When one looks at the history of rock and roll, regardless of your generational biases, it doesn't take long to think of The Who when the discussion turns to great concerts. The Who is a band that's thought by many to be one of, if not the, greatest live band of all time, and The Who is returning to the stage in 2006. If you have yet to see them, or have seen them several times, you'll be missing out in a big way if you don't take advantage of the opportunity to watch the band bring you on a journey through their decades together. A look at their history will shed some light on why they've garnered a loyal following of millions of fans that span every age group.



Early Stages

The Who can trace its roots to 1963, when a band called The Detours was formed, and its members included Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend and John Entwistle. The Detours were not together for very long under that name, but they were known within their niche as a hard-edged rock and roll band with sometimes controversial lyrics and performance styles.

After about a year of playing together, lead singer Colin Dawson left the band and was replaced on lead vocals by Daltrey. Not long thereafter, The Detours lost their drummer, Doug Sandom, and he was replaced by some unknown by the name of Keith Moon. After discovering a synergy between the new members, the band decided to rename itself. In 1964, “The Who” was born.

Struggles/Progress

The Who played a series of small gigs, and Townshend remained in school while Daltrey, Entwistle and Moon all worked dead-end jobs just to get by until they could get their “break.” Slowly and steadily, the band gained a following by playing regularly at the Marquee club in London, where many of their onstage “traditions” were first attempted. Townshend's guitar smashing can be traced back to the Marquee by many witnesses.

The band was signed by manager Pete Meaden after he heard about their performances at the Marquee, and he persuaded them to rename themselves “The High Numbers.” The High Numbers released one ultra-modern, polished single, and it failed miserably. The band split with Meaden immediately and once again assumed the name of “The Who.”

After signing with a new team of managers, Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp, the band landed their first recording contract with Decca Records in 1964. Their first single, I Can't Explain, became a smash hit after the band's appearance on the television show Ready, Steady, Go. The live performance featured Townshend and Moon destroying their instruments on the air, and a legend was instantly born. The rest, as they say, is history.

Worldwide Success

Between 1965 and 1982, The Who released 10 studio albums, all of which were huge smash hits, including My Generation in 1965, A Quick One in 1966, Tommy in 1969, Quadrophenia in 1973 and many, many others.

The band is also known to this day as an extremely intense on-stage group of performers, as the Guinness Book of World Records has The Who recorded as the loudest band of all time, and none other than Eddy Vedder of Pearl Jam and Joey Ramone of The Ramones call them the greatest live band of all time.

The Who have also been known as innovators. Tommy was the first-ever “rock opera,” and the album has sold tens of millions of copies since its release. The band even transcended music, as the band has appeared in no fewer than seven movies/documentaries.

Career Achievements

Among the many achievements to which the band can lay claim, perhaps none is more treasured than their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Although the band has never won a Grammy Award, they have performed on six continents and played together for four decades. There have been times when there were rifts, but overall, the band remains close to this day, and are soon to release another studio album.

Catch one of the greatest bands in history - you won't regret it.