The Who

The Who is one of the most exciting bands to emerge from swinging England in the 1960s. The quartet's classic lineup consists of singer Roger Daltrey, singer-guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. The Who initially made a name for themselves with explosive singles like "I Can't Explain," "My Generation," and "Substitute." During this period, the band was seen as one of the figureheads of the so-called "mod" movement, a youth culture characterized by shiny scooters, razor-sharp outfits, and a love of American soul and rhythm 'n' blues. 

Pete Townshend rapidly developed into a visionary composer, with albums becoming increasingly important alongside singles. The first example of this was The Who Sell Out (1967), which was conceived as a pirate radio station broadcast, complete with homemade jingles and commercials. The band's first masterpiece was the double album Tommy (1969), a rock opera that also marked their definitive breakthrough in America. The ambitious project Lifehouse foundered, but yielded a classic studio album with Who's Next (1971). The energetic album Live At Leeds (1970) aptly captured The Who's unique live status as a band during that period.

Tommy receives a fitting sequel with the ambitious Quadrophenia (1973), a rock opera in which Pete Townshend harks back to the group's mod past. Along with British colleagues The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, The Who maintains its position as one of the greatest rock bands of the 1970s. Who Are You (1978), however, is the last album the band recorded with Keith Moon; the drummer dies just weeks after its release. Although this marks the end of an era for many of the band's fans, the band continues. Initially, Kenney Jones of The Small Faces stepped in as a replacement. In recent decades, Zak Starkey, the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, has been behind the drums.

The band went on hiatus for a long time in the 1980s, focusing on their own projects. New material like Endless Wire (2006) and WHO (2019) was released at regular intervals. Deluxe editions of the classic albums are regularly released, however. The Who also remains a traditionally exciting live act that still fills stadiums worldwide, with Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend as the unstoppable core.