Page updated June 1, 2025. This is a highly abridged version of all the things that happened to and around The Who in June. Click for access to the full history.
June 1944
New music (U.S.): "You Always Hurt the One You Love"/"Till Then" - The Mills Brothers; "It Had To Be You" - Betty Hutton; "Amor" - Andy Russell
Two-months old Roger and his mother are evacuated to a farm in Stranraer, Scotland. They remain there for the duration of the war. Roger later wonders whether his lack of height came from malnourishment during this period.
June 1956
New music releases: The King & I - Original Soundtrack; "Born to Be With You" - The Chordettes; "The Fool" - Sanford Clark; "Walk Hand in Hand" - Ronnie Carroll
Eleven-year old Pete spends the summer on the Isle of Man where his dad is playing with The Squadronaires at the Palace Ballroom.
June 1958
New music releases: "Hard Headed Woman" - Elvis Presley; The Kingston Trio - The Kingston Trio; Sing Along with Mitch - Mitch Miller & The Gang; "Stupid Cupid" - Connie Francis
On the 27th, Roger, as "D. Altrey" appears in the Hammersmith & Shepherds Bush Gazette with his skiffle band The Sulgrave Rebels. They had just won a talent competition held at Wormholt Park School in Shepherd's Bush. It is their only performance although some members of the band will follow Roger into The Detours.
June 1960
New music releases: Sentimental Sing Along with Mitch - Mitch Miller & His Gang; "Please Don't Leave" - Cliff Richard; "The Twist" - Chubby Checker; "Shakin' All Over" - Johnny Kidd & The Pirates
On the 16th, Johnny Kidd and The Pirates, probably the first British group to eliminate the rhythm guitarist and perform with just a guitarist, bassist, drummer and singer, hit the U.K. charts with "Shakin' All Over" which goes to #1. The Detours will later open for them, be influenced by their lineup and as The Who, record "Shakin' All Over" for Live At Leeds.
June 1962
New music releases: I Left My Heart in San Francisco - Tony Bennett; "Sheila" - Tommy Roe; "Do You Love Me" - The Contours; The Stripper & Other Fun Songs for the Family - David Rose & His Orchestra
On the 25th, Keith Moon attends a show by Screaming Lord Sutch and The Savages. Afterwards he approaches the band's drummer, Carlo Little, and asks him to teach him his "wildman" drumming style. Carlo agrees. Two days later, Keith gets his first lesson from Little. Little later describes the 15 year-old Keith as "a lad fumbling, trying to play."
June 1963
New music releases: The Patsy Cline Story - Patsy Cline; "(You're The) Devil In Disguise" - Elvis Presley; "Blowin' in the Wind" - Peter, Paul & Mary; "I'll Never Get Over You" - Johnny Kidd & The Pirates
The 7th marks a watershed for The Detours as they play what is probably their first date at the Mods' main hangout, the Goldhawk Social Club, in Shepherd's Bush. They also make the scene at the GEC Pavilion in the Preston Road, Wembley on the 14th and Club Druane in Notre Dame Church Hall, Leicester Place on the 28th.
June 1964
New music releases: A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles; "The House of the Rising Sun" - The Animals; "Everybody Loves Somebody" - Dean Martin; "Under the Boardwalk" - The Drifters
During the month, The Who go to Philips Studios in London for their first studio session released to date. "I'm The Face", "Zoot Suit" and a cover of Bo Diddley's "Here 'Tis" are put to tape. Jack Bavistock produces. Manager Helmut Gorden and Pete's childhood friend Jack the barber provide handclaps, Pete's friend Richard Barnes plays maracas on "Here 'Tis" and all and sundry sing the backing vocals.
June 1965
New music releases: "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - The Rolling Stones; "Feeling Good" - Nina Simone; Beatles VI - The Beatles; "I'm Henry The Eighth, I Am" - Herman's Hermits
In Beat Instrumental, John Emery reviews an acetate of nine new Who tracks played for him by producer Shel Talmy. The songs are intended for The Who's first album slated for release in the U.S. and France that autumn. Emery gives the titles to eight of the tracks, "I'm A Man," "Heatwave," I Don't Mind," "Lubie," "You're Gonna Know Me," "Please Please Please," "Leaving Here," and "Motoring." Only one, "You're Gonna Know Me," is a band original which leads Emery to remark, "one thing hit me slap in the face just looking at the titles -- the lack of originality in choice of material." Reacting quickly, Who manager Kit Lambert announces in Melody Maker on the 17th that "The Who are having serious doubts about the state of R&B. Now the LP will consist of hard pop. They've finished with 'Smokestack Lightnin'." He says The Who will record a new album of all Pete and Roger originals for release in early September.
June 1966
New music releases: Yesterday and Today - The Beatles; "Sunny Afternoon" - The Kinks; "Sunny" - Bobby Hebb; "Lil' Red Riding Hood" - Sam the Sham & The Pharoahs
On the afternoon of the 3rd, The Who arrive at a TV studio in Stockholm to appear on the Popside program for Sverige Television. Coming onstage busting through a Union Jack paper hoop, they mime performances of "Daddy Rolling Stone," "It's Not True," "Bald Headed Woman," "The Kids Are Alright," "Substitute" and "My Generation" while standing on a ramp. The show is directed by Peter Goldmann, later to direct the promotional films for The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Penny Lane." It airs on Swedish television on the 5th.
June 1967
New music releases: "Brown Eyed Girl" - Van Morrison; Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 - Johnny Cash; "White Rabbit" - Jefferson Airplane; "Come Back When You Grow Up" - Bobby Vee and The Strangers
On the 18th, The Who perform at The Monterey International Pop Festival in Monterey, California. Pete confronts Jimi Hendrix before the show and demands The Who hit the stage before he does since Hendrix will also smash his guitar. If they follow him the crowd will think The Who are stealing Hendrix's act even though they were the ones who originated it. Hendrix plays his guitar and coolly ignores Pete. John Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas finally decides it with a coin toss.
The Who will play first but despite this, The Who face another disadvantage Hendrix does not. Their penny-pinching managers have sent them to the festival with rented equipment and amplifiers incapable of conveying the power of their act. Their performance is spotty but no one forgets the ending of "My Generation" with Pete and Keith engaging in a riotous instrument bust-up captured by D.A. Pennebaker's cameras and later featured in the movies Monterey Pop and The Kids Are Alright.
June 1968
New music releases: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - Iron Butterfly; "I Get the Sweetest Feeling" - Jackie Wilson; "Dream a Little Dream of Me" - The Mama's & The Papa's; "Stoned Soul Picnic" - The 5th Dimension
On the 14th, "Dogs" and "Call Me Lightning" are released as a "Double A" side single in Britain. Melody Maker calls it "another Pete Townshend original with tremendous instant appeal" while Record Mirror says it "displays Pete's versatility as a writer." Any hopes it would prove more to the British public's liking than "I Can See For Miles" are dashed when it stalls at #25.
On the 17th, The Who pre-record a mimed performance of "Dogs" for Top Of The Pops but it never makes air due to the single's embarrassingly low chart position.
June 1969
New music releases: Johnny Cash At San Quentin - Johnny Cash; First Take - Roberta Flack; "Put a Little Love In Your Heart" - Jackie DeShannon; "Clean Up Your Own Backyard" - Elvis Presley
On the 7th, New Musical Express reports that Tommy has become The Who's first album to be certified gold in the U.S. by the RIAA. The award came only three weeks after the album's release making it the fastest selling double-album to date, besting even The Beatles' White Album.
June 1970
New music releases: Closer To Home - Grand Funk Railroad; "Lola" - The Kinks; "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" - Stevie Wonder; On Stage - Elvis Presley
The hippies meet the highbrows. On the 7th, The Who perform Tommy at New York City's Metropolitan Opera House. The usual members of New York's upper crust are joined by hippies and Who fans who are treated to two two-hour concerts. Despite the unusual mix for a Who concert, there are no walkouts. The Who refuse to perform an encore for the second show and in order to get the crowd to disperse, Pete comes onstage and is booed. "After two f***ing hours, boo to you too," he replies and walks off. CBS News later shows The Who performing "Amazing Journey," "Sparks" and "We're Not Gonna Take It" from the earlier show.
June 1971
New music releases: Blue - Joni Mitchell; "Riders on the Storm" - The Doors; "Move On Up" - Curtis Mayfield; "Tired of Being Alone" - Al Green
On the 17th, the first tracks from the recent sessions are released. "Won't Get Fooled Again" in a version edited down to 3:55 backed with "I Don't Even Know Myself" is released in the U.S. The A-side states under the song title "From the Motion Picture 'Lifehouse'." It peaks at #15 on the Billboard charts and #9 on the Cash Box charts. Two places where the single does well is the Singapore and Malaysian charts where the single goes to #1. The European release follows on the 25th where it reaches #9 in the British charts. The B-side is retitled "Don't Know Myself." Nick Logan in Melody Maker calls the A-side "The Who at their most aggressive, riffy and it's reminiscent in parts of the Stones - particularly in the way the guitars mesh and snarl their answer to the title line. An excellent performance."
June 1972
New music releases: Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits - Simon & Garfunkel; Elvis as Recorded at Madison Square Garden - Elvis Presley; A Song For You - The Carpenters; The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars - David Bowie
On the 5th, The Who record "Long Live Rock" at Olympic Studios, London. The song is meant as the title track for a never-shot Who television special. On the 6th, they record "Put The Money Down" as an instrumental track with guide vocal, leaving it unfinished. By the end of the month The Who have decided to abandon their last two months' attempt to record a follow-up to the Who's Next album. "Long Live Rock" and "Put The Money Down" will remain unreleased for over two years.
June 1973
New music releases: Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits - Janis Joplin; "Dream On" - Aerosmith; "Let's Get It On" - Marvin Gaye; Chicago VI - Chicago
On the 8th, the recording of "Love, Reign O'er Me" is finished after having been left incomplete during the May 1972 sessions. Also recorded this month is "Drowned" for which director Ken Russell is present. Both he and Pete later recall that during the recording of this song, a massive rainstorm led to the flooding of the studio. Guest pianist Chris Stainton was in a glass booth performing while the booth gradually filled with water. At the end of the session, the booth was opened and the water came flooding out. Russell was present to confer with Pete on the script he was then writing for the Tommy movie.
June 1974
New music releases: Bad Company - Bad Company; "Sweet Home Alabama" - Lynyrd Skynyrd; Back Home Again - John Denver; Endless Summer - The Beach Boys
On the 10th, The Who play the first of four nights at Madison Square Garden. The support band this night and the next is Golden Earring. The first night's show is the only one where The Who performs a live rendition of Keith Moon's "Waspman". Otherwise the band counts the show as a disaster with Roger later describing it as "fucking horrible". Pete will later claim that New York Who fans were yelling for him to "jump, jump, jump!" faking an enthusiasm he no longer felt although front-rowers at these concerts have said it was an unknown person behind them.
June 1975
New music releases: One Of These Nights - The Eagles; Greatest Hits - Cat Stevens; Red Octopus - Jefferson Starship; The Heat Is On - The Isley Brothers
On the 2nd, Roger goes to Shepperton Studios for the first day of a two-day shoot of music videos to promote his forthcoming second solo album Ride a Rock Horse. The final collection, produced by Gavrick Losey premieres on the 30th at the Starlite Cinema, Mayfair Hotel, London.
June 1976
New music releases: "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" - Elton John & Kiki Dee; A Night On The Town - Rod Stewart; "You're My Best Friend" - Queen; "Baby I Love Your Way" - Peter Frampton
A week later on the 12th, The Who hold their final concert of this U.K. mini-tour at the Swansea Football Ground in Swansea, Wales. The concert is officially recorded by producer Glyn Johns but left unreleased until 1994 with "Dreaming From The Waist" on the 30 Years of Maximum R&B boxset. Additional tracks, but not the entire concert, have since been released on various Who compilations. This is Keith's last concert before a paying audience in the United Kingdom. After the show, he flies back to his Los Angeles home.
June 1977
New music releases: CSN - Crosby, Stills & Nash; JT - James Taylor; Superman - Barbra Streisand; "Best of My Love" - Emotions
On the 23rd, Keith Moon comes out of seclusion to join Led Zeppelin during an encore at the Los Angeles Forum. While John Bonham drums to "Moby Dick", Keith plays tympani and tambourine. It will be his last musical performance in front of an audience in North America.
June 1978
New music releases: Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds - Jeff Wayne; Double Vision - Foreigner; Some Girls - The Rolling Stones; The Cars - The Cars
On the 16th, the members of Monty Python's Flying Circus vote to include Keith Moon as a cast member in their forthcoming movie Life of Brian. Keith was to play the role of a "mad prophet" but will die days before his part was to be filmed.
June 1979
New music releases: Candy-O - The Cars; I Am - Earth, Wind & Fire; Live Killers - Queen; "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" - Journey
On the 14th, the movie The Kids Are Alright has its U.S. premiere in New York. John and Kenney Jones fly over to attend the showing. The next day they are interviewed on WPIX and WPLJ radio. Pete flies over on the 16th and the three are interviewed on WLIR. The following evening Pete, John and Kenney attend a dinner party in honor of The Who at Windows on The World at the top of the World Trade Center. Roger, meanwhile, stays in England to work on his movie McVicar.
June 1980
New music releases: The Game - Queen; Urban Cowboy - Various Artists; The Blues Brothers: Original Soundtrack Recording - The Blues Brothers; Emotional Rescue - The Rolling Stones
On the 14th, Pete's solo single "Let My Love Open The Door" backed with "And I Moved" hits the U.S. charts and goes on to become Pete's biggest U.S. success as a solo artist reaching #9 in the Billboard charts and #11 in the Cash Box charts. This ties it with the highest position achieved by a Who single in the U.S., "I Can See For Miles" in 1967.
June 1981
New music releases: "Endless Love" - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie; Duran Duran - Duran Duran; "Ghost Town" - The Specials; "Happy Birthday" - Stevie Wonder
Pete begins two months of work on his second solo album for Atlantic Records. During this month he goes into Oceanic Studios and records a rehearsal version of "It's In Ya" with John "Rabbit" Bundrick, Peter Hope-Evans, Tony Butler, Mark Brzezcki and Jody Linscott that is later released on Scoop 3. Around this time there is an incident with Rabbit getting violent while drunk. He is fired from The Who, missing the 1982 album and tour.
June 1982
New music releases: "Africa" - Toto; "Come on Eileen" - Dexys Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express; Mirage - Fleetwood Mac; "Gloria" - Laura Branigan
The Who are at the Turn-Up-Down Studios located in Glyn Johns' home in Surrey recording It's Hard that will end up being their last studio album for twenty-four years. The sessions are contentious with Roger denouncing the songs as crap and begging Pete to scrap the album. According to Roger, Pete refuses saying, "Too late. It's good enough. That's how we are now."
June 1983
New music releases: Synchronicity - The Police; A Decade of Hits - The Charlie Daniels Band; Texas Flood - Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble; No Parking on the Dance Floor - Midnight Star
On the 15th, The Who hold a business meeting at manager Bill Curbishley's office. Pete writes later in his diary, "I stood by my decision to leave. Bill seemed to be the only one who could see I wasn't going to change my mind." It will be the last time The Who join together until Live Aid over two years later.
June 1984
New music releases: Born In The U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen; Purple Rain - Prince & The Revolution; "Ghostbusters" - Ray Parker, Jr.; Breaking Hearts - Elton John
Roger is interviewed for Musician magazine by Chris Salewicz who remarks that Roger still does not seem reconciled to Pete's disbanding The Who: "I feel his reasons for leaving the Who don't really hold water. The real reason, I think, was not that he couldn't come up with the songs but that he just didn't want to play with us any longer. He was bored."
June 1986
New music releases: Invisible Touch - Genesis; Back in the High Life - Steve Winwood; Night Songs - Cinderella; Storms of Life - Randy Travis
John travels to the North American Music Merchandisers exhibition in Chicago to promote the new "buzzard" bass he has designed. He is interviewed by MTV on the exhibition floor, saying that he is currently writing a book about mythical rock star ancestors. While attending he jams with Eddie Van Halen and also a New York-based band, Rat Race Choir. Apparently John enjoys playing with the group as they end up forming the basis of his solo touring band from this point on.
June 1987
New music releases: Whitney - Whitney Houston; Let It Loose/Anything for You - Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine; Bad Animals - Heart; La Bamba - Los Lobos and Various Artists
On the 8th, the British press reports that The Who have turned down £16m for an eight-week tour of the U.S., Japan, Australia and three South American countries to start February 1988. Says John: "I've turned down the offers to concentrate on my new group, The Rock. It's all over for The Who. We've all got solo careers now."
June 1989
New music releases: Soul Provider - Michael Bolton; The End of The Innocence - Don Henley; Cosmic Thing - The B-52's; "Love Shack" - The B-52's
On the 21st, The Who play a warm up show for their tour at the Glens Falls, New York Civic Center. The tour officially begins on the 23rd and 24th at Toronto's C.N.E. Stadium. The show consists of two acts with intermission, act one being Tommy and the second a collection of Who hits, Pete solo material and some selected rarities. Pete plays only acoustic guitar through the first act, then electric in sections of the second act. For the tour Pete, Roger, John and keyboardist John "Rabbit" Bundrick are augmented by drummer Simon Phillips accompanied by percussionist Jodi Linscott, electric guitarist Steve Bolton, a horn section and backup singers led by Billy Nicholls.
June 1990
New music releases: Mariah Carey - Mariah Carey; Step by Step - New Kids on the Block; Flesh & Blood - Poison; I'll Give All My Love to You - Keith Sweat
Pete is interviewed in this month's issue of Musician. He disassociates himself from the recently released Join Together boxset: "I didn't pick the title, cover or collection of songs, and I wouldn't be hurt if a Who fan told me they weren't going to buy it." He also says he is responsible for The Who not extending their 25th Anniversary Tour to Australia and Japan and that Atlantic Records wants his next solo album to be a "formula" album: "I could create a lot of red faces by asking what the formula is."
June 1992
New music releases: "End of the Road" - Boyz II Men; Come On, Come On - Mary Chapin Carpenter; Boomerang: Original Soundtrack Album - Various Artists; The One - Elton John
On the 12th, Roger begins promotion for his solo album coming out the next month by visiting Live with Regis and Kathy Lee. On the 19th he performs "Days Of Light" and is interviewed on Late Night With David Letterman.
And on the 22nd sings "Behind Blue Eyes" with The Chieftains on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
June 1993
New music releases: "Insane in the Brain" - Cypress Hill; Sleepless in Seattle - Various Artists; Back to Broadway - Barbra Streisand; "Runaway Train" - Soul Asylum
On the 6th, Pete wins Tony awards for best book (musical) and best score (musical) for The Who's Tommy. Pete sets the Who gossip mill turning by showing up for the event accompanied by New York journalist Lisa Marsh instead of his wife Karen.
June 1994
New music releases: Forrest Gump: The Soundtrack - Various Artists; Purple - Stone Temple Pilots; Who I Am - Alan Jackson; When Love Finds You - Vince Gill
At the end of the month, the newest issue of Goldmine Magazine (July 8) hits the stands containing a long talk with Roger. The bad feelings caused by Pete's refusal to participate in a 30th anniversary tour and the then lawsuit over payments from the Tommy musical lead Roger to give the bitterest interview of his career. He says Pete "used" him and John on the recording of The Iron Man, and treats them "like fucking toilet paper," that when The Who broke up that "was the end of John's life" and calls Kenney Jones drumming "fucking awful".
June 1995
New music releases: Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette; HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 - Michael Jackson; Tigerlily - Natalie Merchant; These Days - Bon Jovi
On the 17th, The Who's Tommy closes on Broadway after 900 performances.
June 1996
New music releases: Secrets - Toni Braxton; Load - Metallica; "Wannabe" - Spice Girls; Recurring Dream - The Very Best of Crowded House - Crowded House
Pete, Roger and John begin rehearsals for the upcoming live version of Quadrophenia. Those rehearsals come to an abrupt end on the 28th after Gary Glitter spins a microphone stand and accidentally slams one of the prongs on the base right into Roger's eye, smashing the bones of his eye socket. Incredibly, Roger agrees to go on the next day despite the severe injury. Pete, interviewed by the press before the show, is brimming with admiration for Roger for not cancelling.
June 1998
New music releases: Never Say Never - Brandy; MP Da Last Don - Master P; 5ive - Five; System of a Down - System of a Down
On the 8th, Pete and Karen Townshend attend Linda McCartney's memorial service at St. Martin in the Fields Church in London. Pete, a friend of Linda's from before her marriage to Paul McCartney, delivers the final eulogy.
June 1999
New music releases: Supernatural - Santana; Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers; Significant Other - Limp Bizkit; Enema of the State - Blink-182
Pete writes back to Bill Curbishley, agreeing to the reformation of The Who to get John out of debt. What must have sounded at the time like a short-term reunion continues without breakup to this day, long after John's death.
June 2000
New music releases: Country Grammar - Nelly; "Yellow" - Coldplay; "Californication" - Red Hot Chili Peppers; 7 - S Club 7
In Rolling Stone, John says that while The Who were "shit-hot" on Live At Leeds, he feels his playing is better on Blues To The Bush. He also says The Who quit in 1982 because they thought they'd go higher as solo artists. In Roger's interview, also with Richard Skanse, he attacks the idea of the 2000 tour as a nostalgia tour, "if you went to see a Beethoven concert tonight, is that nostalgia? If you go to a museum and look at a Renoir exhibition, is that nostalgia? How can it be nostalgia if it's our fucking music?" He also says Pete is this time the one most wanting to tour.
June 2001
New music releases: Songs In A Minor - Alicia Keys; Room for Squares - John Mayer; The Invisible Band - Travis; Take Off Your Pants And Jacket - Blink-182;
On the 15th, John joins Todd Rundgren, Ann Wilson and Alan Parsons touring the U.S. and Canada in "A Walk Down Abbey Road: A Tribute To The Beatles." In addition to Beatles' songs (that John admits he never rehearsed), John solos on "The Real Me" and "My Generation".
June 2002
New music releases: Let Go - Avril Lavigne; Songs About Jane - Maroon 5; Nellyville - Nelly; "By The Way" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
On the 26th, John arrives at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas where The Who are set to start their 2002 North American tour. He spends the afternoon shopping for Western wear and boots, then spends some time with friend Cy Langston and others at the hotel bar where his last picture is taken. Later that night he retires to Suite 658 with Déjà Vu Showgirls dancer Alycen Rowse. John warns her not to let him sleep on his back as so many of his friends have died that way choking on vomit. John dodges that fate but not the heart attack that kills him early in the morning. Alycen discovers John has died upon awakening at 10am on the 27th. She tries unsuccessfully to revive him, then calls Cy who arrives at noon and calls the coroner and members of The Who.
A weeping Roger visits Pete and leaves it to him what to do about the tour due to start the next day. After a night's thought, Pete decides to bring in expert session bassist Pino Palladino (White City, Psychoderelict tour and many, many other credits) to replace John and to start the tour by July. The news is almost as shocking to Who fans as John's passing. Journalists and many fans denounce the decision but Pete later explains that he felt the tour had to continue due to the large number of people who would suddenly be without employment if he cancelled the tour.
June 2003
New music releases: Dangerously in Love - Beyoncé; Elephunk - Black Eyed Peas; "Where is the Love?" - Black Eyed Peas; "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" - Alan Jackson
On the 23rd, Pete Townshend publishes a diary message stating: "Without my help, work is being done today by good people who are fighting hard to combat both the spread of sewage on the internet and the terrible psychological effect that could have on the minds of the children of the future. Every time it occurs to me to say something about what is going on I remember what happened to me: I was arrested, suspected of wallowing in the very shit that most upset me. It sends a clear and loud message. What is clear is that I must learn to keep silent and focus my energies elsewhere."
June 2006
New music releases: "Chasing Cars" - Snow Patrol; "Life is a Highway" - Rascal Flatts; Loose - Nelly Furtado; "The Diary of Jane" - Breaking Benjamin
On the 17th, Pete and Roger return to Leeds University, first for the unveiling of a Civic Trust plaque commemorating their 14 Feb. 1970 performance that became the Live at Leeds album. Afterwards The Who open their world tour in performance at the same refectory where they had played 36 years before. The Wire and Glass mini-opera gets its live premiere as well as the new song "Mike Post Theme." The audience in the packed auditorium swelters in the June heat. Spitfire Films shoots the show in HD but it remains unreleased.
June 2007
New music releases: "Misery Business" - Paramore; "Love Song" - Sara Bareilles; "The Way I Are" - Timbaland featuring Keri Hilson and D.O.E.; Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus - Miley Cyrus
On the 5th, Pete is interviewed about the writing of Endless Wire in Metro International: "Some of them I started in 2002, when John Entwistle was alive, and he always had lots of songs ready. At that time Roger was promising to write songs as well, so I concentrated on trying to produce songs that were arch, dark and extreme - leaving the lighter stuff to John and Roger."
June 2009
New music releases: "I Gotta Feeling" - The Black Eyed Peas; The E.N.D. - The Black Eyed Peas; "Obsessed" - Mariah Carey; "Bulletproof" - La Roux
On the 9th, The Who's "My Generation" is selected by the National Recording Registry of the U.S. Library of Congress as one of twenty-five culturally significant recordings selected for preservation in a special sound archive.
June 2012
New music releases: "Summertime Sadness" - Lana Del Rey; "Some Nights" - fun.; "One More Night" - Maroon 5; "Ho Hey" - The Lumineers
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.
June 2014
New music releases: X - Ed Sheeran; "All About That Bass" - Meghan Trainor; "Maps" - Maroon 5; "Don't Tell 'Em" - Jeremih featuring YG
On the 20th, Pete and Roger hold a press conference to announce plans for their "The Who Hits 50!" tour. The venue for the presser is Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club where The Who premiered Tommy for the press 45 years earlier. Roger dubs the tour "the beginning of a long goodbye." Pete adds, "We are what we are, and extremely good at it, but we're lucky to be alive and still touring. If I had enough hairs to split, I would say that for 13 years since 1964 The Who didn't really exist, so we are really only 37." The two then perform an acoustic set of "Substitute", "Bargain", "The Kids Are Alright", and "Won't Get Fooled Again".
June 2016
New Music Releases: "Heathens" - Twenty-One Pilots; "Treat You Better" - Shawn Mendes; "Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1" - Kanye West; "Sucker for Pain" - Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, and Imagine Dragons with Logic and Ty Dolla Sign featuring X Ambassadors
On the 15th, The Who Hits 50! tour is taken to the Continent with the band performing at Zénith in Toulouse, France followed by Mad Cool Festival in Caja Mágica in Madrid on the 16th and Azkena Rock Festival, CIFP Mendizabala LHII, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain on the 18th. These three shows are the last with long-time Who soundman Bobby Pridden running the onstage soundboard. After this he retires from touring at doctor's orders.
June 2017
New Music Releases: "Bodak Yellow" - Cardi B; "Wild Thoughts" - DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller; "Young, Dumb & Broke" - Khalid; "When It Rains It Pours" - Luke Combs
On the 21st, a single by Artists for Grenville of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is released. Both Pete and Roger take part in the charity recording. It goes to #1 and as they are listed as "The Who", it becomes The Who's first official #1 single in the U.K. Pete will go on to write the powerful "Street Song" about the disaster for 2019's album WHO.
June 2018
New Music Releases: Scorpion - Drake; "Be Alright" - Dean Lewis; "Praise the Lord (Da Shine)" - A$ap Rocky; "In My Mind" - Dynoro & Gigi D'Agostino
On the 1st, Roger's first solo studio album in 26 years, As Long As I Have You, is released in the U.K. by Polydor. Solo has to be somewhat qualified as Pete plays guitar on seven of the tracks. The Times gives it four stars and Rolling Stone gives it three and a half saying, "Seventy-four-year-old Daltrey's voice is a little gruffer than it was when he was a young buck, but it's as strong and passionate as ever." In the U.K. it peaks at #8 while in the U.S. it only reaches #194.
June 2020
New Music Releases: "Heat Waves" - Glass Animals; "The Good Ones" - Gabby Barrett; "Go" - The Kid Laroi and Juice Wrld; "After Party" - Don Tolliver
On the 7th, as the Covid-19 lockdown continues, Roger continues to try to draw attention to cancer treatment, conducting an at-home interview with Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor and singer Harry Hudson for a video posted by Teen Cancer America.
On the 18th, Roger is interviewed at home by Yahoo Music about the 45th anniversary of Tommy: The Movie and fundraising problems for Teen Cancer charities during the pandemic.
On the 19th, "Baba O'Riley" is awarded Platinum status by the BPI.
