The Who In November (A History)

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

5 Years Ago This Month (1992)
Stephen Wolter and Karen Kimber’s "The Who In Print: An Annotated
Biography, 1965 though 1990" is published.

10 Years Ago This Month (1987)
On the 2nd, John Entwistle and Steve Luongo’s band Rat Race Choir start a
month long U.S. tour.  On the 7th, John and the band are interviewed on
Howard Stern’s show. Other known dates from that month are Poughkeepsie
(7th) [note: Steve says they played 2 days in Poughkeepsie and this
started on the 2nd],  a live broadcast from The Bottom Line in New York
City as part of the Rock and Roll Blood Drive (8th), Philadelphia (9th),
Washington, D.C. (15th), Boston (19th), and Winston-Salem, North Carolina
(27th).  Due to having only 3 days for rehearsals, only Who songs are
played, mostly selections from "Who’s Next" and "Live At Leeds."

On the 4th, Pete’s daughter Emma is quoted in an article saying that her
father's example has made sure she never dabbled with drugs.

15 Years Ago This Month (1982)
On the 3rd, "It’s Hard" is certified gold by the RIAA.

Rolling Stone reports that Pete and Roger got in a backstage argument
about why this was the final tour.  They also report that Roger’s sister
has died.

The tour resumes in Orlando, Florida on the 27th. After the show, Pete
makes demos of "Prelude #556" on his TEAC Portastudio.  Other dates are
Lexington, Kentucky (29th) and Birmingham, Alabama on the 30th.

20 Years Ago This Month (1977)
Pete's "My Baby Gives It Away" is released in the U.S. and "Street In The
City" in Britain.  Neither make the singles charts.

Keith Moon and Steve Martin bust up a hotel room on the "10 Years Of
Rolling Stone" special shown on U.S. TV

25 Years Ago This Month (1972)
On the 4th, Melody Maker reports that the upcoming all-star version of
Tommy will not be staged at the Royal Albert Hall in a continuation of
the ban on rock events there.

John's 2nd solo album "Whistle Rymes" is released.  It reaches #138 on
the U.S. Billboard charts.

John records his 3rd solo album "Rigor Mortis Sets In" at Novasound
Studios, London.

Building begins on The Who’s new studio in Battersea.  It will be called
Ramport Studios.

Crawdaddy magazine prints an ad for Pete’s solo album "Who Came First."
It contains a half-page essay by Pete explaining why he recorded the
album.

On the 18th, Melody Maker reports that John has formed a new group called
Ro Ro which have given free concerts at various colleges in England

In an interview in Rolling Stone, Keith reminisces about the many
legendary feats with which he is associated.

On the 24th, the all-star orchestral version of "Tommy" is released in
Britain.  It does not chart there.

On the 25th, The Who single "The Relay" backed with "Waspman" is released
in the U.S. It reaches #39 in the Billboard charts and #33 in Cash Box. 
On the same date, New Musical Express carries an interview with John in
which he says he has a new solo band called Rigor Mortis.  In the same
issue, Roy Carr writes a gushingly adoring review of the orchestral
"Tommy."

On the 27th, the all-star orchestral version of "Tommy" is released in
the U.S.  It reaches #5 in the Billboard charts.

30 Years Ago This Month (1967)
Recording for "The Who Sell Out" is completed with "Sunrise" recorded at
IBC Studios, London on the 2nd and "Jaguar" also recorded during that
month.

On the 3rd, The Who continue their British tour with appearances in
Kingston (3rd), Walthamstow (4th); Nottingham (5th), Birmingham (6th),
Kettering (8th), Maidstone (9th) and Slough (10th)

On the 9th, The Who appear on BBC1’s "Top Of The Pops" miming to "I Can
See For Miles."  They do so dressed as Rockers!

On the 11th "I Can See For Miles" enters the Dutch charts and peaks at
#28.

On the 15th, The Who fly to the U.S. to begin their 1st headlining U.S.
tour.  Opening for them is Eric Burdon and The Animals.  Dates known for
this tour include Shawnee Mission South High School in Overland Park, KS
(17th), the Hollywood Bowl (19th), San Francisco Cow Palace (20th),
Southfield High School, Southfield, Michigan (22nd), and The Swinging
Gate in Fort Wayne, Indiana (24th).  While in Fort Wayne, The Who and
their crew accept an invitation by the local booking agent to a
Thanksgiving dinner.  While there, John, Keith, and Roger sign a copy of
the "Happy Jack" LP for the agents’ little brother Mike.  Exactly what
happens when Keith got hold of the turkey’s drumsticks has not been
recounted.


                                     -Brian in Atlanta