The Who - See Me Feel Me Listening To You - Isle of Wight 1970

The 1970 Isle of Wight Festival was held between 26 and 31 August 1970 at East Afton Farm an area on the western side of the Isle of Wight. It was the last of three consecutive music festivals to take place on the island between 1968 and 1970 and widely acknowledged as the largest musical event of its time, greater than the attendance of Woodstock.[1][2] Although estimates vary, the Guinness Book of Records estimated 600,000, possibly 700,000 people attended. It was organised and promoted by local brothers, Ronnie, Ray and Bill Foulk. Ron Smith was site manager and Rikki Farr acted as compere.

The preceding Isle of Wight Festivals, also promoted by the Foulks, had already gained a good reputation in 1968 and 1969 by featuring acts such as Jefferson Airplane, T. Rex, The Move, Pretty Things, Joe Cocker, The Who and Bob Dylan in his first performance since his 1966 motorcycle accident.

The 1970 version, following Woodstock in the previous year, set out to move one step forward and enlisted Jimi Hendrix. With Hendrix confirmed, artists such as Chicago, The Doors, The Who, Miles Davis, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Jethro Tull, Sly & the Family Stone, Ten Years After, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Free willingly took up the chance to play there. The event had a magnificent but impractical site, since the prevailing wind blew the sound sideways across the venue, and the sound system had to be augmented by Pink Floyd's PA. There was a strong, but inconsistent line up, and the logistical nightmare of transporting 600,000 people onto an island with a population of less than 100,000.

Political and logistical difficulties resulted in the organisers eventually realising that the festival would not make a profit and declaring it to be "a free festival", although the majority of the audience had paid for tickets in advance, and the event was filmed contemporaneously. However, at the time, the commercial failings of the festival ensured it would be the last event of its kind on the Isle of Wight for thirty-two years.

[paulrusso]

It can't get any better than this, it just can't.

[dmitryklimanov]

The funny thing about all these guys is that they were thinking that their music can change the world. But even more funny is the fact that it really did.

[natashatilbury]

My dad was in that crowd somewhere when he was 21 years old. Just wow.

[BirdTalk]

We NEED this intensity in live performances again! This brings people together in an almost religious experience and together as ONE! I saw The Who live in 1976 at Anaheim Stadium and it was a 12 hour long festival with many bands playing before The Who hit the stage a bit after midnight. The sheer intensity was unsurpassed! I was 14 and went with my friend who was also 14 (females) and we were completely safe amongst the many tens of thousands of fans of all ages. No one pushed or was rude, it was truly a sanctuary of people who respected others and themselves. People seeing how young we were allowed us up close to the stage and it was glorious! I knew right then that I would never experience this feeling and performance again in my lifetime and let myself get caught up in the beauty around and in front of me. Nirvana was achieved that very evening.

[MrJoeybabe]

The Finale from Tommy is in my opinion the single greatest piece of rock artistry.

[johnoberle]

The peak of Rock and Roll blame The Who. No one before or since touched this.

[sjw]

Tommy was the greatest gift Pete ever gave Roger. And Roger returned it tenfold.

[edotoole]

Keith Moon took this great song to a higher level. In its own way, it is a masterpiece.

[noeljohnson]

...might even be the best ever recorded film of a Rock performance...

[qketq]

The Ox just stands there and plays like a ninja.

[jeffdawson]

When The Who played they gave every molecule of energy. They were like thunder and lightning. Isle of Wight in 1970 is a force of nature.

[emmanuelmanzi]

I like very much Roger Daltrey. A great charismatic lead voice.

[blueybean]

Keith Moon is drumming like twelve freight trains at full throttle

[bal]

So powerful and wonderful.
It pains me to say it but the golden era, for music has happened and now is gone.
At least we have the past, vinyl, youtube etc.

[Kimberlytheresam]

The whole set by the Who is the best live rock show i have ever seen live or on tape. They would blow anybody off the stage!!!

[nineteenever]

I was on “the hill” when they came on stage in the early hours of the Sunday. The atmosphere that this song created was one of the highlights of the weekend.

[buddboyboogiee]

This is my favorite version. Keith Moon 2:49, The first heavy headbanging drummer in rock history？

[satoridog]

Townsend said that a certain point they were trying to levitate the crowds... this is pretty close

[weroniczko]

1:06 Wow, I really could listen to Roger beautifully hitting that high note forever. Even better than the recording. Love The Who ❤

[fattwat]

Fucking amazing I was there aged 15 I am now 64 today November 2018