Artist History In the annals of rock 'n' roll history, only a handful of bands are recognized as among the greatest of all time. Everyone knows the short list, and invariably, The Who is on it. Since joining together in 1963, The Who have consistently created engaging and challenging music, much of it defying easy categorization. That the band is together today, thirty years after the release of their landmark 1970 concert album, Live At Leeds, exciting new and old fans alike, is a testament to their power and endurance. The Who was born out of a trio of West London schoolboy groups. In 1959, Pete Townshend and John Entwistle joined the Confederates, a band that played mostly traditional jazz. Roger Daltrey's band, the Detours, played various styles of popular music. When Daltrey asked Townshend and Entwistle to join the Detours, they accepted because Daltrey's group actually made money. The Detours became regulars on the dance hall circuit, with their line-up of Daltrey, Entwistle, Townshend, and drummer Doug Sandom. In late 1963, drummer Keith Moon, who had been with a surf band called the Beachcombers, auditioned and was hired immediately. Newly renamed The Who, the Daltrey-Townshend- Entwistle-Moon lineup remained intact from 1963 until late 1978 when Moon died, making them one of rock's longest-running bands with no personnel changes. In late 1964, Townshend smashed a guitar following an on-stage temper tantrum. After a positive audience reaction, destruction became a staple of their live act. In January 1965, "I Can't Explain" was released, followed by a debut appearance on the "Ready, Steady, Go" TV show. After a slow start, the song climbed to #9 on the British charts. The band became regulars on the U.K. charts after that. The Who's first album, My Generation, featured a combination of R&B songs and Townshend's own material. After their initial U.K. success, the band concentrated on recording Townshend originals, with an occasional contribution by Entwistle. Producer and manager Kit Lambert encouraged Pete's interest in art rock, the result being a softer sound than their early R&B-oriented material. In the U.S., prior to the release of Tommy, the Who gained most notoriety as a live band. Destruction of their equipment became a staple of their live act, and they continued the ritual in the U.S. long after dropping it in Britain. The Who's most notable recorded success in the U.S. during this pre-Tommy period was "I Can See For Miles" which was (and still is) the Who's only Top 10 song. Of course, with or without high chart numbers, the band still created some of the most memorable songs of rock history during their early years, including "Magic Bus," "Happy Jack," and "My Generation." Fortunately, they broke through in 1969 in the U.S. with Tommy, which finally gave them much-needed financial solvency. Peaking at #4, the album remained on the charts for nearly two years, and is universally recognized today as one of the pivotal works of art in rock history. Said Townshend to a journalist many years later, "When I first created Tommy, I did it with the understanding that people of the time were exploring the limits of their imaginations. They were in pursuit of a spiritual awakening. When they sat down to listen to Tommy, they were saying to themselves - and probably to me - 'We want to go somewhere.' And I specifically left parts of the story open to allow them to reflect and review." Who's Next, from 1971, is often cited as one of the premiere rock albums of all time, as is 1970's Live At Leeds. The Who's other rock opera, Quadrophenia (1973), is similarly regarded as a modern masterpiece. The death of Keith Moon in 1978 ended what had been one of the most consistent line-ups in rock history, but the band persevered, releasing new albums through the early 80's. The Who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. MCA Records, in close conjunction with Pete Townshend, has completed a meticulously prepared reissue campaign for the entire Who catalog. On June 29, 1996, for the first time ever, Quadrophenia was performed in its entirety when the three surviving members of the Who reunited to perform the piece at the annual Prince's Trust concert in London. That historic date was followed by an ecstatically received U.S. "Quadrophenia" tour. On February 15, 2000, marking the 30th Anniversary of Live At Leeds, MCA Records will release a newly-compiled, 25-track collection of the band's most sought-after BBC Radio performances, recorded from 1965 to 1973. The Who: BBC Sessions includes live performances of the band's most enduring hits, including "My Generation," "Substitute," "Happy Jack," "I'm Free," and "Long Live Rock" from such classic BBC programs as "Top Gear," "Saturday Club" and "The Old Grey Whistle Test." Today, The Who remain as vital as ever, performing together at a series of charity concerts in the U.S. this fall, and laying the groundwork for a new studio album in 2000. For long-time Who fans, the music of the band seems to improve over time. For new generations of fans, the Who comprise a priceless discovery. In 1965, Pete Townshend wrote, and Roger Daltrey sang, of "My Generation." Little did they know then, that every generation to follow would become theirs as well. Long Live Rock, indeed! DISCOGRAPHY Studio Albums MY GENERATION(1965) A QUICK ONE (1966) THE WHO SELL OUT (1967) TOMMY (1969) WHO'S NEXT (1971) QUADROPHENIA (1973) THE WHO BY NUMBERS (1975) WHO ARE YOU (1978) FACE DANCES (1981) IT'S HARD (1983) Live Albums WHO'S LAST (1984) JOIN TOGETHER (1989) LIVE AT LEEDS (1970) THE WHO LIVE: STAR COLLECTION BBC SESSIONS (release date: 2/15/00) Compilations Magic Bus (1968) Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy (1971) 30 Years of Maximum R&B (boxed set) Odds and Sods (1974) Direct Hits Greatest Hits Who's Better, Who's Best Hooligans The Kids Are Alright (1979) The Ox The Story of the Who The Singles The Who Collection Who's Missing Two's Missing Rarities Vol. I Rarities Vol. II The Millennium Collection (1999) # # #

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