The Who In August

[Brian Steven Cady <cadyb@mindspring.com>]

THE WHO IN AUGUST

5 Years Ago This Month (1993)

Pete’s solo tour of North America feturing his multi-media stage show
"Psychoderilct" continues with performances in Berkeley, California (2nd
and 3rd), San Diego (4th), Brooklyn, New York (7th), Mansfield,
Massachusetts (9th), Philadelphia (10th) and ending in Wantaugh on the
12th.  In San Diego, Pete is joined onstage by Michael Cerveris, who is
then playing Tommy on Broadway, to do a medley of "Tommy" numbers.  The
show at the Brooklyn Academy of Music is shown on pay-per-view, and is
subsequently released as a Phillips CD-I and on laserdisc.  The Mansfield
show at The Great Woods Amphitheater presents technical problems forcing
Pete to stop the play.

MCA’s 1981 U.S.-only collection "Hooligans" is issued on CD.

10 Years Ago This Month (1988)

John Entwistle continues his North American tour with Steve Luongo on
drums, Tim Gorman on keyboards, Mark Adams on guitar and Henry Small on
vocals.  The dates are Seattle on the 4th, Toronto on the 11th, and
Providence on the 13th.

Rolling Stone magazine picks "My Generation" as #16 in "The 100 Best
Singles of the Last 25 Years."

"A Quick One" and "The Who Sell Out" are released on CD  in Britian.  The
audio quality of the "A Quick One" CD, although mono only, gets high praise
from reviewers.

15 Years Ago This Month (1983)

"Rarities Vol. 1 (1966-68)" is released in Britain.

Rolling Stone magazine publishes an article by Pete about Mick Jagger’s
40th birthday.  He addresses the importance of aging in rock.

20 Years Ago This Month (1978)

On the 3rd, the promo film of "Who Are You" is aired for the first time on
Top Of The Pops.

Keith is appointed director of public relations and publicity for The Who's
films.  As one of his first duties he is interviewed by Nicky Horne at
Shepperton Studios on "Thames At Six."

On the 7th, Pete, Roger and Keith travel to New York to do interviews to
promote the "Who Are You" album and the upcoming "The Kids Are Alright"
movie.  The three of them are interviewed on WNEW radio but only Pete and
Keith make it to an appearance on ABC-TV’s "Good Morning America" where
they are interviewed by David Hartman.  It is Keith’s last TV interview.
John remains home to continue mixing the soundtrack to "The Kids Are
Alright."  Unbeknownst to all of them, on the same day, Pete Meaden, the
mod who wrote "I’m the Face" and "Zoot Suit" and got The Who to change
their name to The High Numbers for a short time, commits suicide.

On the 12th, a full-page ad appears in New Musical Express promoting a
contest for young, unknown English rock bands to audition to appear in the
movie "Quadrophenia."  The Who will decide on the winner.  The same day’s
issue of Melody Maker features an interview with Paul Weller.  He says he
does not enjoy his band The Jam being compared to The Who.  Although, he
says he respects The Who, he doesn’t like much of their music.  He also
says The Who’s influence on new wave music is significant.

Films Illustrated runs an interview with Roger as his 3rd movie "The
Legacy" is completed.  He stoutly defends "Lisztomania."

On the 18th, the LP "Who Are You" is released  in Britain.  It ultimately
reaches #6 in the New Musical Express charts.

On the 24th, the LP "Who Are You" is certified gold by the RIAA five days
before its U.S. release because of advance sales.

On the 26th, "Who Are You" (heavily edited)/"Had Enough" hits the U.S.
charts.  It reaches #14 in Billboard and #9 in Cash Box.

On the 28th, the day before its U.S. release, a special preview of the LP
"Who Are You" accompanied by a laser light show is held in seven U.S.
cities.  When released the LP rises to #2 in the charts being kept out of
#1 by the soundtrack to "Grease."

25 Years Ago This Month (1973)

On the 11th, Barbara Charone files a report for New Musical Express on the
recording of "Quadrophenia."  She says "Tommy can rest quietly in his grave."

Keith begins a four week comedy and music series written and produced by
John Walters on BBC Radio One.

Joel Vance in Stereo Review calls John’s album "Rigor Mortis Sets In" the
best LP of the year.

On the 23rd, Keith celebrates his 26th birthday with a couple of pints of
bitters in a Glasgow hotel.

30 Years Ago This Month (1968)

The Who’s summer tour of North America continues in Chicago at the Electric
Theater on the 1st.

On the 2nd, The Who open for the Doors at the Singer Bowl in New York City.
 Pete notices the restlessness of the audience and tries to warn Jim
Morrison of the potentially dangerous situation.  Jim not only ignores
Pete’s warning, but even tries to inflame the crowd’s rowdiness.  Jim’s
lack of concern for his audience’s well-being inspires Pete to write the
song "Sally Simpson" for "Tommy."

The Who continue at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (3rd), Buffalo, New York (4th),
Philadelphia (5th - unconfirmed), and Boston (6th).

On the 7th, The Who return to New York City to play at the Wolman Skating
Rink in Central Park as part of the Schaefer Music Festival.  Pete’s guitar
destruction earns The Who a nasty notice in the New York Times.

On the 9th, Chris Welch publishes an article in Melody Maker about The
Who’s recording of their opera "Deaf, Dumb and Blind Boy." He says The Who
have already been recording for the 3 weeks prior to the U.S. tour, but
that it was mostly backing tracks.

The Who rock on in Springfield, Illinois at the Illinois State Fairground
Cavalcade Of Music (9th), St. Charles, Missouri (10th), San Francisco at
the Fillmore West (13th-15th), Fresno (16th), Phoenix (17th), Colorado
Springs (18th), Kansas City, Missouri (22nd), Oklahoma City (23rd and
24th), San Diego (27th), and end their tour in Santa Monica, California on
the 28th and 29th.  

Known opening acts are Quill (6th), The Mandala (7th), The Association
(9th), The James Cotton Blues Band (13th - 15th & 28th), Magic Sam (13th -
15th), Quicksilver Messenger Service (16th & 17th) and The Caretakers (28th)

Rolling Stone magazine prints the first part of a long interview conducted
with Pete after one of the Fillmore West shows, during which he describes
the plot of his opera "Deaf, Dumb & Blind Boy" in some detail.

On the 23rd, the first anniversary of Keith legendary "21st Birthday Party"
in Flint, Michigan, comes Keith’s actual 21st birthday.  The Who are
playing in Oklahoma City this night and however Keith chooses to celebrate
this birthday, it doesn’t make the papers.

35 Years Ago This Month (1963)

On the 3rd, Martha & the Vandellas’ original version of "Heatwave" hits the
U.S. charts where it peaks at #4.

The one known club date for the Detours is on the 30th at the Club Druane
in Notre Dame Church Hall, Leicester Place, London.

41 Years Ago This Month

On the 23rd, Keith John Moon is born in Wembley, Middlesex.  Not since the
invention of the atomic bomb has the Earth been in such danger.

			-Brian in Atlanta