In 1968, The Who called the first Schaefer Music Festival in New York City's Central Park and released the single "Magic Bus". In December, they attended the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, performing a mini-opera, the "A Quick One While Jesus Away." That same year, Townshend was the subject of the first interview in Rolling Stone. Townshend said he is working on a full-length rock opera. Tommy is the first work billed as a rock opera and a landmark in modern music.
Until now, the teachings of Meher Baba India influenced writing Townshend continued for years. Baba is credited as "Avatar" Tommy. In addition to commercial success, Tommy became a huge critical, life said, "... for the swing, the discovery of the power and brilliance of performance, beyond what Tommy never released a recording studio, "and Melody Maker said," Surely The Who are now the band against which all others should be prosecuted. "
The Who performed Tommy in many Woodstock Music and Art Festival this year. That, and the upcoming movie, The Who's popularity has catapulted the United States. Although this festival to be free, which need to be paid before doing so even though the bank and the road was closed 2-3 pm on Sunday morning and has agreed to play only when a promoter, Joel Rosenman, has with a check for $ 11,200 ($ 70,704 in current dollars this).
It was during the performance of The Who at Woodstock as one of the most famous concert took place. Yippie leader Abbie Hoffman was sitting on stage with concert promoter Michael Lang for the Who's set. Hoffman worked the tent since the festival's opening medical and under the influence of LSD. Hoffman becomes increasingly determined to publicize the case of John Sinclair, who was sentenced to 10 years for the last two marijuana cigarettes to undercover narcotics. Hoffman jumped and grabbed the microphone during a brief break in the performance of WHO Tommy said: "I think it's a pile of earth, while John Sinclair rots in prison!" Townshend responded, "Fuck off Fuck off! My scene whore "and struck Hoffman with his guitar. Hoffman jumped off the stage and disappeared into the crowd.
