
Pretend You're In A War
The Who and the Sixties
Mark Blake(Author)
Aurum (Publisher)
Published on 3. September 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
400 pages
978-1-78131-523-1 (ISBN)
Description
'A definitive tome for both Who fans and newcomers alike' ***** Q Magazine
Pete Townshend was once asked how he prepared himself for The Who' s violent live performances. His answer? ' Pretend you' re in a war.' For a band as prone to furious infighting as it was notorious for acts of ' auto-destructive art' this could have served as a motto.
Between 1964 and 1969 The Who released some of the most dramatic and confrontational music of the decade, including ' I Can' t Explain' , ' My Generation' and ' I Can See For Miles' . This was a body of work driven by bitter rivalry, black humour and dark childhood secrets, but it also held up a mirror to a society in transition. Now, acclaimed rock biographer Mark Blake goes in search of its inspiration to present a unique perspective on both The Who and the sixties.
From their breakthrough as Mod figureheads to the rise and fall of psychedelia, he reveals how The Who, in their explorations of sex, drugs, spirituality and class, refracted the growing turbulence of the time. He also lays bare the colourful but crucial role played by their managers, Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp. And - in the uneasy alliance between art-school experimentation and working-class ambition - he locates the motor of the Swinging Sixties.
As the decade closed, with The Who performing Tommy in front of 500,000 people at the Woodstock Festival, the ' rock opera' was born. In retrospect, it was the crowning achievement of a band who had already embraced pop art and the concept album; who had pioneered the power chord and the guitar smash; and who had embodied - more so than any of their peers - the guiding spirit of the age: war.
Pete Townshend was once asked how he prepared himself for The Who' s violent live performances. His answer? ' Pretend you' re in a war.' For a band as prone to furious infighting as it was notorious for acts of ' auto-destructive art' this could have served as a motto.
Between 1964 and 1969 The Who released some of the most dramatic and confrontational music of the decade, including ' I Can' t Explain' , ' My Generation' and ' I Can See For Miles' . This was a body of work driven by bitter rivalry, black humour and dark childhood secrets, but it also held up a mirror to a society in transition. Now, acclaimed rock biographer Mark Blake goes in search of its inspiration to present a unique perspective on both The Who and the sixties.
From their breakthrough as Mod figureheads to the rise and fall of psychedelia, he reveals how The Who, in their explorations of sex, drugs, spirituality and class, refracted the growing turbulence of the time. He also lays bare the colourful but crucial role played by their managers, Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp. And - in the uneasy alliance between art-school experimentation and working-class ambition - he locates the motor of the Swinging Sixties.
As the decade closed, with The Who performing Tommy in front of 500,000 people at the Woodstock Festival, the ' rock opera' was born. In retrospect, it was the crowning achievement of a band who had already embraced pop art and the concept album; who had pioneered the power chord and the guitar smash; and who had embodied - more so than any of their peers - the guiding spirit of the age: war.
Reviews / Votes
'puts other Who books in the shade' 'Blake gives new reasons to appreciate the angst and theory behind The Who's music' ***** 'A definitive tome for both Who fans and newcomers alike' ***** 'A definitive tome for both Who fans and newcomers alike'"A compelling read...and a story told with unflinching care and infectious enthusiasm."
'Pretend You're In A War wastes no time in parachuting you directly into the combat zone'
'A rollicking and insightful tale'
'the quality of research and analysis here is unsurprisingly of the highest standard... a superb biography'
'Blake gives new reasons to appreciate the angst and theory behind The Who's music'
'puts other Who books in the shade'
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Quarto Publishing PLC
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-78131-523-1 (9781781315231)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
09/2014
Aurum
€12.49
Available for download
Person
Mark Blake is a former Assistant Editor of Q and long-time contributor to Mojo magazine. He is the author of the definitive Pink Floyd biography, Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd, Is This the Real Life?: The Untold Story of Queen, and editor of Stone Me: the Wit & Wisdom of Keith Richards (all published by Aurum) and also the editor of Dylan: Visions, Portraits and Back Pages and Punk: The Whole Story. He lives in London with his wife and son.