A PBS pledge drive staple throughout much of 2008, The Who at Kilburn 1977 (recorded for the documentary film The Kids Are Alright) was drummer Keith Moon's penultimate show with the band; looking bloated and worse for the wear here, Moon would be dead nine months later. Although Kilburn might not be their most inspired performance, The Who was a great live act almost any time, and it helps to keep in mind that overplayed Classic Rock war horses such as “Baba O'Reilly,” “Behind Blue Eyes,” “Pinball Wizard,” “Who Are You,” and the inevitable show closer “Won't Get Fooled Again” were relatively fresh at the time, while others, such as “Substitute,” “I Can't Explain,” and “Summertime Blues,” were staples then and now. And for those who are weary of contemporary rock shows that are choreographed to within an inch of their lives, here's a refreshing alternative. The Who made “music to fight to,” singer Roger Daltrey once said, which they do—both among themselves and with the audience (“There's a guitar up here if any big-mouthed little git wants to come and fuckin' take it off me,” Pete Townshend sneers at one point). Included as a bonus is a 1969 concert filmed at the London Coliseum shortly after the release of Tommy (performed here in its entirety) that finds the band at the peak of its powers (although the sound and visuals are notably inferior to the Kilburn show). Presented with DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM stereo options (as well as DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 on Blu-ray), this is recommended for both standard music DVD and budding Blu-ray collections. Aud: P. (S. Graham)
The Who at Kilburn 1977
(1977) 2 discs. 138 min. DVD: $24.98, Blu-ray: $29.98. Image Entertainment (avail. from most distributors). Volume 24, Issue 2
The Who at Kilburn 1977
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: