Ringo Starr’s son Zak Starkey recently discussed his experience working with The Who, explaining the legendary band’s unconventional approach to live performances in an interview with Spin.
Starkey revealed why The Who maintains their reputation for spontaneous, unrehearsed performances that set them apart from other rock bands.
“The Who don’t do warmups. We don’t even rehearse,” Starkey said. “They’re the greatest rock and roll band in the world. They never play anything twice. It’s all improvisation. There’s just no other band like that.”
He elaborated on how Pete Townshend’s high standards have influenced the band’s philosophy toward live performance.
“Pete [Townshend] raised the bar so high that everybody else is just over-rehearsed wankers,” he continued. “Most bands think a great gig is when they do it as good as they did in rehearsals. The Who is ‘Whatever happens, happens.’ Very much like bebop in a rock and roll idiom.”
This spontaneous approach to performance has deep roots in The Who’s history. It reflects the band’s commitment to authentic, unpredictable rock and roll that has defined their legendary status for decades.
The Who’s philosophy of spontaneity extends beyond their rehearsal habits to their entire approach to live performance. The Who’s official website documented that Pete Townshend’s first public guitar smashing occurred accidentally in September 1964 at London’s Railway Tavern when he hit the low ceiling with his Rickenbacker headstock. He then decided to smash it fully amid audience silence. This moment of improvisation became a defining characteristic of their live shows.
The band’s commitment to authenticity over perfection was evident even in their early days when resources were limited. AXS TV reported that Townshend often repaired and reused smashed guitars because he only had one instrument. He sometimes broke and fixed the same guitar multiple times in a single day. During their appearances on New York’s Murray the K Show, he would glue the same guitar back together up to four times daily.
This approach to performance art was influenced by Townshend’s art school background and exposure to auto-destructive art movements. Thalia Capos noted that many have attributed Pete Townshend’s guitar smashing tendencies to his art school education and exposure to auto-destructive art pioneer Gustav Metzger’s work, which emphasized the creative potential of destruction.
The band’s rejection of over-rehearsed performances has influenced countless rock musicians. It established a template for authentic rock and roll that prioritizes raw energy over technical perfection. This philosophy continues to define The Who’s approach to live performance, making each show a unique experience that cannot be replicated.
