Some say the first rock opera was The Village Green Preservation Society by the Kinks. Others contend it was Tommy by the Who.
And, of course, the purists say there is no such thing as a rock opera.
However, forty years ago, the Who released what was billed as the first rock opera, Tommy. It marked the beginning of the end of rockers trying to adopt classical artistic pretensions. Was it opera? Who cares. It rocked like a mother.
In honor of Tommy’s 40th birthday, the great 80s rock band the Smithereens is releasing its version of Tommy. Not just one song, but the entire album with cover art work reminiscent of the fabulous EC comics of the 50s. Read more about it here. Listen to a sample here.