The Who In November

[Brian Cady <cadyb@home.com>]

The Who In November

November 1993 (5 Years Ago)

On the 11th, Pete is on "The Late Show With David Letterman" (CBS-TV
U.S.) performing "Don’t Try To Make Me Real."

On the 25th, the stage production of Pete's "The Iron Man" opens at The
Young Vic Theatre, London.  It fails to draw an audience and closes
shortly thereafter.

November 1988 (10 Years Ago)

Roger's recipe for trout in sweet pepper puree is among nearly 150
recipes compiled for a children's charity cookbook.  About one-sixth of
the proceeds from the "Celebrity Choice Cookbook" is earmarked for the
British Broadcasting Corp.'s Children in Need Appeal. 

On the 19th, "The Who Collection," rerelased on Stylus, hits the British
charts and peaks at #71.

On the 25th, "Tommy: The Movie" is released on videotape in U.S.

On the 26th, the collection "Who's Better, Who's Best" is released in
the U.S.  It differs from the U.K. version by having a stereo version of
"Magic Bus" and the edited version of "The Kids Are Alright."  It does
not make the U.S. charts.

November 1983 (15 Years Ago)

The New York Times reports that in addition to Roger’s upcoming
performances in "The Beggars’ Opera" and "The Comedy Of Errors," he will
soon be directing a movie about the Kray twins.

The British TV production of "The Beggar’s Opera" featuring Roger, is
aired.

Michael P. Deegan’s "The Who (Rock’N Popstars)" is published.

On the 26th, the re-release of the EP "Ready Steady Who!" hits the
charts in Britain.  This is unusual, as the original release failed to
make the U.K. charts.  It peaks at #58.

November 1978 (20 Years Ago)

"The Legacy," a horror film with a bit role for Roger, opens in England.

November 1973 (25 Years Ago)

The Who continue their U.K. tour playing Manchester on the 1st and 2nd.

On the 3rd, "Quadrophenia" is released in the U.S.  It eventually
reaches #2 in the Billboard charts, being kept out of the #1 position by
another double album by a British act, Elton John’s "Goodbye Yellow
Brick Road."  On the same day, David Bowie's LP "Pin Ups" hits the
British charts.  It is a collection of covers of songs Bowie loved from
his early days including "I Can't Explain" and "Anyway, Anyhow,
Anywhere."  Also on this day the first reviews of the new tour come in. 
Roy Carr in NME says The Who’s live performance is as energetic as when
he saw them 8 years ago.  He says they could never be accused of "just
going through the motions" on stage.  Chris Charlesworth in Melody Maker
finds the "Quadrophenia" sections of the Oct. 29th concert a little
rough, but otherwise successful.

On the 5th, the roughness of the "Quadrophenia" section leads to an
onstage explosion.  At the Newcastle Odeon, Pete loses it during "5:15"
when the tapes come in too slow.  He attacks road manager Bobby Pridden
dragging him over his sound console, rips up the tapes and stalks
offstage.  He returns after a while to perform non-Quadrophenia material
with The Who.

On the 6th, Pete and Keith appear on the local TV show "Look North" to
apologize for Pete's actions the previous  night  That day’s edition of
the Newcastle Evening Chronicle carries the headline "The Who – A
Ridiculous Display Of Unwarranted Violence."  That night and the next
The Who return to the Newcastle Odeon to perform.

On the 8th, another rave review for "Quadrophenia."  In Listener, John
Peel says it is as much an advance over "Tommy" as "Tommy" was of "A
Quick One."  There is another article in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle
telling of four girls who felt insulted by Pete’s behavior of the 5th.

On the 11th, The Who begin a three-night stay at the London Lyceum.  The
small theatre proves woefully inadequate with poor sightlines for many
in the audience.  On the first night, 20 people faint and the band has
to stop temporarily after 3 numbers.

On the 12th, in Newsweek Hubert Saal declares "Quadrophenia" to be one
of rock’s four great milestones.  

Roger’s third single from the "Daltrey" album, "It's A Hard Life" backed
with "One Man Band," is released in the U.K.  It does not reach the
charts.

John Rowntree in Records and Recording calls "Quadrophenia" The Who’s
greatest lyrical achievement.

On the 16th, "Quadrophenia" is finally released in Britain.  It peaks at
#2, being kept out of the top position by another album concerned with
the mid-60’s, David Bowie’s "Pin Ups."

On the 17th, Melody Maker carries an interview with John in which he
discusses his abilities on brass instruments.  In the same issue Michael
Watts reviews the Nov. 13th show and says audiences seemed unsure during
"Quadrophenia," applauding mostly for the old standards.  Also there is
a report that both Mick Jagger and David Bowie have turned down roles in
the upcoming "Tommy" film.  Eric Clapton is listed as one of the
possible stars.

The reaction against "Quadrophenia" in the U.S. begins as Dave Marsh
pans it in Creem.  He wonders how The Who can still remain such a great
band while putting out so few successful albums.

Another disaster strikes as the U.S. tour begins at the Cow Palace in
San Francisco on the 20th.  Keith collapses due to an ingestion of PCP
and is replaced for 3 songs by 19-year old Scott Halpin.  The entire
concert is filmed by promoter Bill Graham and footage of Keith’s
collapse appears later in the video "30 Years Of Maximum R’n’B."  The
opening act is Lynyrd Skynyrd who will stay as opening act throughout
the U.S. tour.  The Who drop three more songs from "Quadrophenia:" the
title song, "Cut My Hair" and "The Rock."

On the 21st, The Who fly to Los Angeles.  Keith is taken to the airplane
in a wheelchair as Pete films him.  Keith then spends his free day in
Los Angeles sleeping the PCP off.

On the 22nd, The Who begin a 2-night stand at the Los Angeles Forum. 
The first night’s show is later released as the bootlegs "Rock And Roll
Who-Chee-Koo," "Live at The Forum '73," "Live At The Forum '74," and
"100% Loud Noise."  The band have in their contract for these concerts
that no one can purchase more than 2 tickets.

Lenny Kaye in Rolling Stone also delivers a somewhat negative review of
"Quadrophenia," concentrating entirely on the album’s thematic content.

On the 24th, Melody Maker prints letters from attendees of the London
Lyceum shows saying they felt ripped-off by the high prices and the lack
of good sightlines.  Accompanying these is a short letter from Pete
apologizing and saying that next year The Who will play in larger venues
with cheaper seats.

The rest of the month’s shows are Dallas (25th), Atlanta (27th), St.
Louis (28th), Chicago (29th) and Detroit (30th).  Yours truly sees the
Who live for the first time at the Atlanta show.

On the 30th, John and Roger are interviewed on WABX-FM in Detroit.  That
night’s show is later booted under the title "Rough Action."

November 1968 (30 Years Ago)

On the 3rd, BBC1 airs a documentary on The Who by Tony Palmer called
"Omnibus: All My Loving" which was shot during their 1968 bus tour of
America.

On the 8th, The Who begin their last theatre tour of the U.K. in
Walthamstow.  The manager drops the curtain on them in protest over
their onstage violence but The Who keep on playing and the curtains are
ultimately reopened.  The opening acts are Joe Cocker & The Grease Band,
The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, and The Mindbenders.

On the 9th and 10th, The Who play Slough.  In that day’s Melody Maker
Chris Welch reports on listening in while The Who record their rock
opera, still titled "Deaf, Dumb and Blind Boy".  Lambert says is will be
ready for Christmas.

On the 15th, The Who are at the Roundhouse in London.  Supporting them
are the Small Faces in one of their last live shows as well as Joe
Cocker, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, the Mindbenders and Yes.  The
next night is the same only Tea & Symphony replace Yes.

On the 16th, is an NME article: "Pete Townshend keeps The Who live"  It
contains more about the upcoming "Deaf Dumb and Blind Boy."

On the 17th, they play Birmingham and the 18th sees them in Newcastle. 
Keith, being driven on his way to Newcastle, buys some blowup women’s
legs at a joke shop, puts stockings on them, and sticks them out the
window "kicking" furiously while he screams in a woman’s voice through
his car’s inbuilt P.A. system.

Up to Glasgow on the 19th, then back down to Liverpool on the 20th.  At
the Liverpool Empire Theatre Keith and the Small Faces' drummer Kenny
Jones play together during the encore, a 20-minute version of "Magic
Bus."  This is the last date of The Who’s last British theatre tour.

On the 21st, The Who tape a performance of "Magic Bus" for the BBC1 show
"Crackerjack."

On the 22nd, they play at St. Albans, on the 26th at Southampton
University and on the 30th at Manchester University.  Supporting acts at
Southampton are the Freddie Mack Show, the Savoy Brown Blues Band, Chris
Shakespeare and the Globe.

The "Disc" magazine issue of the 30th has an interview with Pete where
he says his new opera will feature full orchestration.  On the same day
The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown's "Nightmare" backed with "I Put A Spell
On You," with an associate producer credit for Pete, hits the U.S.
charts.  The A-side peaks at #74 in Cash Box and the B-side at #99.

November 1963 (35 Years Ago)

According to Pete’s liner notes for "Mose Allison’s Greatest Hits" it
was this month that he first heard Allison’s music, including the songs
"Young Man Blues" and "Eyesight To The Blind," at Tom Wright’s flat on
Sunnyside Road.  Wright’s flat and record collection are soon to be
Pete’s after Wright’s deportation.

Known dates for the Detours are the Feathers Hotel in Ealing (15th), the
Goldhawk Social Club in Shepherd’s Bush (22nd) and the Railway Hotel in
Greenford (30th)

On the 23rd, Garnet Mimms & the Enchanters’ LP "Cry Baby and 11 Other
Hits" enters the U.S. charts.  One of the "hits" is "Anytime You Need
Me" retitled "Anytime You Want Me" when The Who later cover it.

November 1948 (50 Years Ago)

On the 21st, John "Rabbit" Bundrick is born in Houston, Texas

		-Brian in Atlanta