Tommy Who!
The Deutsches Theater München presents
TOMMY WHO!
A Tribute to The Who
A TRIBUTE TO THE WHO
The band Tommy Who! formed in 2019 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the rock opera Tommy. The band has already thrilled audiences and critics alike twice with concert performances of this legendary conceptual work by The Who at the Deutsches Theater. As part of the Flower Power Festival, the band will once again present the best songs from Tommy paired with other hits by the British cult rockers.
A PIECE OF MUSIC HISTORY
With their appearance at the legendary Woodstock Festival in 1969, The Who wrote an important piece of music history. A few weeks before this performance, however, they had already delivered their very own chapter of great rock history with the release of the concept album Tommy – and at the same time one of the first and most important rock operas ever. For the 20th anniversary of the album, The Who completed a spectacular tour in 1989, on which the band was supported by drummer Simon Philipps and John Bundrick on the keys, among others. Legendary is an evening during this tour when illustrious guests such as Elton John, Phil Collins, Steve Winwood, Patti LaBelle and Billy Idol joined them on stage.
TOMMY WHO!
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Tommy, the Munich tribute band TOMMY WHO! formed in 2019, which is now bringing this concert to the stage almost one-to-one for the fourth time. TOMMY WHO! consists of three members of the Munich formation Prognostic – Martin Stell-macher (piano, keyboards), Arno Baum (bass) and Georg Kleesattel (vocals) – the two guitarists Chris Hasler (ZEP) and Alexander Kirmayr as well as drummer Tommy Wagner (Lustfinger, among others). The group is completed by singer Claudia Cane and singer Michael Schinkel (Eternal Flame).
THE “WONDER BOY” TOMMY
The Who released Tommy on 23 May 1969, with almost all the songs composed by guitarist Pete Townshend, who had the idea for the concept album three years earlier. Townshend was also inspired by the teachings of the Indian mystic and guru Meher Baba. The success of the album was followed by a film adaptation of the material in 1975 with Tina Turner and Elton John in guest roles, as well as productions as a musical and ballet.
Tommy is the story of Tommy Walker, who becomes deaf, dumb and blind in his childhood when he accidentally witnesses his father, thought lost in the war, beating his mother’s new husband to death after his surprise return. From then on, Tommy lives isolated in his own world (“Amazing Journey”). Other disturbing experiences follow, such as abuse by relatives (“Cousin Kevin”, “Fiddle About”) or obscure attempts at healing (“Acid Queen”). Tommy discovers his talent for playing pinball machines and becomes an acclaimed world champion (“Pinball Wizard”). Finally, he can be cured because he is able to fully perceive and speak after breaking his reflection in the mirror (“Go to the Mirror”, “Smash the Mirror”). Through this “miracle cure” he advances to a messiah (“Sensation”, “Miracle Cure”) who gathers numerous followers around him (“Sally Simpson”). But soon they feel deceived by their self-appointed leader and drop him (“We’re Not Gonna Take It”).
Trailer
