Why John Lennon Once Criticized The Who

Music is full of bold opinions, even from legends like John Lennon. In a 1974 interview featured in Lennon on Lennon: Conversations With John Lennon, Lennon didn’t hold back when discussing The Who’s version of “Daddy Rollin’ Stone.” While he praised the song’s original American roots, he wasn’t exactly thrilled with how the British band reimagined it.

Lennon’s Critique of The Who

The Who’s cover of “Daddy Rollin’ Stone” was part of the music scene in 1960s Swinging London, where Lennon and his peers would unwind at the Ad Lib club. The song, originally by Derek Martin, was a favorite on the club’s playlist. However, Lennon wasn’t impressed with The Who’s take on it.

“And one of the records we always played was in the Ad Lib itself, folks, with all of us sitting there, listening and dancing, looking super stoned, and the record was called ‘Daddy Rollin’ Stone’ by Derek Martin, which The Who later did a sort of version of, like the English usually do of these great records, not too good, that’s including us,” Lennon admitted candidly.

A Love for American Music

Lennon’s critique wasn’t just about The Who but reflected his broader opinion of British bands attempting to replicate the magic of American records. When asked about the origins of “Daddy Rollin’ Stone,” Lennon confirmed:

“Oh, yeah. Another great American record. That’s all we ever played, American records. There’s no such thing as English records, those days.”

The Song’s Legacy

“Daddy Rollin’ Stone” was originally written by Otis Blackwell, a prolific American songwriter. The Who’s rendition appeared as the B-side to their UK hit “Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere,” which reached No. 10 on the UK charts and stayed there for 12 weeks. The song also featured in The Ultimate Collection, an album that peaked at No. 17 in the UK and No. 31 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

While Lennon wasn’t a fan of The Who’s cover, the song’s impact on the charts proves its lasting appeal.