but most people don't have turntables anymore these days anyway.

This book was my introduction to The Who. And it remains my favourite. Because it's so well written, that you can read it ten times over, and still find details. And the pictures and memorabilia are stunning. Written by the man who came up with the name "THE WHO" no less.

This is the book for every Who fan. Thousands of pics, and more information than any other book. Richard Barnes knows the Who extremly well, and although his writing isn't all that great, there is more info than anyone could ever want. The Who Maximum R & B is the greatest Who book ever written.

Casual boutique-dwelling, pop fans saw The Who almost a novelty act that wrote a few catchy tunes (see Pinball Wizard). Then maybe they heard the radio staples like Baba O'Reilly and Bargain and thought they knew The Who as a group with a few good songs that had an interesting stage show. These trend followers received the shock of their lives when they found out that the four sweet English boys who sang nice songs like Happy Jack and Squeeze Box actively loathed each other, fought with each other on stage and in the press, smashed their instruments and thought that feedback was "interesting". Dave Marsh wrote that The Who was the family on the block whose public squabbles "told the real story" and that the fans who couldn't handle The Who's entire package "moved on to less challenging heroes", but that those who stayed stayed for life. Richard Barnes book "Maximum R & B" is for the LIFERS. Barnes gets below the Ivy League clad Mod surface to show how The Who's lack of apparent personal chemistry and tendency to outdo one another made the band go. The early stories of the Detours and Daltrey's initial domination only explain why the band is what it is today. Additionally, the Keith Moon anecdotes are particularly amusing, especially when the reader realizes that Keith Moon was a living person, and not some myth MCA records created to sell The Who's back catalog. The photo's are all top-notch. I've read the original version of the book and the updated 1996 edition. My only problem with the latest version is that it doesn't contain the Flexi-single of Townshend's demoes of "Pinball Wizard" and "My Generation". Maximum R & B is a must for any Who fan or anyone who realizes that rock music, not pop music, is more than just entertainment.

Simply put, The Who transcended rock in their heyday. A much more compelling live act than the Stones or Beatles...lyrically soaring over Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. A chronicle of the greatest band to emerge from the British Invasion. The Who's magic, was that it was a machine...but an ever-changing one. Pete Townshend's lyrical courage, Roger Daltrey's agressive vocals, John Entwistle's thundering bass and Keith Moon's anarchic drumming made this a band for the ages. This book, a must for any Who completist, is also a wonderful source for the new fan. With it's use of exclusive photos and insider tales, the books author (Barnes) has managed to please even the most informed fanatic. Towsnhend, Daltrey, Entwistle and Moon are captured in their true form...as flawed individuals and as peerless performers. Anyone who has been a fans for years will love the "behind-the-scenes" peeks...and the new fans will delight in these stories as an introduction to the greates band in rock and roll. Loud, raucous, destructive, brilliant. Pick it up if you love the Who!