The Who In September (A History)

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

THE WHO IN SEPTEMBER

15 Years Ago This Month (1982)

Roger, interviewed in Rolling Stone, says that this will be the last Who
tour and that they need to step aside for newer acts.  The same issue
contains a rave review by Parke Puterbaugh for The Who’s new album "It’s
Hard." He calls it their best work since "Who’s Next."

"It's Hard," the last studio album by The Who, is released on the 3rd. 
It reaches #11 in Britain and #8 in the U.S. and is the last Who record
to make the Billboard Top Ten.

On the 4th, "Athena" backed with "It's Your Turn" hits the U.S. charts. 
It ultimately reaches #28 in Billboard and is the last Who single to make
the Billboard Top Forty.

The 1982 tour begins in Birmingham, England at the Birmingham N.E.C.  The
shows there are on the 9th, 10th, and 11th, although one source says the
9th date was canceled.  The date on the 11th is The Who’s last regular
concert date in Britain until 1989.  The sets introduce songs from "It’s
Hard," usually "It’s Hard," "Dangerous," "Eminence Front," and "Cry If
You Want."

In an interview in Creem magazine, Pete says he likes the "It’s Hard"
songs calling them "violently aggressive."

The North American tour begins as The Who hold a press conference outside
Washington, D.C. on the 21st. The tour is sponsored by Schlitz beer
which, given Pete’s recent confession of alcoholism and drug abuse, leads
to critical sniping in the press.  Before the show at the Capital Center
on the 22nd, The Who shoot videos for "Eminence Front" and "It’s Hard." 
The rest of the month’s dates are Philadelphia (23rd), Buffalo (26th),
Pittsburgh (28th), Indianapolis (29th), and Pontiac (30th),

On the 25th, "Athena" backed with "A Man Is A Man" enters the British
charts.  It peaks at #40.  

20 Years Ago This Month (1977)

On the 5th, Pete's "Rough Mix" LP (in conjunction with Ronnie Lane) is
released.  In Britain it reaches #44 and in the U.S. #45.

Roger appears as a contestant on "Us Against The World" on U.S. TV.

In Melody Maker on the 17th, Pete and Ronnie Lane discuss their new album
and their love of Meher Baba.  Pete also takes the time to blast the punk
rock group The Stranglers who had been critical of The Who.

Preliminary recording for the "Who Are You" LP may have begun during this
month.  The booklet that came with the remastered CD says that on the
30th, Ted Astley recorded the string arrangements for "Had Enough."

25 Years Ago This Month (1972)

The European tour continues with dates in Vienna (2nd), Munich (4th -
released on bootlegs), Zurich (5th), Paris (9th), and Rome (14th).  The
Paris date is at the Fete de l'Humanite.  Pete forces Eric Clapton, now a
completely strung-out junkie and recluse, to accompany him as the 1st
step in finding a cure for the guitarist.

On their return to London, Pete, Roger and John participate in the
recording of the orchestral version of "Tommy" with the London Symphony
Orchestra.  Pete performs the narrator, Roger plays Tommy and John is
Cousin Kevin.

Pete, in an interview in Rolling Stone, details his work changing a
mini-opera built around "Long Live Rock" into what will become
"Quadrophenia"

30 Years Ago This Month (1967)

The U.S. tour opening for Herman’s Hermits ends in Honolulu, Hawaii on
either the 7th or the 8th.  

The Who then fly back to Los Angeles for further work on their 3rd album.
 "Our Love Was" is recorded at Columbia Studios, Los Angeles and "I Can
See For Miles," probably begun at Talent Masters, New York the previous
month, is completed.

While recording in Los Angeles, The Who tape an appearance on the U.S.
variety program "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour."  They mime to "I Can
See For Miles" and a new recording of "My Generation."  Keith was
supposed to have only a few explosive charges placed in his drum kit, but
he bribes the stagehands into putting in much more.  When he sets them
off at the end of "My Generation" a ball of flame shoots out catching
Pete’s hair on fire and causing him to temporarily lose his hearing.  He
still manages to smash his own guitar and one brought out to him by Tommy
Smothers.  Allegedly Bette Davis, witnessing the explosion from
backstage, faints into Mickey Rooney’s arms.

On the 16th, The Who fly back to London.   John, furious when told he’ll
have to fly coach because of the band’s finances, borrows $100 to upgrade
to first class.

In Britain the single "Devil’s Grip" by The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown
is released.  Pete is listed as associate producer.

32 Years Ago This Month (1965)

On the 13th, Zac Starkey is born to Richard and Maureen Starkey.

35 Years Ago This Month (1962)

Thanks to a surviving poster, it is known that The Detours played at
Acton’s Town Hall on the 1st.

John receives his discharge certificate from the Boys Brigade with good
conduct.

Pete begins his 2nd year at the Ealing Technical College And School Of
Art.  During the year he joins his school's branches of the Committee For
Nuclear Disarmament and the Young Communists League

49 Years Ago This Month (1948)

On the 16th, Kenney Jones is born in London


                                     -Brian in Atlanta