The Who

The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964, growing out of an earlier group called the Detours. Their classic line-up was Roger Daltrey on vocals, Pete Townshend on guitar, John Entwistle on bass and Keith Moon on drums. They became part of the mod and pop art scene, smashing guitars and drums on stage, and their early run of singles included "I Can't Explain", "My Generation" and "Substitute".

Their sound pushed hard rock forward through Townshend's feedback and power chords, Marshall stacks, big PA systems, synthesisers and the rock opera. The records to start with are Tommy (1969), Who's Next (1971) and Quadrophenia (1973), alongside the debut My Generation. Live at Leeds (1970) cemented their name on stage. Moon died shortly after Who Are You (1978), Entwistle in 2002, and Daltrey and Townshend carried on, releasing Who in 2019.