The Who In March (A History)

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

THE WHO IN MARCH

5 Years Ago This Month (1993)

A "digitally re-mastered" Tommy is issued on a single CD.

10 Years Ago This Month (1988)

Pete plays acoustic guitar in sessions on Elton John’s album Reg Strikes
Back, then being recorded at AIR Studios, London.

On the 18th, the Who's Better Who's Best CD is released in Britain.  It
peaks at #10 and is the last top ten Who record in the British charts.

15 Years Ago This Month (1983)

The Who's Greatest Hits album is released in U.S. by MCA.  It peaks on
the charts at #94.

Pete calls a meeting of The Who and manager Bill Curbishley and informs
them that he feels incapable of writing any more new music for The Who. 
Several ideas are suggested including the possibility of having guest
artists like Bruce Springsteen write the album’s songs.

20 Years Ago This Month (1978)

Sessions begin again on the much delayed Who Are You album.  On the 14th,
a version of  "Guitar And Pen," begun at Ramport Studios, London is
completed at RAK Studios.  "Trick Of The Light" is also begun on this
date and more recording is done on the 15th.  Also recorded during this
month is "905" and another version of "Guitar And Pen."

On the 18th, New Musical Express prints a survey of budget-priced bass
guitars written by John.

25 Years Ago This Month (1973)

On the 10th, The Who, having canceled a European tour scheduled for that
spring, play a one-off date at the Popgala festival at Sporthal de
Vliegermolen, Voorburg, the Netherlands.  Having not performed together
for 6 months, The Who did not play well with much of the blame going to a
heavily-inebriated Pete.  The concert was covered by Dutch TV which later
broadcast the show as did Dutch radio.  A section of the 16-minute
performance of "Magic Bus" later appeared on the Who’s Better Who’s Best
video and "My Generation" on the 30 Years video.

On the 13th, Roger appears on The Old Grey Whistle Test to promote his
upcoming single "Giving It All Away."  He does the same on the 17th on
Russell Harty Plus and on Top Of The Pops on the 29th.  The single is
finally released in Britain on the 23rd, backed with "The Way Of The
World."  It reaches #5 on the NME charts becoming the first solo success
for a member of the band.  However, Roger never has a solo single chart
higher than this is in Britain.

Also around this time, John and his solo band Rigor Mortis release the
single "Made In Japan" backed with "Hound Dog" in Britain and France and
"Roller Skate Kate" in the U.S.  It fails to reach the charts.

30 Years Ago This Month (1968)

On the 1st, The Who begin a North American tour by bus beginning in
Vancouver.  Songs included in their live set during this period are
"Substitute," "Pictures Of Lily," "Summertime Blues," "I Can’t Explain,"
"Happy Jack," "Relax" (done as a long jam), "I’m A Boy," "A Quick One
While He’s Away," "C’mon Everybody" or "My Way," "Shakin’ All Over" (a
long jam but not yet incorporating "Spoonful"), "Boris The Spider" and
"My Generation."  "Call Me Lightning" was probably played at some of
these shows.

On the 2nd, the bus rolls on to Edmonton.  After the show the Who are
thrown out of their hotel’s English-style pub for having long hair.  In
response John writes the song "What Are We Doing Here?"  On the same day
"Call Me Lightning" backed with "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" enters the U.S.
Billboard charts.  It eventually peaks at #40.

On the 8th, The Who play Bloomington, Minnesota and on the 9th, the
Grande Ballroom in Detroit.  The next day a BBC camera crew joins the bus
and films an interview with Pete in transit and shoots scenes of the band
relaxing on the bus and of their performance that night in Peoria.  Some
of the footage will appear in the later documentaries All My Loving and
The Kids Are Alright.

The tour continues with performances in San Antonio (15th), Beaumont,
Texas (16th), Houston (17th), Tampa, Florida (22nd),  Fort Lauderdale
(23rd), Orlando (24th), Montreal (27th), Madison, New Jersey (29th), the
Westbury Music Fair in New York (30th) and Washington, D.C. (31st). 
Various acts open for the Who, one of the most notable being the Troggs
who make their North American debut at the Montreal show.

On the 8th, GO magazine reports that the Who will star in a television
series like the U.S. show The Monkees which will feature a new Who song
in every show.  It is the second (and last) time that idea is floated.

On the 9th, New Musical Express has a humorous article about a meeting
between the Who and Ann Moses, the editor of Tiger Beat.  The article
also mentions that the Who will soon be featured in ads for the American
Cancer Society.  GO magazine reports about the forthcoming commercials as
well in its issue of the 22nd.

On the 16th and again on the 23rd, Pete supplies articles about the Who’s
adventures in America to New Musical Express.

Rolling Stone magazine carries a black-and-white photo of Keith credited
to photographer Linda Eastman.

35 Years Ago This Month (1963)

Two known dates for the Detours are performances at the Grand Ballroom in
Kent on the 22nd and the 29th.

54 Years Ago This Month (1944)

On the 1st, Roger Harry Daltrey is born.


                                     -Brian in Atlanta

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