January 2012
New music releases: Born to Die - Lana Del Rey; "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" - Kelly Clarkson; "Drive By" - Train; "I Won't Give Up" - Jason Mraz
On the 14th, Roger Daltrey appears as an interviewee in the BBC Two documentary Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil. Russell died a month and a half before.
On the 24th the 4-CD tribute to Bob Dylan, Chimes Of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan is released. It includes a cover of "Corrina, Corrina" by Pete Townshend.
On the 25th, a press release announces that Pete has sold his interest in his entire song catalog to the Spirit Music Group. Pete will work as a consultant with the company "with the specific goal of fostering proactive collaboration between the artist, his management team (Trinifold), his record label (Universal Music Group), the original publisher of his earliest works (TRO) and Spirit's global marketing staff."
On the 31st, Lawrence Ball's double-CD Method Music is released. Produced by Pete and Bob Lord, the work is based on a computer program developed by Ball inspired by Pete's Life House ideas from 1970-1971.
February 2012
New music releases: "Starships" - Nicki Minaj; "Take Care" - Drake featuring Rihanna; Our Version of Events - Emeli Sandé; "It's Time" - Imagine Dragons
On the 10th, Pete Townshend announces he has joined a campaign to save one of West London's last remaining eel pie and mash shops. A. Cooke on the Goldhawk Road in White City was used as a filming location for the movie Quadrophenia. "I realise change is inevitable, but to think of Shepherd's Bush without Cooke's is inconceivable." The protest comes to nothing and A. Cooke closes July 2015.
Also on the 10th, Dean Guitars introduces The John Entwistle Signature Spider bass guitar, complete with spider-web inlays and a strikingly unique angular design.
On the 12th, former Skids frontman Richard Jobson announces that he intends to direct a sequel to the movie Quadrophenia. Jimmy will go the guru route during the 1960s, then return to London and become "the king of advertising" being offered Margaret Thatcher as a client. The title was to be "Won't Get Fooled Again" and, for better or worse, it never sees the light of a projector.
On the 13th, Roger Daltrey is sorry to announce that a planned tour of Australia with his solo Tommy performance must be cancelled.
On the 29th, Roger joins Simon Townshend onstage at Simon's show in Shoreham to sing a selection of Who songs.
March 2012
New music releases: "Sweater Weather" - The Neighbourhood; "Boyfriend" - Justin Bieber; "Wanted" - Hunter Hayes; "Back in Time" - Pitbull
On the 2nd, Die Ärtze release their EP zeiDverschwÄndung containing the track "Quadrophenia", a tribute to Mods and The Who.
Also on the 2nd, Pete Townshend is interviewed on episode 2 of the BBC TV programme Melvyn Bragg on Class and Culture. He talks about Mods, Who managers Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp, and living in Belgravia. On the same day Roger Daltrey is a guest on The Alan Titchmarsh Show.
On the 6th, Alexander Ludwig releases the single "Live it Up (Teenage Wasteland)". "Baba O'Riley" is mentioned in the lyrics.
On the 7th, Roger is interviewed on Steve Wright in the Afternoon on BBC Radio 2 about the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Starting on the 9th, Roger continues his solo Tommy tour in Europe at Il Gran Teatro GEOX in Padua, Italy. Other dates are at Teatro Carol Felice in Genoa (11th), Teatro Colosseo in Turin (12th), L'Olympia in Paris (15th), Teatro Rossetti in Trieste (18th), Teatro Comunale in Florence (20th), Auditorium della Conciliazione in Rome (21st, 23rd) and Teatro Smeraldo in Milan (24th).
Brevity cartoon, March 10.
On the 20th, Luminate releases The Covers EP. One of the songs covered is "Let My Love Open the Door".
On the 25th, Roger makes a cameo of a few seconds as an elaborately made-up hookah=smoking caterpillar on ABC-TV's Once Upon a Time. His sole line is to say "Who Are You? Who? Who?"
On the 28th, Roger, Ron Wood and Paul Weller perform together at the Royal Albert Hall for the Teenage Cancer Trust. The Following night, the three return to join Paul McCartney in a performance of "Get Back".
April 2012
New music releases: "Payphone" - Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa; "Whistle" - Flo Rida; "Mercy" - Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz; "Where Have You Been" - Rihanna
On the 2nd, the May issue of Uncut hits the newsstands featuring an interview with Pete Townshend giving his memories of various Who albums. On a personal note, he admits to having been on the receiving end of oral services in "gay situations" but declares his predilections are "heterosexual".
On the 4th, the cybergroup Anonymous hacks Chinese Government websites. Their onscreen message is backed by a recording of "Baba O'Riley".
On the 8th, Who manager Bill Curbishley tells the Sunday Times that he had been approached by organizers of the 2012 London Olympics to see if The Who would play at the end of the Games. They also specifically asked if Keith Moon could appear with them. Curbishley's response: "'If they have a round table, some glasses and candles, we might contact him."
The group Freq. Magnet puts out their album Nicked. The final track is "Derierre Des Il Bleu", a slowed-down cover of "Behind Blue Eyes". Another group, The Poormouth, releases the EP Extended Player with a cover of "Early Morning Cold Taxi".
On the 19th, Japanese record sellers list an upcoming release The Who Live At Budokan from the band's 2008 appearance. The Who change their minds and the release is cancelled.
On the 20th, it's Record Store Day. Pete releases a Quadrophenia Demos 2 EP on vinyl in the U.S. and a double disc of Quadrophenia Demos in the U.K.
On the 23rd, Roger Daltrey and his solo band take their performance of Tommy to Japan with appearances at the International Forum in Tokyo on the 23rd and 24th, Kenmin Hall in Kanagawa on the 27th, Archaic Hall in Osaka on the 28th, and Shi Kokaido in Nagoya on the 30th.
May 2012
New music releases: "I Love It" - Icona Pop featuring Charli XCX; "Wide Awake" - Katy Perry; "Hard to Love" - Lee Brice; "Home" - Phillip Phillips
On the 3rd, Roger Daltrey is a guest on Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show. Roger admits The Who are "having a very long sabbatical" but at least gets to discuss the Teenage Cancer Trust and perform both "Young Man Blues" and "The Real Me".
On the 5th, Pete Townshend makes a one-off Canadian appearance, performing at the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards honoring his fellow creator of The Who's Tommy, Des McAnuff. Pete performs "Pinball Wizard".
On the 10th, Chris Welch's book Treasures of The Who is published in the U.K.
On the 21st, Roger joins Ringo Starr and Sir Cliff Richard at an exclusive preview of the Chelsea Flower Show. Roger presented the Homebase Teenage Cancer Trust Garden as a patron of the charity.
On the 22nd, the cast of the TV show Glee release their CD Glee Season Three featuring a cover of "Pinball Wizard" using the Elton John arrangement.
On the 23rd, Roger attends the star-packed Celebration of Arts event at the Royal Academy of Arts. The Queen is there along with leading lights in Britain's musical, acting and fashion fields.
On the 28th, Spectrum Audio UK releases The Who compilation Pinball Wizards - The Collection in the U.K.
On the 30th, The Who Sell Out (mono & stereo mixes) and Quadrophenia (original mix) are relased on SACD in Japan.
June 2012
New music releases: "Some Nights" - fun.; "One More Night" - Maroon 5; "Ho Hey" - The Lumineers; "Summertime Sadness" - Lana Del Ray
On the 11th, two pieces from the orchestral version of Quadrophenia premiere at Queen Elizabeth Hall on London's Southbank. Pete Townshend and Jeff Beck attend to play guitar on "Love Reign O'er Me". Pete's future wife Rachel Fuller provids the arrangements.
On the 15th, an hour-long documentary about the writing and recording of the original album, Quadrophenia: Can You See The Real Me? premieres at the Sheffield Doc/Fest.
On the 20th, thirty-seven years after the release of the Flash Fearless album, Captain Crash vs. the Zzorg Women Parts 5 and 6 has its New York theatrical premiere at the Richmond Shepherd Theater.
On the 22nd, Pete pens a lengthy recolection about John Entwistle on the tenth anniversary of his death. "On stage with the Who I often look across and expect to see John standing there scratching the side of his nose and take a resigned deep breath in that characteristically thoughtful way that often presaged a funny story or a blistering bass passage."
On the 29th, Roger is one of a host of stars that attend a party celebrating the 80th birthday of Sir Peter Blake. The British Pop Artist assembled The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band cover as well as The Who's Face Dances.
July 2012
New music releases: "Let Her Go" - Passenger; "Gangnam Style" - Psy; "As Long As You Love Me" - Justin Bieber featuring Big Sean; "Same Love" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert
Fifty-three years after he is expelled from Acton Country Grammar School, Roger Daltrey finds himself in cap and gown to receive an honoourary degree at Middlesex University for his contribution to music. He in turn praises the students for the graphics they supplied for his solo Tommy tour.
On the 18th Pete Townshend and Roger hold a press conference in London to announce they will be touring that autumn with a presentation of Quadrophenia. "We've been anxious to work together before we drop dead" says Pete.
On the 19th, the manager of the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island offers to exchange unused tickets from The Who's cancelled 1979 show for their new 2012 show. Several ticket holders actually do so. Their old tickets are put on ebay as a benefit to the Special Olympics.
On the 23rd, Pete joins Brian May of Queen and a large group of rock and pop stars in signing a letter posted in the Daily Telegraph demanding Google provide more protection against those using their search engine to pirate music.
On the 24th, the documentary Quadrophenia: Can You See The Real Me? is shown for one night only in movie theaters across the United States. The film is preceeded by a special message from Pete. The Canadian showing takes place on 1 August.
On the 26th, the London Olympics begin with an opening countdown backed by High Contrast's "The Road Goes On Forever", in particular the part where they sample "Baba O'Riley". During the opening ceremonies "My Generation" is played accompanied by footage of The Who in the 1960s.
On the 29th, Roger attends Sir Paul McCartney's summer party at his home in London.
On the 30th, Roger is at the Royal Academy of Arts attending the UK creative industries reception hosted by the British Government.
On the 31st, Roger joins Eddie Vedder on stage the Hammersmith Apollo to perform "Blue, Red and Grey" and "Naked Eye" on ukulele.
August 2012
New music releases: "Cruise" - Florida Georgia Line; "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz; "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" - Taylor Swift; "I Will Wait" - Mumford & Sons
On the 1st, Pete Townshend is one of a group of musicians who send a letter to The Times protesting charges against the Russian musical act Pussy Riot who are facing years in prison after staging a performance in a Moscow cathedral where they called on the Virgin Mary to remove Valdimir Putin from power. The letter comes the day Putin is to meet with U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron in London.
On the 3rd, Roger Daltrey attends Steven Berkoff's 75th birthday party at the Ivy Club in London.
On the 12th, The Who perform a six-minute medley of "Baba O'Riley", "See Me Feel Me" and "My Generation" for the London Olympics Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in London. Earlier The Kaiser Chiefs play "Pinball Wizard" as the lead singer arrives on a Union Jack decorated scooter. NBC-TV in the U.S. fumbles The Who's performance, delaying it until after midnight to show the premiere of a soon-to-be-cancelled sitcom and local news. The album A Symphony of British Music, including The Who's performance, is available for download the following day. Over the next week, "Baba O'Riley", "Pinball Wizard" and "My Generation" all enter the British Top 200 singles.
On the 14th, The Guardian reports that The Who turned down the closing slot for The London Olympics twice before agreeing to help promote their upcoming tour.
On the 21st, Pete writes a long blog on a variety of subjects. His big announcement is that he has finalized the release version of his memoirs: "I hope to tell some of the more dodgy stories that my publisher's legal department have removed from the book. One thousand pages cut to five-hundred. There are a lot of dodgy stories left over."
Also on the 21st, Roger attends a re-launch party for the newly revived Dallas in London. Star and former Keith Moon drinking buddy Larry Hagman also attends.
And also on the 21st, John Basil publishes his novel Let Me Wear Your Coat about a teen Who fan in 1980.
On the 28th, The Criterion Collection in the U.S. releases their DVD of Quadrophenia. It also includes the first official home video release of Seize millions de jeune, the 1965 French documentary that shows The Who performing at the Marquee Club early in that year.
Also on the 28th, Juliana Hatfield releases her self-titled album featuring a cover of "My Wife".
September 2012
New music releases: "Diamonds" - Rihanna; Night Visions - Imagine Dragons; "Don't You Worry Child" - Swedish House Mafia featuring John Martin; "Girl on Fire" - Alicia Keys
On the 2nd, Simon Townshend, Pete Townshend's brother, appears on the cover of the Sunday Express Review where he discusses playing at the London Olympics with The Who and his upcoming U.K. solo tour.
On the 6th, Roger Daltrey and his solo band perform at a private event for the Oracle Club Excellence at the Atlantic Resort in the Bahamas.
On the 25th, Mojo magazine reviews the forthcoming Pete autobiography Who I Am calling it "the most self-denigrating rock bio ever." Rolling Stone gives it four stars and says it "could be the most conflicted rock memoir of all time."
On the 30th, The Sunday Times has a special section with revelations from Who I Am.
October 2012
New music releases: "Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons; "Locked Out of Heaven" - Bruno Mars; "Fuckin' Problems" - ASAP Rocky featuring Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar; Red - Taylor Swift
On the 2nd Who Are You: An All-Star Tribute To The Who, feturing covers by such interesting pairings as Mark Lindsay and Wayne Kramer, Dave Davies and Rat Scabies, and Peter Noon, Peter Banks and Ginger Baker, is released on CD and download.
On the 6th, Simon Townshend reports that he, Roger Daltrey, Phil Spalding, Jody Linscott, and Billy Nichols are being flown on a private jet to Nice to perform at a private 60th birthday party.
On the 8th, Pete Townshend's long-awaited autobiography Who I Am is published in the U.S. Australian publication follows on the 9th and the U.K. on the 11th. Reviewers remark on how little fun Pete seems to have had being a famous rock star. Simon Garfield in The Guardian calls it "strangely joyless", Rob Sheffield in Rolling Stone describes it as "a quest to explore his defects and contradictions" and Robert Christgau in The New York Times notes "he takes pains to examine his faults and tell stories that make him look bad."
Promoting the book takes up most of the month for Pete, being interviewed on CBS Sunday Morning (7th), The Today Show (8th), The View (8th), The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (8th), Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (9th), Fox & Friends (10th), Morning Joe (11th) and The First Time on BBC Radio 6 (21st).
In addition, Pete is interviewed at the Stephen A Schwarzman Building, New York by Paul Holdengräber (8th), the Barnes & Noble in Union Square by Jann Wenner (9th), the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology by Wesley Stace (10th). the Berklee College of Music Bookstore in Boston by professor Ken Zambello (12th), and the Boiler House at the Old Truman Brewery in London by Jason Holmes (17th). Pete signs books at all but the first venue and also at Bookends in Ridgewood, New Jersey (11th).
On the 15th, Roger does another corporate gig, performing with the SAS Band at the IFS World Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden.
On the 23rd, the Daily Mail reports that rare photos of The Who performing in Surrey in 1966 will be auctioned.
On the 25th, The Who: Opus Collection is released at Starbucks stores. It will peak at #161 on the Billboard charts.
On the 29th, Murray Head releases his album My Back Pages featuring a cover of "Won't Get Fooled Again".
November 2012
New music releases: "I Knew You Were Trouble" - Taylor Swift; "Clarity" - Zedd; Take Me Home - One Direction; "Scream & Shout" - will.i.am and Britney Spears
On the 1st, the new live edition of Quadrophenia performed by The Who opens at The BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. Pete Townshend has trouble with too loud stage sound and quietly walks off stage during the encore. Roger Daltrey and the rest of the band perform "Baba O'Riley" without him.
Pete returns to the stage as the tour continues to the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida (3rd), The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia (5th), the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, South Carolina (8th), Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina (9th), Consol Energy Arena in Pittsburgh (11th), Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. (13th), Barclays Center in Brooklyn (14th), TD Garden in Boston (16th), Bell Centre in Montreal (20th), Scotiabank Place in Ottawa (21st), Air Canada Centre in Toronto (23rd), Joe Louis Arena in Detroit (24th), Target Center in Minneapolis (27th), and two nights at the Allstate Arena in Chicago (29th, 30th).
On the 11th, the Japanese band Kuhombutsu release their album Ikiteru tochuuni shindara doushiyou featuring the song "Pete Townshend".
On the 12th, Roger and Pete address a packed lunchtime crowd at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Roger leads the way speaking in support of the Who Cares charity and the new Teen Cancer America, meant to continue the work of Britain's Teenage Cancer Trust to the United States. Pete does his part later participating in an interview and call-in on National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation.
On the 19th, Live At Hull 1970 and a mono mix of My Generation are released on CD in the U.K. Also released is a 12-inch blue vinyl edition of The Who's Music for the Closing Ceremony in a limited edition of 1,000.
Also on the 19th, Pete is interviewed on Late Night with David Letterman.
On the 22nd, Pete fits in another stop of hi autobiography book tour, interviewed by broadcaster and music writer Alan Cross at the Indigo Bookstore in Toronto followed by a book signing. On the 26th, Pete also signs books at the Old Orchard Center Barnes & Noble bookstore in Skokie, Illinois.
The Who family also suffers some great losses during the month. On the 17th, Mike Shaw, original member of the crew from the High Numbers days, passes away. Then on the 24th, Chris Stamp, half of the Lambert & Stamp management team that brought The Who to fame, dies at age 70.
December 2012
New music releases: "Stay" - Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko; Unorthodox Jukebox - Bruno Mars; "Impossible" - James Arthur; Les Misérables: Highlights from the Motion Picture Soundtrack - Various Artists
The Quadrophenia 2012 multi-media presentation proceeds through North America landing at Bridgestone Arena, Nashville (2nd), Madison Square Garden (5th), Prudential Center, Newark (6th), Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia (8th), and ending at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut (9th).
On the 4th, the boxset The Who Studio Albums with all of The Who's studio albums in 180gm vinyl and reproductions of the original sleeves and insertions, is released for the holidays.
On the 7th, The Invisible Swordsmen release their album Born Too Late with a song on it called "Keith Moon"
On the 9th, Pete Townshend has a new diary entry called "The Clown Who Plays Ukulele". Having told a story by teen cancer patient Sarah Sterner about a ukulele playing clown touring a pediatric cancer ward, Pete feels guilty about seeming to make fun of someone giving up their time to entertain the sick.
On the 12th, The Who perform a half-hour set at Madison Square Garden as part of an all-star event called "12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief". The performance is shown live on television and the next day the Internet comments extensively on Roger Daltrey's 68-year old bared chest.
On the 18th, the album 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief is released. Three songs from The Who's set are included.