The double album, the first 'rock opera', continues to be significant today. Pete Townshend's magnum opus was fueled by his childhood traumas and the late '60s phenomena of religious groups with charismatic celebrity leaders like Meher Baba. Because of this album we collectively acquired the moniker "Pinball Wizards", due to record critic Nik Cohn playing pinball with Pete, and suggesting that the main character of Tommy be the leader of a pinball cult. Pete has said on many occasions that he does not consider the song to be one of his best (but it's the audience, not the artist who decides what is a hit).

Don C.