When "The Who" Played Kane County - Part 1

On the Verge of Greatness, The Who Played St. Charles, IL

Marc Vitali | October 21, 2013 12:44 pm

The Who had broken through in the U.S. the previous year with their literally smashing performance at the Monterey Pop Fest. They had a growing reputation as an explosive live band, but they were still struggling financially. It's costly to destroy your gear almost every night.

In August '68, The Who were in the midst of a hellish schedule. 10 days into August, they'd already played Chicago twice (the International Amphitheater and the Electric Theater). They'd also gone back and forth to New York twice in that time span. And they played Boston and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. They were coming off an appearance at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield when they took a show at the Jaguar club in St. Charles, Ill.

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

The Jaguar was a converted roller skating rink -- an inauspicious venue for a band that, the summer before, had played for nearly 100,000 people in Monterey, California. In Monterey, they went on before Jimi Hendrix hit the stage and lit his Fender on fire.

It was also two months after The Who's first serious flop -- the single Dogs had died in June -- and it was just two months before they went into the studio to begin recording their fourth album, Tommy, which would place them in the rock-and-roll pantheon. During the Summer of '68, Peter Townshend had just begun to tell his mates about his notions for an album based on a deaf, dumb and blind pinball player.

Rick Giles was a 16-year-old aspiring drummer from Springfield, Ohio when his father surprised him with a pair of tickets to see The Who in St. Charles. On Saturday, August 10th, they flew to Chicago, had dinner downtown, and headed west to St. Charles. It was Rick's second rock concert and his father's first. His father brought along his new Polaroid camera.

"I sat on the floor with about 300 other people. Very up close and personal and VERY, VERY LOUD. The stage was only about 3 feet off the ground." He split from his father, who had hit if off with the club owner. His dad was at the side of the stage for the soundcheck and snapped a few pictures during the performance.

His son remembers: "The Who came running on stage and opened with Heaven and Hell, a John Entwhistle song. The songs I remember were Heaven and Hell, Can't Explain, Summertime Blues, Rael, A Quick One While He's Away, Substitute, and they ended with My Generation which they always did in those days. Their performance lasted about 1-1/2 hours. I remember a long explanation of A Quick One by Pete before they played it with some funny off-color exchanges between him and Keith." The song A Quick One While He's Away has been described as a precursor to Tommy -- the 9-minute track is known as one of the first rock operas and in concert Pete Townshend has called the song "Tommy's parent."

Rick couldn't find his father until after the show. "Where have you been?" his dad said. "I've been looking for you." Rick recalls his jaw dropped at the next thing his dad said: "He said he was backstage taking photos of the band! He was trying to find me so I could meet them..."