Named after the Who's 1965 hit, The Kids Are Alright, a "rockumentary" was released in 1979, shortly following the death of drummer Keith Moon. The film opens with a bang-well, a smash, really. The Who was a band famous for completely destroying their instruments, and their first American TV appearance was no exception to their shocking practice.
The Kids Are Alright commences with the Who's 1967 appearance on
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Less than five minutes into the film, we have
guitars smashed, drums blown up, an unconscious
Bette Davis (she fainted into fellow guest
Mickey Rooney's arms after watching the Who's spectacle), and at least one half-deaf guitarist.
America had been introduced to the Who, and they weren't the
four loveable lads from
Liverpool that
England had given them three years prior.
The rest of the film follows (not
chronologically at all) The Who's career from their first TV appearances up until their last concert with Moon. Through
concert films, interviews, and a few
Monkees-ish romps, this "collage" of sorts looks through all The Who's phases of work. Although not jumbled, it's fun to watch episodes from various phases of Who
history, all crashing up against each other, somehow made coherent.
Unlike most documentaries on anything, this film isn't
glammed up, nor does it try to make the band seem like something that they're not. This film is director and Who fan
Jeff Stein's vision of an astounding band, visualized as only a Who fan can. Stein showcases the many components of the band, from their prime musicianship to their frenzied
humour. One thing clearly stands out in
The Kids Are Alrightt: The Who were one of the premier live bands of
rock & roll, and it was
ironic that the film marked
the end of the band as most people knew it.
Rather than sappy
memoir, though, the film sways more towards being a true-life
Spinal Tap (with better music). The moments that make the film are the humourous ones. Like when the usually-
stoic John Entwistle takes his liberty with
Roger Daltrey's gold records by using them as ammo in some
skeet-shooting antics, and guests like
Ringo Starr pop in occasionally in this anthology of video to comment about the band.
The Who gallop headlong through a rehearsal of the
Beach Boys/
Jan and Dean's '
Barbara Ann' with Moon singing and then promptly collapse into hysterics at their inadequacy at playing it. One recurring piece features a TV interview with the group, the last clip ending with the group undressing as a terrified
Russell Harty looks on.
Of course, there are the
over-the-top interviews with Keith Moon, and more crazy antics from...Keith Moon, and some more hiliarity from....um, Keith Moon. Even as a 'band' documentary,
The Kids Are Alright's
spotlight was stolen by Moon.
Ending with a fiery live performance of "
Won't Get Fooled Again", the film captures every movement of the Who's career, from their early, fairly embarrassing moments as a
Mod band, to the magnificence of their mid-70's performances.
That performance would be, unknown to anyone, of course, Keith Moon's last performance with the Who. He died September 7,
1978, only 4 months after the movie concluded filming.
The Kids Are Alright became an
epitaph for one of the greatest rock
drummers in one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
brought to you by noding your homework.