Book Review: THANKS A LOT, MR. KIBBLEWHITE by Roger Daltrey

THANKS A LOT, MR. KIBBLEWHITE: MY STORY by Roger Daltrey (Henry Holt & Company, October 2018)  Hardcover, 272 pages. ISBN # 125029603X / 9781250296030

 

Summary from the Goodreads website . . . . .

 

The frontman of one of the greatest bands of all time tells the story of his rise from nothing to rock 'n' roll megastar, and his wild journey as the voice of The Who.

 

“It’s taken me three years to unpack the events of my life, to remember who did what when and why, to separate the myths from the reality, to unravel what really happened at the Holiday Inn on Keith Moon’s 21st birthday,” says Roger Daltrey, the powerhouse vocalist of The Who. 

 

The result of this introspection is a remarkable memoir, instantly captivating, funny and frank, chock-full of well-earned wisdom and one-of-kind anecdotes from a raucous life that spans a tumultuous time of change in Britain and America. 

 

Born during the air bombing of London in 1944, Daltrey fought his way (literally) through school and poverty and began to assemble the band that would become The Who while working at a sheet metal factory in 1961. In Daltrey’s voice, the familiar stories—how they got into smashing up their kit, the infighting, Keith Moon’s antics—take on a new, intimate life. Also here is the creative journey through the unforgettable hits including My Generation, Substitute, Pinball Wizard, and the great albums, Who’s Next, Tommy, and Quadrophenia. 

 

Amidst all the music and mayhem, the drugs, the premature deaths, the ruined hotel rooms, Roger is our perfect narrator, remaining sober (relatively) and observant and determined to make The Who bigger and bigger. Not only his personal story, this is the definitive biography of The Who. 

 

My review on the Goodreads website . . . . .

 

     I read Pete Townsend's book some years back, so it's only right that I check out what Roger Daltrey has to say about one of the most influential rock bands during my music obsession, growth and development in the mid to late '60's. The Who were always on my Top Ten Bands list at that time. 

 

     After reading this, I'd have to conclude that Daltrey was the most level-headed and straightforward of the quartet. He used music to turn his life around and made the most of it over the past fifty-plus years.

 

     However instead of a joyous rags to riches story there is an underlying theme of sadness running throughout the entire memoir. Along with all the defining career moments and trail-blazing triumphs there was an instability among the band due to egos, drugs and hyper-personalities that always seemed ready to unravel everything that had been accomplished. Daltrey deserves the majority of the credit for holding the band together. 

 

     Daltrey's not a complainer or finger-pointer - - he's just brutally honest in telling the history of the band focusing on everything that affected them, not just the high points. He's also quite candid, not afraid to relate his own faults and short-comings, and comes across as a genuine down-to-earth person.

 

     While I'll always consider Pete Townsend a gifted songwriter and musical genius, I now have renewed respect for the contributions of Roger Daltrey.