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Page updated July 1, 2025. This is a highly abridged version of all the things that happened to and around The Who in July. Click for access to the full history.


July 1942

New music (U.S.): "Jingle Jangle Jingle"/"He Wears A Pair Of Silver Wings" - Kay Kyser and His Orchestra; "(I've Got A Gal) In Kalamazoo" - Glenn Miller and His Orchestra; "Just as Though You Were Here" - Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
Chris Stamp 12 Nov 1966
Photo: Chris Morphet

On the 7th, future Who manager and brother of actor Terence Stamp, Christopher Thomas Stamp is born.










July 1952

New music releases: "Wish You Were Here" - Eddie Fisher and Hugo Winterhalter; "High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)" - Frankie Laine
Grandmother Denny

Pete escapes the clutches of his crazy, abusive grandmother Denny as his mother brings him back to live full time at their home in Acton.








July 1953

New music releases: "Oh!" - Pee Wee Hunt; "Let's Walk That-a-way" - Doris Day and Johnnie Ray; "With These Hands" - Eddie Fisher; "C'est Si Bon" - Eartha Kitt
8 year-old Pete Townshend

Eight-year old Pete is photographed with his dog. The photo appears in the Acton Gazette.






July 1956

New music releases: "Don't Be Cruel"/"Hound Dog" - Elvis Presley; "My Prayer" - The Platters; "Canadian Sunset" - Eddie Haywood and Hugo Winterhalter; "Honky Tonk" - Bill Doggett
Gaiety Theatre, Douglas

On the 28th, Cliff Townshend takes his son Pete to a showing of a movie featuring the rock 'n roll music of Bill Haley and His Comets at the Gaiety Theatre, Douglas. Pete remembers the movie as being Rock Around The Clock although, given the date, it is almost certainly Blackboard Jungle. In any case, swing band member Cliff declares the music "not bad" but young Pete finds the new style "amazing."






July 1957

New music releases: Loving You - Elvis Presley; "Diana" - Paul Anka; "Honeycomb" - Jimmie Rodgers; "Water Water" - Tommy Steele & The Steelmen

Around this time, Roger's mother discovers her son playing guitar to a crowd while they are on holiday.


July 1962

New music releases: "She's Not You" - Elvis Presley; The Music Man (Original Soundtrack) - Various Artists; Ray Charles' Greatest Hits - Ray Charles; "Palisades Park" - Freddy Cannon
Doug Sandom

Doug Sandom becomes the drummer for The Detours. He is not only older than the rest of the band, but has eight years more performing experience than they do. His first full-time gigs with the Detours start this month with a five-week occupancy at the Paradise Club.


July 1963

New music releases: Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash - Johnny Cash; Trini Lopez at PJ's - Trini Lopez; "Sweets for My Sweet" - The Searchers; "My Boyfriend's Back" - The Angels
Detours tape box

Around this time The Detours have their only recording session in the basement of the home of Barry Gray, the musical director of the children's TV programme Thunderbirds. The Detours are go with two Pete songs, "It Was You" and "Please Don't Send Me Home" plus Chuck Berry's "Come On," then in release by The Rolling Stones. The tape resurfaces in the early 2000's, but has yet to be released.


July 1964

New music releases: Something New - The Beatles; "Dancing In the Street" - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas; "A Hard Day's Night" - The Beatles; The Best of Jim Reeves - Jim Reeves
Im The Face 1964 Fontana promo

On the 3rd, "Zoot Suit" backed with "I'm The Face" and listed as by "The High Numbers" is released on Fontana Records. Derek Johnson in New Musical Express says, "The High Numbers are highly topical with their novelty lyric about male attire, 'Zoot Suit.' Medium twister, but with an inconsequential tune. Harmonica leads into broken-beat unison vocal on 'I'm The Face.' Compelling styling, but weakish material." Record Mirror, however, gives the single a rave, calling "Zoot Suit," "an ultra-commercial blues-flavoured dance tune that grows and grows on you." Disc gives it 3 stars out of 5 but remarks "the tunes are almost non-existant." Only 1,000 discs are pressed and although members of The Who fan club write to pirate radio stations, using assumed names on multiple letters, asking for the songs to be played, the single fails to get airplay or generate sales.


July 1965

New music releases: "Unchained Melody" - The Righteous Brothers; "Help!" - The Beatles; "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher; "Like a Rolling Stone" - Bob Dylan

On the 1st, The Who are filmed performing live versions of "Anyway Anyhow Anywhere" and "Shout and Shimmy" for Ready Steady GO! With great luck a kinescope of this show survives and "Anyway Anyhow Anywhere" is later used in The Kids Are Alright and many other Who documentaries. The other song they perform that night, "Shout and Shimmy," has so far only appeared on the 1984 videotape Ready Steady Go! Volume 2.


July 1966

New music releases: The Best of The Beach Boys - The Beach Boys; "You Can't Hurry Love" - The Supremes; "Wouldn't It Be Nice" - The Beach Boys; Somewhere My Love - Ray Conniff and The Singers
The Kids Are Alright US 45

TRO, Pete's U.S. song publisher, gets word that some U.S. radio stations have begun playing "The Kids Are Alright" from the recent Decca LP The Who Sings My Generation. They pressure Decca to release the album track as a single and Billboard reports the release of "The Kids Are Alright"/"A Legal Matter" on the 16th. The single will peak at #85 in Cash Box and #106 in Billboard.

And now that U.S. Decca has re-established its contract with The Who, they send out a request for promotional material to publicize the new single. Manager Chris Stamp sets up The Who next to the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park and shoots silent, black-and-white footage of them miming to the song. The edited footage with studio sound added is then sent to the U.S. intended for use on music TV programs but it is not known whether it actually airs.


July 1967

New music releases: The Best of the Beach Boys, Vol. 2 - The Beach Boys; "All You Need Is Love" - The Beatles; "The Letter" - The Box Tops; "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" - Tom Jones
Pictures of Lily drumkit

On the 13th, The Who begin their first North American tour opening for Herman's Hermits and The Blues Magoos at the Calgary Stampede Corral in Calgary, Alberta. It is also The Who's first show in Canada. Another first is that Keith Moon uses his new Premier drum kit emblazoned with the photos of nudes used to promote "Pictures Of Lily" and bearing the words "Keith Moon - Patent British Exploding Drummer."


July 1968

New music releases: "I Say a Little Prayer" - Aretha Franklin; Waiting for the Sun - The Doors; "People Got to Be Free" - The Rascals; "1, 2, 3, Red Light" - 1910 Fruitgum Company
Poster for July 13, 1968 Who show

On the 8th, The Who's summer tour of North America continues as they appear at Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento, California. Supporting them are Iron Butterfly and The Neighborhood Childr'n. Following this they travel to the Calgary Stampede Corral in Calgary, Alberta (10th), Saskatoon Arena in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (11th), Indiana Beach Ballroom in Monticello (12th) and two shows at the Grande Ballroom in Dearborn, Michigan (13th). At the first Grande Ballroom show, The Frost supports the band and The Psychedelic Stooges, soon to change their name to Iggy Pop and The Stooges, precede The Who at the latter show.


July 1969

New music releases: Smash Hits - The Jimi Hendrix Experience; "I Can't Get Next To You" - The Temptations; "Green River" - Creedence Clearwater Revival; "Space Oddity" - David Bowie
Pete Townshend Royal Albert Hall 1969
Photo: Robert Ellis

On the 5th, The Who close out a week of Pop Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Chuck Berry headlines the first show while The Who headlines the second. The first show is very rough after a group of rockers invade the stage during Berry's set and pelt The Who with sharpened pennies. The second show is quieter as the audience fills up with people who have wandered over from The Rolling Stones' free concert in Hyde Park. Despite the controlled second show, the Royal Albert Hall bans rock performances at the venue for the next few years.


July 1970

New music releases: Cosmo's Factory - Creedence Clearwater Revival; "Lookin' Out My Back Door" - Creedence Clearwater Revival; The Sesame Street Book & Record - Original TV Cast; "Patches" - Clarence Carter
1970 Tanglewood Program

On the 7th, The Who headline at the Tanglewood Music Amphitheater in Lenox, Massachusetts (7th) with Jethro Tull and It's a Beautiful Day opening. It is one of The Who's very best performances and is projected on a 15' X 21' television screen on the lawn outside the venue. The show is videotaped and intended for use on a "Fillmore at Tanglewood" television special that never airs.


July 1971

New music releases: "Ain't No Sunshine" - Bill Withers; Who's Next - The Who; "Maggie May" - Rod Stewart; Master of Reality - Black Sabbath
Who's Next launch party

On the 14th, Keith Moon holds a Who's Next listening party for the press and friends at his home Tara, a bizarre multi-pyramid-shaped structure that he had recently purchased for £65,000. The album is blasted out while The Who lounge on the lawn and the press snap away. During the party Pete is confronted by writers for the underground paper International Times about the meaning of the song "Won't Get Fooled Again" which they think is a betrayal of the youth Revolution. The party ends with a fireworks display.


July 1972

New music releases: Chicago V - Chicago; Toulouse Street - The Doobie Brothers; Moods - Neil Diamond; "My Ding-a-Ling" - Chuck Berry

On the 26th, Pete, having decided that Nik Cohn's Who script "Rock Is Dead (Rock Lives)" is not what he is seeking, begins work on a new story based around a fictional Who fan named "Jimmy" who has a four-personality split based on the four members of The Who. He puts together a preliminary song list: "Cut My Hair", "Joker James" (a leftover track from 1968), "Quazophrenic", "You Came Back" and "We Close Tonight."


July 1973

New music releases: Elvis - Elvis Presley; "We're an American Band" - Grand Funk Railroad; "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" - Bob Dylan; Foreigner - Cat Stevens
Quadrophenia thunder tape

On the 17th, Quadrophenia overdubbing takes place at Ramport Studios in South London. Roger completes his vocal for "Love Reign O'er Me." A roaring thunderstorm comes up providing realistic sound effects that are recorded by a roadie standing outside the studio under an umbrella.


July 1974

New music releases: Santana's Greatest Hits - Santana; 461 Ocean Boulevard - Eric Clapton; "Pick Up the Pieces" - Average White Band; "I'm Leaving It (All) Up to You" - Donnie and Marie Osmond
Roger Daltrey Tommy ending

On the 1st, the Tommy movie shoot begins four days filming in Keswick in the Lake District, Cumbria.

On the 4th, John completes final mixing and production of Odds and Sods at Nova Sound Studios.


July 1975

New music releases: Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac; "Landslide" - Fleetwood Mac; The Dream Weaver - Gary Wright; "I Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)" - The Stylistics
Ride A Rock Horse

On the 4th, Roger's second solo album Ride A Rock Horse is released in the U.K. on Polydor. The U.S. do not get their copy on MCA until the 26th. Rolling Stone and Listening Post give practically the only positive reviews in a raft of extremely negative notices. Nevertheless the album peaks at #14 in the U.K. The U.S. release peaks at #28.


July 1976

New music releases: "(Don't Fear) the Reaper" - Blue Öyster Cult; "If You Leave Me Now" - Chicago; Year of the Cat - Al Stewart; Best of BTO (So Far) - Bachman-Turner Overdrive

On the 3rd, Pete opens his Meher Baba Oceanic Centre with a week-long convention for his followers. Also at the Oceanic Centre at this time is an amateur production of Siddhartha with music by Pete. "The Ferryman" from this show is later released on Pete's Another Scoop. On the 10th, Pete, Ronnie Lane and John Fazio hold a half-hour concert at the Oceanic Centre. The performance is videotaped. The convention ends on the 11th with a showing of the movie Delia about Baba follower Delia de Leon and produced by Pete.


July 1977

New music releases: The Grand Illusion - Styx; Moody Blue - Elvis Presley; "I Feel Love" - Donna Summer; In Full Bloom - Rose Royce

On the 11th, The Who regroup at Shepperton Film Studios. Moon, with whom the other band members haven't worked since the previous October, has ballooned in weight. During this week the band rehearses and shoots a video for Roger's solo song "Say It Ain't So, Joe" with John and a topless Keith.


July 1978

New music releases: Classic Rock - London Symphony Orchestra; More Songs About Buildings and Food - Talking Heads; A Taste of Honey - A Taste of Honey; Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Original Soundtrack
Keith Moon on Thames at 6 1978

After his return to London, Keith Moon is announced to have been given a new job by The Who Group, Ltd. as their Director of Promotion and Publicity. On the 12th, Keith is interviewed at Shepperton Studios by Nicky Horne for Thames at 6 about his new role. It is Keith's last British television interview. After Keith's death, his new position becomes part of a controversy concerning whether it was created to give Keith a desk job while The Who looked for a new drummer. Roger has vehemently denied it but rumors continue to circulate.


July 1979

New music releases: "Highway to Hell" - AC/DC; Highway To Hell - AC/DC; "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" - Michael Jackson; Disney's Children's Favorites Vol. II - Various Artists
Pete Townshend Rock Against Racism
Photo: Virginia Turbett

On the 13th, Pete performs an electric set at The Rainbow Theatre in London as part of the Rock Against Racism benefit. The event is in part a protest against racist remarks made by Eric Clapton at a concert in 1976. Pete, a friend of Clapton, says he might bring Clapton along to play but he is told Clapton will have to apologize for his remarks first. Clapton does not show up. The band, Pete's first of his own devising, consists of Kenney Jones, Tony Butler, John "Rabbit" Bundrick, Peter Hope-Evans and Neil Abbot. He premieres a new song, "Cats in the Cupboard".


July 1980

New music releases: Back In Black - AC/DC; "Shoot to Thrill" - AC/DC; Honeysuckle Rose - Willie Nelson and Family; Deepest Purple The Very Best of Deep Purple - Deep Purple
The Who 1980 Atlanta ticket

On the 7th, The Who perform at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge the 9th. They end their 1980 touring with an added date on the 16th at C.N.E. Stadium in Toronto with fellow acts Heart, the J. Geils Band and Nash the Slash. As late as the day before, the City of Toronto government, driven to panic by local press harping on the Cincinnati disaster, try to cancel the concert but are overruled by a judge. There are no problems getting patrons into the stadium but hundreds suffer heat exhaustion during the daylong show. Billboard will declare this concert the #1 money-making concert of 1980.


July 1981

New music releases: Escape - Journey; 4 - Foreigner; Bella Donna - Stevie Nicks; "Tainted Love" - Soft Cell
Pete Townshend 1981 letter

Many stories begin to circulate about Pete's drinking, drug use and deteriorating health. In response, Pete writes a letter on the 30th for publication in the Who's News fanzine denying that he is ill, has marital problems, has given up on Meher Baba or is an alcoholic. The final lines are: "I still get upset when I hear people talking about me 'killing' myself. That won't happen unless by accident." In truth, everyone around him is horrified by his lifestyle and afraid he will soon join Keith Moon in the afterlife.


July 1982

New music releases: Emotions in Motion - Billy Squier; Screaming for Vengeance - Judas Priest; "Up Where We Belong" - Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes; The Kids from "Fame" - The Kids from "Fame"

On the 21st, Pete performs as a solo act at the first Prince's Trust Gala Benefit at the Dominion Theatre in London. Pete puts the show together at the request of Prince Charles. In addition to playing three of his own songs, Pete plays guitar in the house band with Phil Collins, Mick Karn, Gary Brooker, Robert Plant and Midge Ure. Madness, Jethro Tull and Kate Bush also perform. Highlights from the show are later released for home video.




July 1983

New music releases: Madonna - Madonna; "I'm Still Standing" - Elton John; Kill 'Em All - Metallica; Fantastic - Wham!
Pete Townshend at Faber and Faber

On the 7th, Pete holds a press conference to announce that he has joined the publishing firm of Faber and Faber as an editor.


July 1984

New music releases: "Careless Whisper" - Wham! featuring George Michael; Diamond Life - Sade; Ride The Lightning - Metallica; The Best of Kansas - Kansas

On the 27th, Pete and Eric Clapton attend the premiere of Prince's movie Purple Rain in London. Prince's use of autobiographical elements within a musical film inspires Pete to inject himself into his planned White City movie.


July 1985

New music releases: Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II - Billy Joel; Heart - Heart; The Kenny Rogers Story - Kenny Rogers; Who's Zoomin' Who? - Aretha Franklin
The Who Live Aid Backstage
Photo: Dave Hogan

On the 13th, The Who re-group on stage for the first time since their "Farewell Tour" three years before to perform at the Live Aid benefit. The benefit's organizer, Bob Geldof, blackmails The Who into reuniting, threatening to tell the press The Who would do nothing to help the starving children of Ethiopia if they refuse to perform. Roger tries to make a demand that Kenney Jones not be used as drummer but is overruled. The Who's participation is on and off up until the day of the concert. Geldof later says "it was rather like getting one man's four ex-wives together."


July 1988

New music releases: Kylie - Kylie Minogue; Long Cold Winter - Cinderella; "Straight Outta Compton" - N.W.A.; Now That's What I Call Music! 12 (U.K.) - Various Artists
Roger Daltrey displays his trout

On the 30th, Roger is featured on the front cover of TV Times magazine in the U.K. He is holding a trout and the title is "Gone Fishing! Why Roger Daltrey's hooked on the good life." The article reports that The Who are getting together in October to record "a celebratory anniversary album."


July 1989

New music releases: Cuts Both Ways - Gloria Estefan; Tender Lover - Babyface; Paul's Boutique - The Beastie Boys; When Harry Met Sally... - Harry Connick, Jr.
Roger and Pete Giants Stadium 1989
Photo: Neal Preston

The Who's four nights at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey concludes on the 2nd and 3rd. Performances of "Boris The Spider", "I Can See For Miles" and "See Me Feel Me" from these shows are later released on the 30 Years Of Maximum R&B video. All four shows are sellouts earning $5,243,672.


July 1991

New music releases: "Enter Sandman" - Metallica; C.M.B. - Color Me Badd; Into The Great Wide Open - Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers; Woodface - Crowded House

This month Pete, Roger and John meet to decide on a song to record for an upcoming Elton John tribute CD. Roger presses for "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" and ultimately gets his way. Pete however, in a nod to Elton's inclusion of "I Can't Explain" in the middle of his version of "Pinball Wizard," includes a bit of "Take Me to the Pilot" in the middle of The Who's cover. The Who do not record it together. Pete and drummer Simon Phillips record their part at Eel Pie Studios. Producer Jon Astley is displeased with Simon's work and replaces it with a programmed drum machine. The track is then sent off to Revolution Studios for Roger and John to lay in their parts. While there they are filmed for a music video and interview segments to be included in a later video release. Although John has more than a decade of life left, this track will end up being the last studio recording of The Who with John.


July 1992

New music releases: "Lithium" - Nirvana; What's the 411? - Mary J. Blige; Countdown to Extinction - Megadeath; House of Pain - House of Pain

On the 9th, The Who's Tommy, the musical written by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff, premieres at the La Jolla Playhouse in California. Roger and John are in attendance as are Liza Minelli, John Cusack and Robert Downey, Jr. Roger does not care for the play but local reviews are ecstatic and the end date has to be extended due to high ticket demand.


July 1993

New music releases: Toni Braxton - Toni Braxton; Black Sunday - Cypress Hill; Siamese Dream - Smashing Pumpkins; Candlebox - Candlebox

On the 10th, Pete launches his North American solo tour in Toronto at Massey Hall. In addition to a selection of his old hits and rarities, Pete presents Psychoderelict as a multi-media presentation with actors and background projections, a staging similar to the musical The Who's Tommy. The actors are John Labanowski as Ray High, Linal Haft as Rastus Knight and Jan Ravens as Ruth Streeting. Pete's art school friend (and the man who named The Who), Richard Barnes, directs the production.


July 1994

New music releases: Cracked Rear View - Hootie and The Blowfish; "I'll Make Love to You" - Boyz II Men; "Kiss from a Rose" - Seal; Voodoo Lounge - The Rolling Stones
Thirty Years boxset

On the 4th, the first release from The Who reissue program, the 4CD, 5-hour long box set Thirty Years Of Maximum R&B is released. It goes to #48 in the U.K. charts and #170 in the U.S. Billboard charts. Released at the same time is an over 2-hour video collection with the same name and packaging featuring new interviews with Pete, Roger and John and performances from 1965 to 1989.


July 1995

New music releases: E. 1999 Eternal - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony; Dreaming of You - Selena; 311 - 311; Miss Thang - Monica
1995 Ringo Starr All-Starr Band

On the 2nd, Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band, featuring John Entwistle on bass, begins its U.S. tour in St. Louis. The rest of the band is Billy Preston, Randy Bachman, Mark Farner, Felix Cavaliere, Mark Riveria and Ringo's son and future Who drummer Zak Starkey.


July 1996

New music releases: Blue - LeAnn Rimes; Sublime - Sublime; "No Diggity" - Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre and Queen Pen; Trainspotting: Music from the Motion Picture - Various Artists
Roger Daltrey Madison Square Garden 1996

On the 16th, Pete, Roger, John and guests bring their live version of Quadrophenia to Madison Square Garden in New York for what is announced at the time as the only U.S. performances. Billy Idol joins the cast as The Bell Boy. Additional shows are held on the 17th, 18th, 20th, 21st and 22nd and all are sell-outs. Joan Osbourne is the opening act at the first three shows and Me'Shell Ndegeocello opens the last three. The performance of the 18th is broadcast live on Westwood One Radio and afterwards is widely bootlegged.


July 1997

New music releases: Surfacing - Sarah McLachlan; No Way Out - Puff Daddy & The Family; The Art of War - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony; Men in Black: The Album - Various Artists

Between the 16th and 19th, John Entwistle appears at one of the first Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camps in New York. On the 19th he rejoins The Who with guests Simon Townshend, P.J. Proby (as The Godfather) and Benjamin Waters (as The Ace Face) as they start another leg of their multi-media presentation of Quadrophenia at Riverfront Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, Missouri.


July 1998

New music releases: Armageddon: The Album - Various Artists; Stunt - Barenaked Ladies; Hello Nasty - The Beastie Boys; The Boy is Mine - Monica
British Rock Symphony poster

On the 4th, Roger Daltrey begins his North American tour with the British Rock Symphony at Fiddler's Green in Denver.

John Entwistle at Ventura Theatre

Meanwhile, the John Entwistle Band continues the "Left For Dead - The Sequel" tour at the Moondance Jam in Walker, Minnesota (10th).


July 1999

New music releases: The Writing's on the Wall - Destiny's Child; On How Life Is - Macy Gray; A Little Bit of Mambo - Lou Bega; Now That's What I Call Music! 43 (U.K.) - Various Artists
British Rock Symphony 3 July 1999 ad

Roger Daltrey continues his U.K. tour with the British Rock Symphony performing at Powderham Castle, Kenton, Exeter on the 2nd followed by Ragley Hall, Alcester, Warwickshire on the 3rd. That performance makes up the bulk of the British Rock Symphony video released the next year.

John Entwistle Band Woodstock 99

On the 25th, the John Entwistle Band plays the Emerging Artist's Stage at the Woodstock '99 Festival in Rome, New York (25th). The band will fortunately miss a notorious riot that concludes the controversial festival as they continue to Upstairs at Nick's in Philadelphia (27th), and the Voodoo Lounge in Bayside Queens, New York (29th).

On the 29th, Pete and Eddie travel to Chicago for a concert at the Chicago House Of Blues. Earlier in the day Pete holds a press conference where he makes the official announcement of The Who's upcoming charity show there.


July 2000

New music releases: Parachutes - Coldplay; Ronan - Ronan Keating; In Blue - The Corrs; Who Let the Dogs Out? - The Baha Men
The Who Jones Beach
Photo: William Snyder

On the 3rd, The Who tour continues at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts followed by the Nissan Pavilion in Bristow, Virginia on the 5th, at the E Center in Camden , New Jersey on the 7th, and finishing the first leg at the Jones Beach Amphitheatre in Wantagh, New York on the 9th.


July 2001

New music releases: "How You Remind Me" - Nickelback; Celebrity - NSYNC; "Island in the Sun" - Weezer; The Very Best of Prince - Prince
John Entwistle Wallingford 2001

John continues to supply the re-creation of Paul McCartney's bass line for "A Walk Down Abbey Road: A Tribute To The Beatles" at Taste Of Minnesota at the State Capitol Grounds in St. Paul, Minnesota (2nd).


July 2002

New music releases: By the Way - Red Hot Chili Peppers; "Cleanin' Out My Closet" - Eminem; Heathen Chemistry - Oasis; Unleashed - Toby Keith
The Who Hollywood Bowl 2002

On the 1st, The Who, or "The Two" as the press dubs them, begin their 2002 North American tour at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. A special photo montage is added to the end of the show in remembrance of John Entwistle. Top-rated session bassist Pino Palladino joins The Who as bassist-for-hire. Pete and Roger manage to get through the show but both later talk about how upset they were. Pete: "When I looked over there and he wasn't there, I wanted to die."


July 2004

New music releases: "She Will Be Loved" - Maroon 5; Autobiography - Ashlee Simpson; Now That's What I Call Music! 16 (U.S.) - Various Artists; Now That's What I Call Music! 58 (U.K.) - Various Artists
Who Yokohama 2004 ady

The Who go to Japan for the first time on the 24th, opening for Aerosmith at the Yokohama Festival in Tokyo. The band plays a 90-minute set in near 100 degree Fahrenheit (upper 30's Celsius) heat. Pete smashes his guitar at the end.


July 2005

New music releases: "Gold Digger" - Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx; The Essential Michael Jackson - Michael Jackson; "Your Man" - Josh Turner; Move Along - The All-American Rejects
The Who Live 8

On the 2nd, The Who perform at the Live 8 benefit in London which is broadcast around the world. Since bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Zak Starkey are both out on tour, their places are taken by Damon Minchella and Steve White who are given only one quick rehearsal with the band the day before. A planned four song set is cut down to only "Who Are You" and "Won't Get Fooled Again" after overruns by previous performers.


July 2006

New music releases: These Streets - Paolo Nutini; "Face Down" - The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus; "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake featuring Timbaland; Undiscovered - James Morrison
The Who Hyde Park 2006
Photo: Max Nash

The Who start the first full month of the Endless Wire world tour performing at the Hyde Park Calling Festival in London on the 2nd. Throughout this month's touring selections from the concerts are webcast on TheWhoLive.tv as well as In The Attic presentations from an Airstream van accompanying the tour.


July 2007

New music releases: "Stronger" - Kanye West; "Teenagers" - My Chemical Romance; "Fluorescent Adolescent" - Arctic Monkeys; Coco - Colbie Caillat
The Who Helsinki 2007
Photo: Cata Portin

The Who continue their tour of Scandanavia on the 4th playing at the Quart Festival in Kristiansand, Norway. Two days later they are at the Stockholm Globe Arena (6th), followed by the Roskilde Festival in Roskilde, Denmark (7th) and finishing the tour at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland (9th).


July 2008

New music releases: "Whatever You Like" - T.I.; Mamma Mia! The Movie Soundtrack - Various Artists; "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" - The Script; "Let It Rock" - Kevin Rudolf featuring Lil Wayne
Pete Townshend at VH1 Awards 2008
Photo: Kevin Winter

On the 12th, The Who are honored in Los Angeles at the taping of the third annual VH1 Rock Honors. David Duchovny, Mila Kunis, Rainn Wilson, Sean Penn and Adam Sandler introduce The Flaming Lips, The Foo Fighters, Incubus, Tenacious D and Pearl Jam, all doing their interpretation of Who songs. The evening ends with The Who performing an eight song set.


July 2010

New music releases: "Just the Way You Are" - Bruno Mars; "Teenage Dream" - Katy Perry; "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" - Usher featuring Pitbull; "Jar of Hearts" - Christina Perri
Clapton-Daltrey-Detroit

Roger Daltrey wraps up his solo tour supporting Eric Clapton with two dates, the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Indianopolis on the 2nd and the DTE Energy Center in Detroit on the 3rd.


July 2011

New music releases: "Somebody That I Used to Know" - Gotye featuring Kimbra; "Set Fire to the Rain" - Adele; "Glad You Came" - Wanted; "God Gave Me You" - Blake Shelton
Roger Daltrey Simon Townshend Indigo 2011
Photo: Matt Kent

On the 3rd, Roger Daltrey sets off with his own solo band performing the entirety of Tommy (minus "Underture") at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton.


July 2012

New music releases: "Let Her Go" - Passenger; "Gangnam Style" - Psy; "As Long As You Love Me" - Justin Bieber featuring Big Sean; "Love Sosa" - Chief Keef
The Who Presser 2012

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.








July 2013

New music releases: "Burn" - Ellie Goulding; "Holy Grail" - Jay-Z featuring Justin Timberlake; "Propuesta Indecente" - Romeo Santos; Magna Carta... Holy Grail - Jay-Z
The Who, Wembley 2013

The Who's European leg of their Quadrophenia multi-media tour continues on the 3rd at Bercy Arena in Paris. From there they go to Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam (5th) and finish with Wembley Arena in London (8th), a concert benefitting the Double O charity.


July 2014

New music releases: "Bang Bang" - Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj; "Break Free" - Ariana Grande featuring Zedd; "Black Widow" - Iggy Azalea featuring Rita Ora; "Hot Nigga" - Bobby Shmurda

On the 28th, Roger performs a solo show benefitting Teen Cancer America and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts open.


July 2015

New music releases: "Hotline Bling" - Drake; "I Took a Pill in Ibiza (SeeB Remix)" - Mike Posner; "How Deep Is Your Love" - Calvin Harris and Disciples; "I Hate U, I Love U" - Gnash featuring Olivia O'Brien

On the 2nd, The Who wrap up the first leg of their "Who Hits 50!" tour at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam.


July 2017

New music releases: "New Rules" - Dua Lipa; "Sorry Not Sorry" - Demi Lovato; "Praying" - Kesha; "Beautiful" - Bazzi featuring Camila Cabello

On the 13th, The Who return to North America for more touring, starting at the Festival D'été de Québec in Quebec City.


July 2018

New music releases: "In My Feelings" - Drake; "Eastside" - Benny Blanco, Halsey and Khalid; "Fefe" - 6ix9ine, Nicki Minaj and Murda Beatz; "Nonstop" - Drake
Roger Datlrey Detroit July 2018
Photo: Ken Settle

Roger's solo tour performing Tommy with local symphony orchestras continues on the 2nd with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at Fraze Pavilion in Kettering, Ohio.


July 2019

New music releases: "I Hope" - Gabby Barrett; "Swervin" - A Boogie wit da Hoodie featuring 6ix9ine; "July" - Noah Cyrus; "Chasin' You" - Morgan Wallen
The Who Wembley 2019
Photo: Naomi Dryden-Smith

On the 6th, The Who play at Wembley Stadium with Eddie Vedder and the Kaiser Chiefs opening. In addition to hits, The Who premiere the live versions of "Hero Ground Zero" and "Ball and Chain" from their forthcoming album WHO. The latter is a renamed version of the song "Guantanamo" Pete released as a solo track in May. The concert is released commercially in 2023.


July 2020

New Music Releases: "Mood" - 24kGoldn featuring Iann Dior; "Head & Heart" - Joel Corry and MNEK; Folklore - Taylor Swift; "Popstar" - DJ Khaled featuring Drake

On the 4th, Pete posts on Instagram what he was doing during the Covid lockdown: "I’ve been writing. But also finishing off a small but powerful old style new home studio at the very top of the house. All my first studios in the ‘60s were on top floors. This studio has taken me a very long time to complete and I’m still waiting to bring up the central 24 track tape machine. Why tape? Not for the sound. Rather for the process of recording demos in layers. I want to emulate the work I did on the demos of Quadrophenia. A lot of that work would have been much easier with a computer, but maybe less loose and edgy. Using the same kind of equipment I used to write Q. Needless to say carrying all this gear up 100 stairs has kept me fit. Do any of you modern studio producers still work with tape? EVER!!?"

On the 6th, Pete's wife Rachel Fuller announces that, due to Covid, her Siddhartha musical album featuring Pete has been delayed. It will finally be released in 2024.

On the 10th, Roger is interviewed from his home by U.S. Republican Party pollster and Who fan Frank Luntz on Crowdcast. It is mostly concerned with Roger's teen cancer work.

On the 27th, Masterpiece Art Gallery in London begins an exhibition of unseen photographs from the 1969 and 1970 Isle of Wight Festivals under the title "Wight Spirit, 1968-1970".


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Live at the Oval CD

The Who Live at the Oval
Live CD from their 18 September 1971 performance at the Kennington Oval Cricket Ground in London. Release 29 August.


Their Generation book

Their Generation: The Who in America 1967-69
Photographs by Tom Wright. Text by Andy Neill. Forward by Pete Townshend. Now available in the U.K. U.S. publication July 1.


The Seeker musical

The Seeker by Rachel Fuller
A musical version of "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse. Includes several tracks by Pete Townshend plus his own performance as The Ferryman.


Lifehouse Who's Next

Who's Next / Life House Super Deluxe
10 CD's, Blu-ray with 5.1 mix, 89 unreleased tracks, 2 live concerts, a 100-page book and a graphic novel. Expensive but the final word on The Who's Lifehouse work.


A People's History of The Who

Richard Houghton's The Guitar Has Seconds to Live: A People's History of The Who
Hardback, published by Spenwood Books Limited.


The Who & Quadrophenia

Martin Popoff's The Who & Quadrophenia
Hardback, in folio jacket, published by Motorbooks


The Who Live at Wembley

The Who: with Orchestra Live from Wembley
#1 on the Classical Music Charts! Available now!


The Who Concert Memories Book

The Who: Concert Memories from the Classic Years, 1964 to 1976
Fans ecall the glory days of the greatest live act in rock music. By Edoardo Genzolini. Check out my entry on Page 260!


PeteTownshend.net

PeteTownshend.net
THE home for all things Townshend!


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As always, thanks to
John Atkins,
Richard Barnes,
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Ed Hanel,
Gary Herman,
Joe Giorgianni,
Bruce Kawakami,
Matt Kent,
Max Ker-Seymer,
Karen Kimber,
Olle Lundin,
"Irish Jack" Lyons,
Dave Marsh,
Alan McKendree,
Joe McMichael,
Andrew Motion,
Andy Neill,
Paul Rees
Scott Smith,
Christian Suchatzki,
John Swenson,
George Tremlett,
Richie Unterberger,
Dave van Staveren,
Mark Ian Wilkerson,
Stephen Wolter and all
the others who did
the original research
and provided the aid
that led to this page.


A note about photographs:
None of the photographs used
on this site are by
purchase agreement with
the original photographer.
I try to credit when I can
discover the name of the
original photographer but, in
most cases, sources in
newspapers, old copies of
Creem Magazine, and even some
Who books, do not credit
photographers. If you are the
photographer or represent the
photographer and you do not
want your photograph posted,
please get in touch
and I will remove it immediately.
This is a wholly non-profit site
(if you could see my bank account,
you'd know it's quite the opposite!)
established to provide an historical
overview of The Who.