Tommy (play)
**Overview of "Tommy" (Play)**
"Tommy" is a rock opera created by the British rock band The Who, which includes members Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon. The narrative follows the life of a boy named Tommy who becomes deaf, dumb, and blind after witnessing his father's death. As he faces neglect and abuse from his family, Tommy navigates his trauma and eventually rises to fame as a pinball champion. His journey leads him to a revelation about his life as a media sensation, prompting him to seek a more authentic spiritual path. The rock opera features notable songs such as "Pinball Wizard," "I'm Free," and "We're Not Gonna Take It."
"Tommy" significantly impacted the music landscape by demonstrating that rock music could encompass the dramatic elements of traditional opera, while addressing the pressing issues of the youth during the 1960s and early 1970s. It paved the way for future rock operas, such as "Jesus Christ Superstar," and laid the groundwork for The Who's subsequent work, including their later rock opera "Quadrophenia." A film adaptation of "Tommy" was also released in 1975, further expanding its reach and influence in popular culture.
Subject Terms
Tommy (play)
Released 1969
Performers The Who
A rock opera involving psychedelic images, messianism, and media culture. This seminal work remains one of the best examples of its genre.
Key Figures
Pete Townshend (1945- ), guitarist for The WhoRoger Daltrey (1944- ), singer for The WhoJohn Entwistle (1944-2002), bassist for The WhoKeith Moon (1946-1978), drummer for The Who
The Work
The rock opera Tommy was the creation of a British rock band, the Who, formed by Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon. The rock opera tells the story of a boy, Tommy, who becomes deaf, dumb, and blind after witnessing the killing of his father. At first, neglected by his family and abused by his wicked uncle and cousin, he is lost in his own trauma. However, through a stroke of fate, he becomes a pinball champion, has his senses restored, and becomes a quasi-messianic cult leader. He comes to understand that he is trapped in a media circus run by his mother and stepfather and, inciting his followers to abandon him, attempts to tread a purer, more inward spiritual path. Famous songs from the work include “Pinball Wizard,” “I’m Free,” and “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”
Impact
Tommy demonstrated that rock music was capable of accommodating the passion and pageantry traditionally associated with opera. One of the most ambitious works of rock music ever, it showed that popular music could address issues of fundamental concern to young people in the 1960’s and early 1970’s.
Related Works
Jesus Christ Superstar (1971) was a rock opera with many thematic and musical similarities to Tommy. The melody, anger, and passion of the Who’s earlier albums, My Generation (1965) and On Tour: Magic Bus (1968), are crucial background for understanding the rock opera. The Who wrote a second rock opera, Quadrophenia, in 1971, and a film version of Tommy was released in 1975.
Additional Information
In 1996, Richard Barnes a friend of Townshend for more than twenty years published The Who: Maximum R&B, a book that details his experiences with the Who.