WHEN I WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD my older sister Liz took me to see The Who. I remember Keith Moon standing on his snare drum and floor tom to announce, with mock pomposity, a set of songs from Tommy. Then I had a laser blaze straight into my eyes for the first time. Now I wear Coke bottle-thick glasses.

If only I had a crystal ball that night. I could have turned to my sister and said, "I know I'm only twelve, but listen to me: one day I'm going to write the liner notes for a Who DVD." Then I would have explained that a DVD was a magical, futuristic silver disc that would play an entire movie on your TV set. Then she would have told me to stop talking during Magic Bus.

Despite the cornea damage, I was hooked. I spent many a miserable teenage afternoon listening to Quadrophenia over and over in my basement bedroom. When I was sixteen, I got a ticket to see The Who again, a few dates after the tragic show in Cincinnati where the fans got trampled. I waited in line all night outside a department store for the ticket, and, amazingly, got a third row seat on the far side of the floor. A few days before the show a friend of mine told me his sister was the president of the Virginia branch of The Who fan club and had a spare FRONT ROW SEAT. That night I found myself sitting directly in front of Pete Townshend. I couldn't have been more excited. I sat mesmerized at each windmill and kick Pete executed. When Pete overshot a kick and fell on his ass, I instinctively sprang out of my seat, screaming, "Pete!!!" as I tried to catch him.

And here we are more years later than I'm prepared to count, and he's still at it. What are the odds? Not good. Look at the casualties. Yet some odds are defied. Not only is he still windmilling and kicking, he's genuinely passionate and excited about music and performing. You don't see this kind of energy and enthusiasm in today's youngsters (Jack White excepted), let alone such an experienced veteran. Turn this shit up -- it rocks! Listen to that guitar tone -- as good as it ever was, and it always was the greatest high octane guitar tone in the business.

One thing you'll notice in this film is what a happy little family The Who entourage appear to be. And from the time I have spent around them, I can tell you that it's not just in appearance. These are people who are having a great time being with each other. There isn't a "bad vibe," as some hippie probably said during the Monterey Pop Festival, in the house. Isn't it nice to know that you don't have to be surrounded by drama in order to effectively make the amp scream in a meaningful way? Some of us have had enough drama to last a lifetime of screaming amps, and Pete Townshend is definitely one of those people.

It's a great honor for me to write this note about what is, as we all know, one of the very greatest bands ever (duh). Please pop this film into your player and turn it up loud. Fuck the ear plugs. Life's too short.

Sincerely,

Mark Oliver Everett
aka E of EELS