The Who

The Who are an English rock band that formed in 1964. Their classic line-up consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century, selling over 100 million records worldwide and establishing their reputation equally on live shows and studio work.

The Who developed from an earlier group, the Detours, and established themselves as part of the pop art and mod movements, featuring auto-destructive art by destroying guitars and drums on stage. Their first single as the Who, "I Can't Explain", reached the UK top ten, followed by a string of singles including "My Generation", "Substitute" and "Happy Jack". In 1967, they performed at the Monterey Pop Festival and released the US top ten single "I Can See for Miles", while touring extensively. The group's fourth album, 1969's rock opera Tommy, included the single "Pinball Wizard" and was a critical and commercial success. Live appearances at Woodstock and the Isle of Wight Festival, along with the live album Live at Leeds, cemented their reputation as a respected rock act. With their success came increased pressure on lead songwriter and visionary Townshend, and the follow-up to Tommy, Lifehouse, was abandoned. Songs from the project made up 1971's Who's Next, which included the hit "Won't Get Fooled Again". The group released the album Quadrophenia in 1973 as a celebration of their mod roots, and oversaw the film adaptation of Tommy in 1975. They continued to tour to large audiences before semi-retiring from live performances at the end of 1976. The release of Who Are You in 1978 was overshadowed by the death of Moon shortly after.

The Who discography

The Who have been with several labels over the years. In the United Kingdom and elsewhere outside North America, they were signed originally to Brunswick Records. In 1966, they moved to Polydor Records and took the rights to their Brunswick recordings with them. They created and moved to Track Records the following year with distribution by Polydor. They left Track in 1974 and returned to Polydor directly, remaining with the label ever since.

In North America, they were originally on Decca Records. They moved to Atco Records for one single in 1966 before returning to Decca later that year. In 1972 the US Decca label was absorbed into MCA Records. The band changed North American labels again in 1981, to Warner Bros. Records. The label released Face Dances and It's Hard and their singles, before The Who disbanded. In later years, MCA would acquire the US rights to the WBR albums. In 2003, MCA Records (now under common ownership with Polydor, under Universal Music Group) was folded into Geffen Records - which, ironically, was originally an independent label distributed by WBR. Geffen now controls the US rights to The Who's catalogue up through It's Hard. Their 2006 comeback album, Endless Wire, was released through Universal Republic in the US.

Podcasts:

The Who

ALBUMS

PLAYLIST TIME:

The Punk and the Godfather

by: The Who

[PUNK:]
You declared you would be three inches taller
You only became what we made you.
Thought you were chasing a destiny calling
You only earned what we gave you.
You fell and cried as our people were starving,
Now you know that we blame you.
You tried to walk on the trail we were carving,
Now you know that we framed you.
[G.F.:]
I'm the guy in the sky
Flying high Flashing eyes
No surprise I told lies
I'm the punk in the gutter
I'm the new president
But I grew and I bent
Don't you know? don't it show?
I'm the punk with the stutter.
My my my my my mmmm my my my.
GGGGG-g-g-g-g generation.
[PUNK:]
We tried to speak between lines of oration
You could only repeat what we told you.
Your axe belongs to a dying nation,
They don't know that we own you.
You're watching movies trying to find the feelers,
You only see what we show you.
We're the slaves of the phony leaders
Breathe the air we have blown you.
[G.F.:]
I'm the guy [etc.]
I have to be careful not to preach
I can't pretend that I can teach,
And yet I've lived your future out
By pounding stages like a clown.
And on the dance floor broken glass,
The bloody faces slowly pass,
The broken seats in empty rows,
It all belongs to me you know.
[PUNK:]
You declared [etc.]




Latest News for: The Who

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The Who re-hires longtime drummer Zak Starkey days after firing him: ‘Some communication issues’

New York Post 21 Apr 2025
“He’s not being asked to step down from The Who ... Zak Starkey returned to The Who just days after being fired by the band ... Starkey has played with The Who for nearly 30 years ... Starkey’s gigs with The Who are not the only project on his plate.
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The Who U-turn decision to axe Zak Starkey after he ‘apologised’

The Independent 20 Apr 2025
Group said drummer had ‘apologised’ for his mistakes .
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The Who drummer rejoins band days after being kicked out

AOL 20 Apr 2025
The Who frontman Roger Daltrey abruptly stopped mid-song, tapped his earpiece and shook his head ... and The Who’s drummer since 1996, fired and reinstated within days.
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Zak Starkey to drum on with The Who amid 'communication issues'

Music News 20 Apr 2025
Drummer Zak Starkey is not parting company with The Who despite issuing a statement to the contrary ... Zak is "not being asked to step down from The Who", Townshend said in a statement on Instagram on ...
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Zak Starkey reinstated as The Who’s drummer, days after departure

The Observer 20 Apr 2025
Zak Starkey has been reinstated as The Who’s drummer just days after parting company with the band ... But The Who’s guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend said on Saturday that the 59-year-old has been welcomed back into the fold.
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The Who reinstates drummer Zak Starkey days after firing him

Oakridger 20 Apr 2025
Pete Townshend tells USA TODAY's Ralphie Aversa about the lessons that can be taken in 2024 from The Who's "Tommy.". The Who is reinstating the band's longtime drummer just days after booting him from the role.
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Fine, The Who un-fire drummer (and Ringo Starr's son) Zak Starkey

AV Club 20 Apr 2025
Pete Townshend posted a message on the band’s official web site on Saturday morning in which he stated “He’s not being asked to step down from The Who.” (Despite The Guardian having ...
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Trump’s right about the WHO: It’s time to consider an alternative

The Hill 20 Apr 2025
This situation has nothing to do with President Trump’s recent decision to quit the WHO — again ... Likewise, the WHO was incapable of producing the most basic of information on the worldwide status of the COVID pandemic.
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The Who Say Drummer Zak Starkey Is Now Back In The Band

Stereogum 19 Apr 2025
Earlier this week, the Who fired drummer Zak Starkey for ...
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The Who in bombshell Zak Starkey statement on his future - 'this blew up very quickly'

The Mirror 19 Apr 2025
Long-time drummer Zak Starkey has been dramatically reinstated by The Who’s Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend after being sacked over his drumming performance at the Royal Albert Hall ... .
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Zak Starkey Re-Hired by the Who: ‘Communication Issues Have Been Aired Happily,’ Pete Townshend Posts

Variety 19 Apr 2025
In a surprise move, just days after the Who announced that it had ...
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The Who's Zak Starkey major announcement after Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend u-turn

Daily Record 19 Apr 2025
The Who have confirmed that Zak Starkey has not been sacked from the band, despite announcing his departure earlier this week ... .
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