The Who Biography

Written by The Rock Radio staff, June 2005 © The Rock Radio

Smashing Guitar Music
The Who, a highly influential British rock band formed in the mid-sixties, was one of the first to perform distorted guitar music and to put dynamic live shows. Around the time when they settled with their classic lineup of Pete Townshend on guitars, Roger Daltrey on vocals, John Entwistle on bass guitar and Keith Moon on drums, The Who were already an established act at the famous Marquee club in London, which is were Townshend first smashed one of his guitars out of his frustration with the sound system. The image of Townshend leaping into the air with his guitar, spinning his right arm in windmills and then smashing his instrument became The Who's performing signature.

Their breakthrough came in 1965 when the band played "I Can't Explain" on national television and smashed their instruments. This act made them an overnight sensation. Their successful debut album "My Generation" (1965) included classic songs "My Generation" and "The Kids Are Alright". "A Quick One" followed in 1966 and "The Who Sell Out" in 1967, a concept album that sounded like a radio station, complete with commercials and jingles. By now The Who were an established band both in the UK and US.

Rock Operas
A pivotal album in musical history was 1969's double concept album "Tommy". It was the first ever rock opera! The album became a massive worldwide hit and The Who embarked on an extensive tour where they played the album on its entirety. Townshend then attempted an even more ambitious project with "Lifehouse" and although never released many of its songs were featured in "Who's Next" (1971), The Who's most successful album to date. Sweetened by commercial success Townshend went on to write another rock opera with 1973's "Quadrophenia". "The Who By Numbers" (1975) and "Who Are You" (1978) and their accompanied tours were big hits, however, at the peak of their career tragedy struck hard. Drummer Keith Moon died of a drug overdose on September 7, 1978.

Decline
Despite the fact that Moon was an integral part of The Who's sound and image, the remaining band members decided to continue with new recruit Kenny Jones as well as keyboardist John Bundrick. However, it latter became clear that The Who ended with Moon's death. The band received another deadly

blow when during one of their gigs in Cincinnati, Ohio, 11 fans died when people rushed for better choice of festival seating. Following this incidence the band's morale was rock bottom and Townshend became a drug and alcohol addict, nearly killing himself from overdose in 1981. The first album since Moon's death came in 1981 with "Face Dances". Although it was another hit it received mixed reviews. The band decided to record their farewell album with 1982's "It's Hard".

Reunions
In the years that followed The Who reunited occasionally to perform live shows including Live Aid in 1985. In 2002 during one of their reunion tours John Entwistle died in Las Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel from drug overdose. Despite their decline in popularity post Moon's death, The Who will always remain a landmark of rock history. From smashing their instruments on stage to trashing hotel rooms to drug abuse and to being the loudest rock band of their time they had an unprecedented energy to rock to the limits.

"Hey, fellas, have you heard the news, Yeah, the women in this town have been misused, Yeah, I seen it all in my dreams last night, Girls leaving this town..."
The Who - 1964