Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3872 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-11-26
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 120 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Amazing Journey: The Story of the Who is a very satisfying, two-disc set anchored by an excellent documentary directed by Murray Lerner (The Other Side of the Mirror: Bob Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival), whose 1970 footage of the band in concert appears in Lerner's Message to Love: The Isle of Wight Festival. Lerner's new film includes recent and extensive interviews with surviving Who members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, who candidly recall every chapter of the group's career, from childhood to the premature deaths of drummer Keith Moon and bassist John Entwistle, and beyond to Daltrey and Townshend's continuing, now-autumnal collaboration. Much of what is said and captured in Amazing Journey has been noted before in myriad ways (including the Who's 1979 autobiographical feature The Kids Are Alright), but the older Daltrey and Townshend get, the richer their insights into Who history. Lerner's organisation of sub-topics and material also makes Amazing Journey powerful and resonant, including the Who's earliest period as an emerging club band (called the High Numbers) emphasising rhythm and blues, and Townshend's gradual transformation into a songwriter trying to break traditional pop forms. Key relationships are examined and explored, but of special note is Daltrey's and Townshend's separate, fascinating assessments of the former's evolution as a vocalist and frontman. (Each maintains that it was Daltrey's personal connection to the central character in Tommy that turned him into an expansive, charismatic singer.)

A second disc contains superb outtakes from Amazing Journey, with an emphasis on the wisdom of Daltrey and Townshend, both in their 60s, examining their individual artistries. Who fans and musicians alike will certainly enjoy an exciting analysis, from the likes of the Edge, Simon Townshend (Pete's brother and member of the Who's backing band) and Eddie Vedder, of Townshend's gifts as a guitarist. A wonderful mini-documentary co-directed by D.A. Pennebaker (Don't Look Back) captures a recording session from 2003, and footage of the High Numbers in a 1964 performance (from an aborted film by the Who's late co-manager, Kit Lambert) is a remarkable artifact. --Tom Keogh

Synopsis
This epic title matches the grand sounds created by one of rock's most influential bands. All four band members--Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon--share their thoughts on their rise to fame. This documentary also includes rare film footage, as well as praise from famous fans such as Eddie Vedder and Sting. Both casual and avid fans of the rockers will be pleased by the exhaustive and exhilarating footage found in Amazing Journey.

Customer Reviews

Amazing Journey - Exactly what is says on the tin!
Wow!....

Bought this 6 months ago and have just watched it for the third time. I have so much respect for Townshend & Daltrey for making this film - The interviews are incredibly candid.

No subject is off-limits to them - they happily talk about the music; the experiences on the road; late band members Keith Moon & John Entwistle; and their relationship with one another - from the very beginning to the present day.

True to form, while Townshend comes across as slightly aloof in his niche as the original tortured artist; Daltrey, by contrast, is almost painfully frank at times, and comes across as very likeable.

I am only 24 years old - I got into the Who after stumbling across a re-run of Quadrophenia on telly about 10 years ago - Admittedly, I'm now a huge fan, owning all their albums. But I would argue this film is not only unmissable for anybody calling themselves a fan of the band, but also for anybody with an interest in music generally.

The Who have been a seminal band in the history of British music, and this film is an absolute gem. My Dad is in his 50s, and although he's never been a huge fan of the band, even he found this documentary interesting.

To anybody deliberating whether or not to buy - go for it. Treat yourself.

See Them,Feel them ,Hear them.
This is a film of the WHO,with concert footage,family members,recording sessions,interviews etc from the very early days to the present.I found the insights provided by other stars like Sting;U2;Pearl Jam;etc into the music and musicianship of the WHO really worthwhile.To be analysed and dissected by other experts added a very different set of insights into this great band.Sting describing the famous,intricate bass-line of "My Generation";U2 talking about the the guitar virtuosity of Townsend;the drumming of Moon analysed and reconstructed;and the power chords and how they came to be played on many WHO songs,were amazing to watch and listen to.
Some one of these commentators finally summed up the WHO as a band that had a "lead guitarist";a "lead drummer",a "lead bassist" and a "lead singer" and somehow it all worked instead of being a mess.
What a great description of a great band.
Get this dvd and enjoy it and think back to a simpler time.

The Extras are better than most DVDS!
What a great DVD this is. A perfect companion to 'Kids' and 'Maximum RnB'. With most of the footage commercially available I would rather hear some frank and up to date interviews for a change. As I said the extras are great, offering an insight into each individual members playing. I must say that I never realised that Pete Townshend's playing was influenced by Flamenco but hey, there you go! There's also the recording session for 'Real Good-Looking Boy' which was the first for 23 years. Well worth spending your hard-earned shekels on, a definite 5 stars.