The Who’s career has been analyzed ad infinitum. However, one area remains obscure. Starting in 1969 (and a bit towards the end of 1968 as we see from Rock and Roll Circus), Pete Townshend developed a style of stage performance never seen before in rock and roll, although surely there were antecedents.
He would jump high while strumming or plucking, often crouched leaps or dramatic splits, sometimes landing on his knees, seemingly. Later in the 1970s he extended the repertoire of these balletic jumps and maneuvers, doing as his well known cross-stage leaps that ended in a long slide on his knees.
How he never injured himself doing this is one puzzle, especially as Pete was known to play drunk at times in the 1970s.. Here, a collection of amazing photographs of Townshend flying on stage from the 1960s and 1970s:
