Fifty years ago The Who came screaming out of London with a sound for the ages. Lead singer Roger Daltrey acted out the aggressive youth anthems written by guitarist Pete Townshend, songs that reflected the band’s status as the public face of the fashion conscious, R&B loving hipsters who called themselves Mods. The anthems were “Can’t Explain,” “The Kids Are Alright” and “My Generation,” in which Daltrey stutters the infamous line “I Hope I die before I get old.”

For drummer Keith Moo...