"What the Who is all about is exactly that and it always has been. If it exists today for this concert, it's in response again to a function which is happening out there on the street"

This quote by Pete Townshend implies that the function of the band, The Who, has actually always been to react to what is happening in society. They produce music and carry out shows as a reaction to the events and problems happening on the planet beyond the music industry. The band's existence for this particular show is likewise in reaction to a function happening on the street, which might represent a social motion or demonstration. Overall, the message communicated through this quote is that The Who utilizes its music as a platform to deal with and show the present social environment, instead of solely for the function of home entertainment.