The Who In January (A History)

[briancady@juno.com (Brian S Cady)]

Happy Who Year!

Here's what the boys were up to in select past Januarys.

5 Years Ago This Month (1993)

On the 15th, Roger appears on Howard Stern’s radio show in New York

15 Years Ago This Month (1983)

Rolling Stone reports that The Who’s 1982 tour was the year’s most
financially successful, garnering $23 million in 39 shows.

Pete, in his own words, is "desperately attempting to come up with a
concept for the projected Who album."  The idea he eventually devises is
called "Siege" and revolves around the idea "that each of us is a soul
under siege."  He demos "Prelude, The Right To Write" for "Siege" at Eel
Pie Studios, London

20 Years Ago This Month (1978)

Recording resumes on the "Who Are You" LP

Billboard magazine puts the budget for "The Kids Are Alright" movie at $4
million.

25 Years Ago This Month (1973)

On the 6th, The Who’s appearance on "Russell Harty Plus" is broadcast by
ITV in the London area.  The Who perform "Relay" and then chat with the
host.  The chat appears in the movie "The Kids Are Alright" and "Relay"
on the laserdisc of "Who’s Better Who’s Best."

On the 13th, Pete performs with Eric Clapton in concert at The Rainbow
Theatre, London.  It is Eric’s comeback concert after Pete helped him
kick his heroin addiction.

In late 1972, Roger helps young songwriter Leo Sayer record an album at
Roger’s new barn/studio in East Burwash.  In return Sayer and his
collaborator David Courtney write a batch of songs for Roger.  This month
he goes into Apple Studios, London and begins recording his first solo
album.

Track/Decca releases the single "I Wonder" backed with "Who Cares"  from
John’s "Whistle Rymes" LP in the U.S.  It fails to reach the charts.

On the 30th, The Who appear on "The Old Grey Whistle Test" on BBC2. They
mime playing with live vocals to the songs "Relay" (which features an
extended ending) and "Long Live Rock."

With the success of The orchestral version of "Tommy," Chris Stamp and
Bill Curbishley start negotiating with Robert Stigwood to produce a
movie.  Kit Lambert makes it a condition that he write and direct the
film.

30 Years Ago This Month (1968)

Rolling Stone magazine awards Best Rock and Roll Group of 1967 to The
Who.

On the 1st, The Who perform at the Baltaberin Club in Bromley.

On the 6th, "The Who Sell Out" LP is released in the U.S.  It reaches #48
in the charts. The music director of WMCA, then the #1 pop radio station
in New York, bans "The Who Sell Out" calling the album "disgusting" and
says he won’t even show the album cover to his children.

On the 8th, The Who perform at the Silver Blades Ice Rink in Bristol.  It
is a smaller side venue to the Ballroom they had sold out 12 months
before.  Now the ice rink is only 2/3 full.

On the 13th, they play at the Dreamland Ballroom in Margate.

The Who record "Glow Girl" and "Faith in Something Bigger" at De Lane Sea
Studios, London

On the 19th, The Who and The Small Faces (with Kenney Jones) and singer
Paul Jones touch down at Sydney Airport to begin their tour of Australia
and New Zealand.   Tired after the long flight, Pete throws a punch at an
obnoxious reporter.  It sparks a savaging of the tour in the
Australian/New Zealand press that intensifies as the tour progresses.

On the 20th, New Musical Express carries an article that says "Glow Girl"
will be the Who’s next single.  Pete also says he wants the Who to
"preach" on their next album.

The tour begins on the 20th in Brisbane.  In order to save money, local
equipment is used.  It is generally inadequate to the Who’s volume needs.
 This and the tendencies of some audiences to scream throughout the show
as if it was a 1964 Beatles concert angers the Who who begin amplifying
the destruction at the end of their sets.  This only adds fuel to their
negative portrayal in the press.

Around this time Pete, refused room service in the hotel because "This is
Australia, mate.  We get out of bed in the morning here!" puts a box of
cornflakes and a gallon of milk in his hotel room’s sink, eats a portion
of it, and leaves the rest to solidify.

On the 22nd and 23rd, the tour plays at Sydney Stadium.  A rotating set
malfunctions and the Who end up performing facing away from the crowd!

On the 25th and 26th, they play in Melbourne.  On the 26th, local youths
hang outside the hotel trying to pick fights with the group members as
they leave and enter.  Keith and Steve Marriott narrowly avoid a fight.

On the 27th, The Who play in Adelaide.  The next day the press reports of
a rowdy incident on the flight back to Sydney in which someone on the
tour refused to stop drinking beer on the plane and cursed at the flight
attendant.  The pilot lands in Melbourne and the entire tour is ejected
from the plane.  The tour continues to Sydney on a flight where they are
accompanied by two security officers.  By this point the negative press
reaction begins to whip the public to an hysterical frenzy.

On the 28th, the British press announces that Roger’s wife Jacqueline is
suing for divorce.  It is the first time that most Who fans know that
Roger is married and has a 3 year old son.

The tour continues on the 29th in New Zealand in Auckland.  The Who have
many equipment problems but get a positive reaction from their fans
there.  Nevertheless, the headline the next day screams "Rampaging Pop
Group Jeered By Teenagers."

On the 30th, the tour arrives in Wellington with plans to celebrate Steve
Marriott’s 21st birthday.  Banned by the hotel from holding a big party,
they carry on in the hotel rooms which leads to smashed stereo equipment
and windows.  A wave of police cadets are sent in, but they just join the
party and start drinking!  The New Zealand Army is finally sent in and
order is restored at gunpoint.

The hideous tour ends on the 31st in Wellington.  Pete vows never to
return and he never has.  In the March 2nd issue of Melody Maker he said
"If Australia thinks it's getting off that easily it's wrong.  More, yes
more masochistic, unwashed English beetroots are on the way to name but
one.  Air hostesses and anyone that knows all the verses of "Waltzing
Matilda" had better hold their noses."  The Australian press claims that
teenagers are saying "good riddance!" to the violent group, but Chris
Stamp says there is a big demand from promoters for the Who’s return.  30
years later they are still waiting.

35 Years Ago This Month (1963)

Known dates for Detours performances are the Grand Ballroom in Kent (4th,
18th and 22nd), the Fox and Goose Hotel in Ealing (11th), the CAV Sports
Ground in Northolt, West London (19th), and the Railway Hotel in
Greenford (26th).

Sometime late in the month, Roger kicks the Detours’ lead singer Colin
Dawson out.  He is replaced by one Gabby Connolly who specializes in
country & western music!

It time for some thank yous.  Thank you to Australia Who fan Denis Bowler
for checking my info, Bruce Kawakami for providing the quote, all those
who did the legwork to find this info particularly Joe McMichael, Jack
Lyons, John Atkins, George Tremlett and Dave Marsh and, of course, to the
Who for living all this.

				-Brian in Atlanta