We’re redesigning the site. We’ll be back in a “bit”.
You can still access WhoTabs and Baba’s Bootlegs, the rest of the site is temporarily down while we get things back in order
In the mean time – check out some videos we’ve found around the web
And see what we’ve been posting on Facebook!
Photos of the day
On May 17, 2016 The Who played the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon
Thanks to Marc Starcke for allowing us to share his collection of photos from this show!
Visit our friends at Petetownshend.net for more information about this show here:
petetownshend.net/gigography/the-who-hits-50-tour/the-who-at-portland-moda-center
Visit The Who's official website for the "Backstage Blog" for this show here:
www.thewho.com/backstage-blog/may-17-2016-portland-moda-center
Need more photos? Try here: www.vrtxmag.com/media/photo/the-who-at-the-moda-center-on-may-17-2016/
Photos by Christopher Garcia, Tom Teal, and Joe Paulsen
Great show. It was worth the year wait for Roger to get healthy.
I shot a video of the whole show from the front row right in front of Pete, which is up on my concert page. petetownshend.net/gigography/the-who-hits-50-tour/the-who-at-portland-moda-center
I really like that jacket Pete has on.
Concert of the day
On May 17, 2015 The Who played the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Photo by William Snyder, backstage at the Wells Fargo Center...If you don't own William's book....do yourself a favor and go buy it. This photo is the cover shot - and the book is FILLED with fantastic photos!!!
www.amazon.com/Join-Together-Band-William-Snyder/dp/173231960X
Visit our friends at petetownshend.net for more information about this show here:
petetownshend.net/gigography/the-who-hits-50-tour/the-who-at-philadelphia-pa-wells-fargo-center
Visit The Who's official website for the "Backstage Blog" about this show here: www.thewho.com/backstage-blog/philadelphia-pa-may-17-2015-wells-fargo-center
I was ten feet away from this picture.
Was at that show
I saw that tour at MSG.
I was there.
i was totally there!
Long live rock...
Concert of the day
On May 17, 2007 The Who played the Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid in Madrid, Spain
You can see a few songs from this show on youtube here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxpoTPSPV3k&list=PLTtGwz0FAz2BMVzHLF7c_tjSreDwMxguE&index=1
Gettyimages has photos from the show here:
www.gettyimages.com.br/fotos/the-who-may-17-2007?phrase=%22the%20who%22%20%20may%2017%202007&sort...
Visit our friends at The Who Concert Guide for the setlist here:
www.thewholive.net/concert/index.php?id=1681
Photo of the day
On May 17, 1998 Roger is at the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of Mack The Knife, which features Roger singing the title song.
In an interview, Roger says he wanted to become a doctor of Chinese medicine and study herbal medicine and acupuncture. He adds that he never felt that singing and acting were proper careers
Roger's promotional photo for "Mack the Knife"
I enjoyed him and Raul in that film...
I can’t look at those teeth! But his blue eyes are gorgeous
I think even I would pass! 😆 I did love hearing him singing in a clip from the film though.
Acting /singing comes natural for the guv’nor 🏴🇬🇧🏴🇬🇧
Article of the day
On May 17, 1979 Rolling Stone magazine published an article titled “The Who unveil plans for New York shows” by Dave Marsh
Concert of the day
On May 17, 1979 The Who play the Pavillon de Paris in Paris, France
Visit our friends at Les Who en France for more information and photos!
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1358097724218339
Concert of the day
On May 17, 1969 The Who played the second of two nights at the Fillmore East in New York
color photo by Mark Suall
bw photo by Amalie Rothschild
Image of the day
On May 17, 1969 Pete and Roger surrender themselves to the authorities at the Ninth Precinct station for the previous nights on-stage incident. They are released on bail
Album of the day
On May 17, 1969 the first copies of the Tommy LP appeared on store shelves in America, disc jockeys also receive a 4-single box set of selected tracks.
Ellen Sander in Saturday Review called it a masterpiece and said it features some of the best rock music ever recorded. John Gabree in High Fidelity called it "superlative rock-and-roll". David Walley in Jazz &Pop hailed it as a "superlative achievement" while Charles E. Fager in Christian Century loved it and called it a "thoroughly religious work." Despite the acclaim and promotion, sales were slow for the rock opera at first.
Then people saw the WOODSTOCK MOVIE! The record sales went insane when audiences saw Roger's sweaty, bare-chested, fringe-whipping, mic swinging, lung ripping performance. See me, feel me, INDEED!
I saw the Who play in Tacoma around 1987. A friend I was going with was late due to traffic so as we were walking in the concert had already started. At that moment they were playing Sparks/ Amazing Journey. The transition from Sparks to Amazing Journey almost blew us back out the door. It was PHENOMENAL!
First album I ever bought with my own money!! Still a WHO FREAK to this day!!!😎👏❤️👍
I know as soon as it came out I got the album in Cleveland Ohio. It was one of the reasons I went to Woodstock 69
I played this record so often, my Mom & Dad’s eyes would R O L L whenever the opening chord of “Overture” would hit…..
Just incredible. Genius Rock band
At almost 24 years old, Pete was one of the greatest composers in rock history.
This is my favourite album of all time!
I've just listened to this today for the first time in years. Got it on cd & cassette.
Such a great album!!
The album that catapulted the Who into the Big Time.
Still brilliant after all these years 🎼♥️
I saw Tommy the first time it was performed in America,Grande Ballroom Detroit....
'69 was a great year for music .throw in Woodstock
Great idea.., well done, lads!
My favourite Who Album. Every track a cracker. Best band ever.
The story is very clever, so is the music, genuinely uplifting.
Just by the album cover you could tell it was destined to be a standout in their history.
Sooner have the full live version its got so much power
ive had this for decades, so incredible, so so great
Just playing! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Absolute genius.
Ist proof UK
1st album I ever stole
Concert of the day
On May 17. 1967 The Who played the Locarno Ballroom in Stevenage.
The manager of the Locarno, Maurice de Jonge, was not particularly impressed with the 'Orrible 'Oo. Speaking to a reporter from the Stevenage News he said, "Ridiculous! If they have to smash everything to get a reaction, then you certainly won't see them here again . . . We would certainly think twice about booking them again."
Meanwhile backstage, John broke a finger on his right hand after punching a poster of a 'well-known band' pinned to the dressing room wall.
Photos by Chris Morphet courtesy of Mark Starcke
Any idea who the 'well known band' were? Surely not The Move!
Ad of the day
On May 17, 1963 The Detours play the Carnival ballroom at the Park Hotel in Hanwell
"...All my college chums turned out. Some pretty girls from the fashion school stood at the front of the stage, pretending to scream at me like Beatles fans; they were teasing, but everyone was impressed, especially when we played the slightly funkier R&B tunes I'd managed to sneak into our otherwise catholic repertoire." - Pete Townshend
Image courtesy of www.thewhothismonth.com
Number 4!!*TOP 20 ALBUMS 43 YEARS AGO* May 16, 1981: REO Speedwagon returns to #1 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with their ninth studio album “Hi Infidelity”. Here are the Top 20 albums in America from this week in 1981 (tap on the chart to view all 20 titles)
Still at #2!🇺🇸 American Rock Radio 🇺🇸 43 years ago this week: May 16, 1981: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers begin their second week in the top spot on the Billboard Top Tracks (Rock) Chart with “The Waiting”. Here are the 30 most played songs on rock radio stations across the U.S. from this very week back in 1981. *PLEASE NOTE* The Top Tracks (Rock) chart published by Billboard, is based solely on rock radio airplay not on record sales. (give the chart a tap to view all 30 songs) Enjoy the trip back to this week in 1981!
this was a good era for radio. it didn't suck. there's a lot of good material on there. all at the same time.
And Another Tricky Day is hanging in there too
I like #27 better. 😀
Wow. Rush had two in the top 20? "Who" knew?
That was a bad year and no Blondie...
And #27!
Concert of the day
On May 16, 2019 The Who played the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee
Visit our friends at petetownshend.net for more information about this show here: petetownshend.net/gigography/the-who-moving-on-tour/the-who-at-nashville-may-16-2019
Visit The Who's official website for the "Backstage Blog" about this show here: www.thewho.com/backstage-blog/moving-on-tour-msg-nashville-tn-may-16-2019
You can read a review of the show at www.tennessean.com here: www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/05/17/who-bring-orchestra-show-nashville-setlis...
The Who at Nashville May 16, 2019
petetownshend.net
Check out photos, videos and reviews for the show!Image of the day
On May 16, 2009 Music industry veteran Angie Jenkison gets a surprise at her wedding at a castle in Bristol when Roger turns wedding singer, serenading the bride with "Substitute". Afterwards he wants to do more but the band hired for the event have only rehearsed the one song
Image courtesy of www.thewhothismonth.com
Ya think Roger might do Bar Mitzvah’s , Graduations and Sweet Sixteens? 😂😎 NOT!!
C'mon, Roger can sing ANYTHING.
My coke for gin....
Photos of the day
On May 16, 2007 The Who played the Pavilhão Atlântico in Lisbon, Portugal
gettyimages.com has photos from the show here:
www.gettyimages.com.br/search/2/image?mediatype=photography&phrase=%22the%20who%22%20May%2016.%20...
I was there in that day!
Concert of the day
On May 16, 1979 The Who played the Pavillon de Paris in Paris, France
Visit Les Who en France facebook page for more, including MANY pictures from this show!
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1358104054217706&type=3
Video of the day
On this date in 1975 Keith is interviewed on The Old Grey Whistle Test
Last of my 4 WHO shows w/ Keith on 12/15/75. Sitting in Row # 2 at the Spectrum. PS: Sure miss Keith & John. Both help make the WHO the BEST live band in my life-time!!!
"none of us had the balls to tell Keith he couldn't sing...."- Dougal Butler
its a terrible album, a real shocker.
Remember it well
Can we get on with it,.. can we can we keep it together!🤪🤪🤪
Jed Kelly ......
Movie scene of the day
On May 16, 1974 two days of filming the "Sally Simpson" sequence began at Wesley Central Hall in Portsmouth. Director Russell's daughter played Sally.
You can watch the end results on YouTube here:
I've always preferred Pete's vocals on this
One of my favorite songs from the album
Featuring the great Nicky Hopkins on the keyboards.