THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

265-The Who-5.15.

1973-Number 20 single.

Best Bit-At 0.41. Quadrophenia is a word made up by Pete Townsend, it is similar to schizophrenia, but twice as bad.

The Who (see also best songs 926 and 306) were formed in London, England, in 1964, the classic lineup consisted of Pete Townshend, (guitar and vocals) (see also best songs 891) Roger Daltrey, (lead singer) Keith Moon, (1946-1978) (drums) and John Entwistle (1944-2002) (bass) with sales in excess of 100 million records they are one of the best selling acts of all time. One of the most famous questions asked in a Pop Quiz is how many UK Number 1 singles did the Who have? The answer surprisingly is none. In total there have been two other official members of The Who, Doug Sandom, (1930-2019) who was the groups first drummer between 1962-1964, and Kenney Jones, (see also best songs 1048-872-565 and 70) who was the drummer between 1978-1983, and then again in 1985, and 1989.

The discography of The Who includes 12 studio Albums released between 1965-2019, and 58 singles released between 1964-2019, (for their first single ‘Zoot Suit,’ they were credited as ‘The High Numbers’) there are also four extended plays, (EP’s) four soundtrack Albums, 36 official compilation Albums, and 18 live Albums available. In the UK, all of their studio Albums have reached the top 20, with ‘Who’s Next’ from 1971, peaking the highest at Number 1, while 24 of their singles have made the UK top 40, with ‘My Generation,’ (1965) and ‘I’m a Boy’ (1966) both peaking the highest at Number 2. In America on Billboard all of their last nine studio Albums have reached the ‘Billboard 200’ Album chart top 10, with three of those Albums all making the Number 1 spot, while 16 of their singles have reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 40, with ‘I Can See for Miles’ peaking the highest at Number 9 in 1967, and ‘5.15’ failing to chart.

Keith Moon was born Keith John Moon, on August 23rd, 1946, in Mayfair, London, England, he died on September 7th, 1978, at the age of 32. Keith Moon is best remembered as the drummer with The Who, and is regarded as one of the greatest drummers in the history of Rock music. He was noted for his unique style of playing, and his eccentric, often self destructive behaviour. Long after his death he is still praised by critics and musicians, and in 2011 he was voted the second greatest drummer in history by a ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine readers poll (John Bonham was voted Number 1.) He was inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ in 1990, as a member of The Who. Keith Moon led a destructive lifestyle. During The Who’s early days he began taking amphetamines, and also steadily increased his alcohol intake, the combination of pills and alcohol escalated into alcoholism and drug addiction. Kieth Moon died of an accidental overdose of ‘Heminevrin’ that had been prescribed to alleviate his alcohol withdrawal symptoms. He died in Flat 12, 9 Curzon Place, Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London, while renting from the American singer Harry Nilsson (1941-1994) (see also best songs 388 and 39.) Coincidentally the American singer Cass Elliot (1941-1974) (see also best songs 660 and 247) had died there four years earlier. Keith Moon once said, ‘When you’ve got money and you do the kind of things I get up to, people laugh and say that you’re eccentric, which is a polite way of saying you’re fu#king mad.

‘5.15’ was the first of three singles released from ‘Quadrophenia,’ the sixth studio Album by The Who, from October 1973, the song was written by Pete Townshend, with the production credited to The Who. In 1968 The Who had released their first ‘Rock Opera’ Album called ‘Tommy,’ (see also best songs 306) which was later made into a film in 1975. In 1973 Pete Townshend wrote the bands second ‘Rock Opera,’ which was released as a double vinyl Album called ‘Quadrophenia,’ Whereas ‘Tommy’ had been based on fantasy, this time the story was loosely based on the experiences of some of The Who’s real life fans from the 1960’s. ‘Quadrophenia’ is about two groups of rival gangs, ‘The Mods,’ and ‘The Rockers.’ The story follows a young Mod called Jimmy, and his realisation that being a Mod is not living up to the expectations he thought that the lifestyle would. The lyrics of ‘5.15’ describe Jimmy, who is high on drugs travelling by train to Brighton. Of the songs meaning Pete Townshend has said, ‘His train journey down to Brighton, sandwiched between two city gents is notable for the rather absurd number of purple hearts he consumes in order to wile away the time. He goes through a not entirely pleasant series of ups and downs as he thinks about the gaudier side of life as a teenager that we see in newspapers like the News of the World. ‘5:15′ was written in Oxford Street and Carnaby Street while I was killing time between appointments. I must try it again sometime, it seems to work!’

In 1979 ‘Quadrophenia’ was made into a film loosely based on The Who’s 1973 Album, but unlike ‘Tommy,’ ‘Quadrophenia’ is not a musical, and The Who didn’t appear live in the film. The film starred the English actor Phil Daniels (see also best songs 256) as ‘Jimmy,’ and ‘Sting’ (see also best songs 1020 and 727) as ‘Ace Face.’ Although the Who do not perform live in the film, the writers teased us with a clip of the band performing ‘Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere,’ on the television programme ‘Ready Steady Go.’ Pictures of the Who, and a ‘Maximum R&B’ poster can be seen in Jimmy’s bedroom, while in the party gatecrashing scene the song playing in the background is ‘My Generation.’ The film is set in 1964, but a repackaged Who Album that was not available at that time is clearly seen.

‘Girls of fifteen sexually knowing. The ushers are sniffing, Eau-de-coloning. The seats are seductive, celibate sitting, pretty girls digging, prettier women.’