|
- My Generation:
Deluxe Edition
(2002)
- The BBC Sessions
(2000)
- Live at the Isle
of Wight Festival 1970
(1996)
- Join Together
(1990)
- Who's Better,
Who's Best
(1988)
- Who's Missing
(1985)
- Who's Last
(1984)
- Who's Greatest
Hits
(1983)
- It's Hard
(1982)
- Face Dances
(1981)
- Hooligans
(1981)
- The Kids are Alright
(1979)
- Who Are You
(1978)
- The Who By Numbers
(1975)
- Odds and Sods
(1974)
- Quadrophenia
(1973)
- Meaty, Beaty,
Big and Bouncy
(1971)
- Who's Next
(1971)
- Live at Leeds
(1970)
- Tommy
(1969)
- Magic Bus
(1968)
- The Who Sell Out
(1967)
- A Quick One (Happy
Jack)
(1966)
- The Who Sings
My Generation
(1965)
|
 |
 |
|
- Martyrs &
Madmen
(1997)
- Rocks in the Head
(1992)
- Can't Wait to
See the Movie
(1987)
- Under a Raging
Moon
(1985)
- Parting Should
Be Painless
(1984)
- One of the Boys
(1977)
- Ride a Rock Horse
(1975)
- Lisztomania
(1975)
- Daltrey
(1973)
|
 |
 |
|
- Scooped
(2002)
- The Oceanic Concerts
(2001)
- Live: A Benefit
for Maryville Academy
(1999)
- Psychoderelict
(1993)
- The Iron Man
(1989)
- Another Scoop
(1987)
- Deep End Live!
(1986)
- White City: A
Novel
(1985)
- Scoop
(1983)
- All the Best Cowboys
have Chinese Eyes
(1982)
- Empty Glass
(1980)
- Rough Mix
(1977)
|
|
 |
One of the most enduring and influential rock groups of all
time, the Who -- Roger Daltrey (vocals), Pete Townshend (guitar),
John "The Ox" Entwistle (bass) and Keith Moon (drums)
-- first caught the public's attention in the mid-1960s by
smashing their instruments on stage. They have continued to
hold it for more than 30 years thanks to a powerful blend
of R&B and straight-up rock 'n' roll. After Moon's death
in 1978 and two final albums, the other members of the Who
went on to successful solo careers, and the band has sporadically
reunited for tours; their numerous hits remain classic rock
radio staples.
The Who have their roots in the West London music scene of
the early 1960s, where Daltry, Townshend, Entwistle, and drummer
Doug Sandom performed in a band called the Detours. Initially
taking their cues from the Beatles, the band soon developed
a Rolling Stones fetish and replaced Sandom with local drummer
Keith Moon, who had a stronger R&B background. Around
this time the Detours discovered another band of the same
name already existed, and changed their name to the ever-confusing
moniker 'the Who.'
In 1963 London scenester Pete Meaden "discovered"
the Who and took control of their career, repackaging them
as a mod band, changing their name to the High Numbers, and
having them record two songs that he wrote himself to appeal
to the British mod scene. Their first single did not chart
and the band broke with Meaden to go their own way.
Changing their name back to the Who, the band came to the
attention of Decca Records in late 1964 after Pete Townshend
smashed his guitar in anger at a show and caused a media stir.
Their first Decca single, "I Can't Explain," climbed
to No. 9 in the U.K. and was followed by their first LP, 1965's
(The Who Sings) My Generation, a mix of R&B covers
and original songs penned by Townshend.
The Who toured America several times in the mid-'60s, becoming
a cult act thanks to their energetic live show, which now
included a nightly destruction of guitars that quickly ate
up the band's profits. Meanwhile, their next two albums, 1966's
A Quick One (Happy Jack in the U.S.) and the
1967 concept album The Who Sell Out, performed respectably
in Britain and, to a lesser extent, the U.S., where their
1967 single "I Can See For Miles" became their first
American Top 10 hit. The group also made an appearance that
June at the Monterrey Pop Festival, where they expanded their
stateside following. Decca released a U.S.-only compilation
later that year called The Magic Bus, which was highly
criticized for containing previously released material and
inferior cuts while claiming to be a new live album.
The Who became international stars with their 1969 "rock
opera" Tommy, the story of a handicapped youth
who finds salvation through pinball. The double album reached
No. 4 in the U.S. and remained on the charts for over two
years, eventually spawning a 1975 movie of the same title
featuring Elton John, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner,and the Who
themselves. The following year, the critically acclaimed live
album, Live At Leeds was released, showcasing the group's
earlier material.
The band's next effort, 1971's Who's Next, is generally
considered their strongest album, containing such radio staples
as "Baba O'Riley" and "Won't Get Fooled Again."
Two years later the Who returned with their second rock opera,
the 1973 double album Quadrophenia, a tale based loosely
on Pete Townshend's experiences in the London mod scene of
the early 1960s. Like Tommy, Quadrophenia was made into a
movie, released in 1979. Also in 1971 Decca released the first
of many Who compilations, Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy,
a collection of early singles.
The Who By Numbers (1975) and Who Are You (1978),
though commercially successful, marked the beginning of the
band's decline. On September 7, 1978, drummer Keith Moon was
found dead of a drug overdose; eerily, he had appeared on
the cover of their most recent album (Who Are You)
in a chair marked "Not to be taken away."After a
period of mourning, the band decided to press on, bringing
in ex-Small Faces drummer Kenney Jones for their next two
albums, 1981's Face Dances and 1983's It's Hard.
Their 1982 "farewell" tour was documented on the
live album Who's Last, but the Who didn't really disappear.
Though Townshend and Daltrey went on to notable solo careers,
the Who re-formed in 1988 for another tour, and throughout
the '80s their label milked their back catalog for all it
was worth, releasing numerous "greatest hits" and
B-sides compilations.
The '80s didn't mark the end of Who reunion fever. The group
performed the epic Quadrophenia as part of a 1996 tour, and
came together again for short tours in 1999 and 2000, suggesting
that nearly 20 years after their "farewell" tour,
the Who still hadn't finished saying goodbye.
Bassist Entwhistle died of an apparent heart-attack on June
27, 2002 at the age of 57. The remaining two members press
on, though Townsend now faces public suspicion of violation
of child pornography laws.
Copyright ©2002 Rollingstone.com
|