10 Best British Classic Rock Bands Of All Time
4. The Who
From its earliest years, rock was always meant to be a fun genre to amuse the kids. While there were rebellious tendencies to be had with each single, it didn't seem like anything more than a zany form of music to crank up during a party. Thanks to Pete Townshend's vision, rock went from its more business-like roots into a life affirming cultural force.
The Who's beginnings were very much like any other band of their ilk, with loud variations on American blues and R&B. The band quickly distanced themselves from the pack by playing with punishing volumes and wild abandon that went on to influence the punk movement later down the line. Aiming for even grander musical ambitions, Townshend also took his songwriting to new levels by writing conceptual pieces that turned into the first rock operas such as Tommy and Quadrophenia.
The band also had some of the best interplay between musicians, with Keith Moon being one of the most high-energy drummers to ever pick up two sticks and Roger Daltrey's astonishing vocal range. After The Who bludgeoned the rock community with their sound, rock and roll quickly grew out of its innocent stage and into something much more mature. The more serious stripes of rock still live in their shadow.