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Tag: The Who

  • This Day in Rock History: January 29

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    Are you ready for your daily dose of rock history trivia? Rock and roll breakthrough hits, recordings, performances, challenges, and cultural changes that happened on Jan. 29 throughout its long history. Let’s dive into some of the most interesting facts from this day in rock history to test your knowledge.

    Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

    Breakthrough hits and important milestones in the rock music industry from past Jan. 29 include:

    • 1965: The Who made their television debut, on one of the UK’s most popular music shows at the time, Ready Steady Go! They were promoting their hit single, “I Can’t Explain.
      1969      : Fleetwood Mac’s single “Albatross,” composed by guitarist Peter Green, hit No. 1 in the U.K. The song inspired John Lennon to write “Sun King,” a song from their popular Abbey Road album that came out the same year. 
    • 1972: The triple live album The Concert for Bangladesh reached the top spot on the UK albums chart less than a month after its release. The show was organized by George Harrison and took place on the 1st of August 1971 to help the victims of war and famine in Bangladesh and included performances by Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, and many others.

    Cultural Milestones

    The rock music culture has seen many significant shifts occur on Jan. 29 over the years, such as:

    • 1947: David Byron, Uriah Heep’s original frontman, was born in Epping, Essex, England. He sang on 10 of the band’s albums and also recorded three solo albums.
    • 1949: Ramones drummer Tommy Ramone was born in Budapest, Hungary. Despite initially being the band’s manager, he was recruited by the other band members to be their drummer, even though he had never played drums before.
    • 1967: At the Mantra-Rock Dance music event held at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco, California, prominent bands like Grateful Dead, Big Brother, and Holding Company performed for free. Proceeds from the event went to the Hare Krishna temple, bringing positive media attention to the spiritual movement.
    • 1992: Blues pioneer Willie Dixon passed away at 76. He’s widely considered one of the most important blues performers and songwriters of all time, creating some of the most famous blues songs in history, such as “Little Red Rooster,”  “Hoochie Coochie Man,” and “I Just Want to Make Love to You.”

    Notable Recordings and Performances

    These notable Jan. 29 recordings and performances in rock music left a lasting impression on the genre:

    • 1967: The Who and Jimi Hendrix performed together at the Saville Theatre in London, England. Jimi opened for The Who, with the most memorable moment of the evening being him holding Pete Townshend’s Rickenbacker guitar.
    • 1998: A musical titled The Capeman featuring lyrics by Paul Simon opened on Broadway. The show only had 68 performances before closing due to poor reception and negative reviews.
    • 2002: Linkin Park held the first Projekt Revolution Festival in Colorado Springs. The festival ran every year until 2004 and then returned in 2007, 2008, and 2011. The festival has seen performances from big names like My Chemical Romance and Placebo over the years.

    Industry Changes and Challenges

    Changes and challenges in rock music are always pushing the industry to innovate, and these are some that made their mark on Jan. 29:

    • 2016: Just three weeks after his death, David Bowie had 12 of his albums make the U.K. Top 40, which beat the record previously held by Elvis Presley, who set it in 1977.

    From legendary duets to famous debuts, Jan. 29 had its share of important rock moments. Visit this page again tomorrow to find out what happened on that day in rock history.

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    Dan Teodorescu

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  • This Day in Rock History: November 2

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    Nov. 2 is a significant day in the rock calendar, with bands such as Cream and The Police releasing legendary albums on this date. Here are some of the most noteworthy events from this day in rock history.

    Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

    Star acts, such as The Who and Stevie Wonder, enjoyed milestone moments on Nov. 2:

    • 1974: Stevie Wonder’s song “You Haven’t Done Nothin’” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was part of his Fulfillingness’ First Finale album and featured background vocals by members of the Jackson 5.
    • 1979: The Who’s movie, Quadrophenia, had its U.S. premiere. It failed at the box office but later developed a cult following.

    Notable Recordings and Performances

    Nov. 2 is the anniversary of some major album releases, including:

    • 1967: Cream released their second studio album, Disraeli Gears, through Reaction Records. Considered one of the most influential albums in rock history, it featured huge hits such as “Sunshine of Your Love” and “Strange Brew.”
    • 1978: The Police released their debut album, Outlandos d’Amour. Despite initial mixed reviews, it occasionally got the recognition it deserved, thanks in part to hit songs such as “Roxanne,” “Can’t Stand Losing You,” and “So Lonely.”
    • 1987: George Harrison released his eleventh studio album, Cloud Nine, via Dark Horse Records. It was his first solo record after a five-year hiatus and included the hit single “Got My Mind Set on You.”
    • 1999: Foo Fighters released their third studio album, There Is Nothing Left to Lose, via Roswell and RCA Records. It was their first with drummer Taylor Hawkins and earned Platinum status in the U.S.

    Standout moments in rock history on Nov. 2 included The Who’s movie, Quadrophenia, which premiered in the U.S. in 1979 and later developed a cult following, and Cream’s 1967 release of their second studio album, Disraeli Gears, considered one of the most influential albums in rock history.

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    Dan Teodorescu

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  • This Day in Rock History: October 21

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    This day in rock history marks the release of a few memorable albums and commemorates legendary drummer Keith Moon’s last show with The Who. Here are more major rock-related events that happened on Oct. 21 throughout the years.

    Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

    Besides Keith Moon’s swansong, Oct. 21 marked a major milestone in the career of rock and roll pioneer Chuck Berry:

    • 1972: Chuck Berry’s hit song “My Ding-a-Ling” reached the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, where it spent two weeks. The single was a live recording of Berry performing the song during a concert in Coventry, England, and was his only U.S. and U.K. No. 1 hit.
    • 1976: Drummer Keith Moon played his final official concert with The Who at the Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto.
    • 2006: Evanescence topped the Billboard 200 album chart with The Open Door. It was also a milestone for Billboard, as it marked the 700th album to reach the top spot since the magazine started publishing its weekly chart in 1967.

    Notable Recordings and Performances

    Oct. 21 is also the anniversary of some important album releases, including:

    • 1970: Bob Dylan released his eleventh studio album, New Morning, via Columbia Records, just four months after his previous album, Self Portrait. The new album reached the top spot on the U.K. charts.
    • 1977: Cleveland International Records and its parent company, Epic Records, released Meatloaf’s debut album, Bat Out of Hell. It wasn’t initially a hit, as both record executives and the general public needed some time to digest its over-the-top operatic style, but it grew in popularity and is now one of the best-selling albums of all time, with an estimated 40 million copies sold.

    Chuck Berry’s only No. 1 hit and Billboard’s 700th chart topper were among the most notable events that happened in the rock music world throughout the years on Oct. 21. Legendary drummer Keith Moon also played his final official concert with The Who at the Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, on this date.

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    Dan Teodorescu

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  • The Who Look Back On ‘Tommy,’ ‘Quadrophenia’ During ‘Hits Back’ Stop In Chicago

    The Who Look Back On ‘Tommy,’ ‘Quadrophenia’ During ‘Hits Back’ Stop In Chicago

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    “You know when you’re at a party and some old man dances?” mused Pete Townshend on stage Wednesday night in Chicago, poking a little fun following a shimmy as he set up The Who’s “Another Tricky Day.” “When I dance, it actually looks quite good!”

    Townshend was affable and entertaining over the course of more than two hours at United Center, night five of the fall leg of The Who’s North American “The Who Hits Back!” tour.

    What started as an idea the guitarist was loath to embrace on opening night in Grand Rapids, Michigan in May 2019 has grown to become one he seems to genuinely appreciate and indulge in. As they make their way across America, heading west into early November, The Who are once again backed by a 48 piece local orchestra in each city, as well as touring soloists Katie Jacoby and Audrey Snyder on violin and cello.

    Under the continued direction of conductor Keith Levenson – and at times Townshend as well – The Who are opening the show alongside the orchestral ensemble in celebration of the group’s 1969 rock opera Tommy, slimming things down midway through before returning to the orchestra for a look back at 1973’s Quadrophenia to close the show.

    Wednesday night in Chicago, clarinet and flute kicked off “Amazing Journey,” Townshend almost hopping in place as his brother Simon Townshend accompanied singer Roger Daltrey and backing vocalist Billy Nicholls. Daltrey picked up a pair of tambourines as “Amazing Journey” meandered toward “Sparks,” sunglasses on as Townshend unleashed an early windmill.

    Backed by the full orchestra, drummer Zak Starkey shined early on “Pinball Wizard,” strings soon dominating a soaring rendition of “We’re not Gonna Take It.”

    “If you enjoyed that, the Broadway Tommy is coming back to Chicago next June at the Goodman Theatre,” said Townshend at the completion of the album suite, noting the return of the stage production to the Windy City for a month-long engagement next summer.

    Breaking out of the album, Daltrey, in a departure from the norm, opted for electric guitar as Townshend crouched for an early solo, trombones putting a unique spin on one of music’s most rocking moments in “Who Are You.”

    Starkey leaned right, sharing a laugh amidst conversation with bassist Jon Button, playing throughout “Eminence Front.” A violin flourish proved to be a highlight in the early moments of the song, Townshend seeming to improv an almost scat-like jazz lead vocal.

    “In 2019, before the pandemic and all of that s–t, we went into the studio,” said the guitarist, explaining the origins of the group’s fine twelfth studio album Who, setting up “Ball and Chain.” “It’s hard to beat the material that we did when we were 12. But we had a go.”

    Daltrey, 78, vastly exceeded all expectations, in fine vocal form throughout, singing as if his life depended on it during “Join Together.”

    “This amazing orchestra with us takes a break now. They work a lot harder than we do. Well, harder than I do,” said Townshend with a nod in Daltrey’s direction, kicking off a Who band set with “Relay.”

    During recent tours, Daltrey and Townshend performed “Won’t Get Fooled Again” as an acoustic duo, but they returned the legendary cut to its full rock glory on stage Wednesday night, Townshend windmilling the song to completion. Jacoby and Snyder embellished a gorgeous, primarily acoustic take on “Behind Blue Eyes” next, Townshend sitting down to pick at an acoustic.

    Despite big shoes to fill, Button nevertheless continues to shine on “The Real Me,” making John Entwistle’s bass showcase his own, strings driving forth the performance as the orchestra made its way back to the stage Wednesday night.

    Daltrey put forth a call and response vocal part as the ensemble jammed out the ending on “5:15,” the show reaching its unquestionable high point in a horn-driven frenzy as the band stretched out on “The Rock” immediately following.

    “What’s so interesting is that every now and again, we get an orchestra that knows how to rock,” said Townshend of the Chicago collective. “This is one of them.”

    Keyboard players Loren Gold and Emily Marshall sparkled early as Daltrey reached higher and higher on the always stunning vocal piece that is “Love Reign O’er Me.” Townshend turned back and to his right, giving a thumbs up to the orchestra after doing a little conducting of his own, Jacoby’s fiddle soon driving “Baba O’Riley” in the show’s final moments.

    “Chicago… I just love this idea of a big city right beside a big f—ing lake,” said Townshend, 77, on stage Wednesday night. “I hope we’ll be back.”

    Beautiful three part harmonies were on display to open the show as the Steven Page Trio performed on stage in Chicago, their final night as opening act with former Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell and his band The Dirty Knobs set to take over tonight in St. Louis.

    “So you may be wondering to yourself or out loud, ‘Is that the guy who used to be in Barenaked Ladies?’” joked Page on stage at United Center. “It is! It’s me!”

    Singer on some of the group’s biggest hits, Page kicked off with BNL’s “It’s all Been Done,” backed by Craig Northey, of Canadian alt rock group Odds, on electric guitar and cellist Kevin Fox.

    Page’s acoustic playing stood out on “Jane” with “The Golden Age of Doubling Down,” from his latest solo album, the brand new Excelsior, a highlight next.

    Low cello carried the Barenaked Ladies standout “The Old Apartment” as Page unleashed rock star jumps and kicks, strumming like mad at the front of the stage during a gorgeous rendition of “Brian Wilson” to close out the group’s 40 minute set.

    “Thank you very much. It’s amazing being back in Chicago,” said Page following the trio’s performance. “I want to thank The Who for inviting us to do these shows. We’ve watched every show from the side of the stage. We’ll miss watching them every night. Happy trails.”

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    Jim Ryan, Contributor

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