On the surface, Bob Dylan and The Who seem to be vastly different. The British band arose from the Mod movement, focused on fashion and characterized by loud volume, feedback, and Pop Art. In contrast, Bob Dylan gained recognition in the humble venues of Greenwich Village, where his enigmatic wordplay transformed the folk genre. Despite their differences, the two have intertwined over the years, with The Who’s Pete Townshend even receiving one of Dylan’s enigmatic tweets earlier this week.
The guitarist celebrated his 80th birthday, prompting a message from his American counterpart: “Happy birthday Pete. Who’s the new boss? Is he like the old boss? Have you met him yet? Say hello to Roger.”
Happy birthday Pete. Who’s the new boss? Is he like the old boss? Have you met him yet? Say hello to Roger.— Bob Dylan (@bobdylan) May 19, 2025
This tweet alludes to The Who’s iconic rock anthem ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again,’ and reflects years of subtle influence on their music.
In a past conversation with Rolling Stone, Pete Townshend noted that Bob Dylan established “a new style of writing” for pop artists. He remarked, “Dylan was the one who conveyed the idea to The Beatles that songs could address topics beyond just love. John Lennon, in particular, quickly embraced this notion, abandoning the old rock clichés and channeling his creativity into more personal pop music.”
Regarding his own creations, Dylan’s impact is evident in The Who’s hit single ‘My Generation’—a staple in their live performances. The phrase “hope I die before I get old” is likely something that octogenarians Bob Dylan and Pete Townshend can chuckle about.
“When I began working on ‘My Generation,’ I aimed for a blend of a Mose Allison and Bob Dylan talking folk song, you know… It’s part Mose and part Dylan. You can find something relevant in any of his songs today.”
As for Pete Townshend's favorite Bob Dylan track, he highlights an early acoustic piece: ‘Girl From The North Country,’ from Dylan’s ‘Freewheelin’ album.
“I once had a disagreement with Bob Dylan about it,” he shared. “He claimed ‘a folk singer is just a man with a good memory,’ but I must credit him for reminding me of that song.”
Currently, neither artist is slowing down. Bob Dylan is touring, while The Who are set to begin their North American farewell tour this autumn.
At first glance, Bob Dylan and The Who seem to be entirely different. The British band originated from the style-oriented Mod movement, promoting loudness, feedback, and Pop music.
