Greatest Rock Scream of All Time? Easy – Roger Daltrey, right at the apex of “Won’t Get Fooled Again”. In fact, I’ll posit that in a single moment, Daltrey not only outdoes each one of his virtuostic counterparts in this masterpiece, but simultaneously defines the essence of The Who as a whole but also (pun aside) an entire generation for whom this act’s music resonated with so succinctly.
And I’ve given some thought to this too – there’s honorable mention to Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, Rob Halford of Judas Priest, Ozzy, Soundgarden and Axl Rose on Welcome To The Jungle (among other notable entries) – though as much as I rack my brain to come up with a worthy contender, I keep coming back to that three chord Townshend lead-in and then that earth shattering bellow that still gives me goosebumps everytime. Damned if I’ve ever heard a Boston Event Band come anywhere near the originator on this one.
The Who as a whole would (and very well may) be deserving of some additional posts down the line – something to the effect of Most Overlooked Contender for Best Band of All Time or Most Underrated Influence on Rock Music as a whole…something like that.
Take some time this week and pull out Who’s Next and give track #9 another go. It never disappoints.
