The Who - Live At Kilburn

Last, but one, hurrah for Moon The Loon

In need of some contemporary live footage to slip into the cinema documentary The Kids Are Alright, The Who reconvened in a London theatre in 1977 for what would be Keith Moon’s second-to-last performance. The whole show has never been previously available, but it serves as a fitting tribute to the man who was, for many, the heart and soul of the band.

They’re on fire at several points along the way (Baba O’Reilly, Join Together), but the lack of rehearsal makes it all too slapdash for Pete Townshend. “Well, this isn’t fuckin’ worth filmin’,” he says at one point. “Might as well send the cameramen home.” He’s wrong, of course. Watching one of the best bands in the world windmilling on a wing and a prayer is a glorious sight.

The bonus disc of a 1969 show on the Tommy tour is less thrilling, mainly because of the poor film quality (16mm) and the restrictive camera angles, but it’s an equally valid historical document of a group whose desire to progress and to challenge themselves could teach several dozen of today’s whippersnappers a thing or two.

SonyBMG | 88697391839 (2-DVD)

Reviewed by Terry Staunton
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