The Who Detours to Who Are You
How The Who came together. Brunswick, Reaction and Track; Tommy, Lifehouse, and Quadrophenia it’s all here… in The Who Detours to Who Are You
Derek Shelmerdine, author of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
is one of the guests on Tony Higginson’s Book Club.
Live on Facebook and Zoom
Facebook – Beyond Books Media Ltd
…7.00 to 9.00 pm (UK) Sunday 15 May
If you missed the show…
The Who Detours to Who Are You
The Who Detours to Who Are You
Pete Townshend and John Entwistle teamed up in a trad Jaz band, The Confederates, in the late 1950s. At this time, Townshend played banjo and Entwistle trumpet and French horn. They played together in another band, The Aristocrats, before moving to the Scorpions around 1961. By the time they reached the Scorpions, Pete was playing guitar and John bass.
Roger Daltrey formed the Detours in the early 1960s. Pete Townshend and John Entwistle joined him shortly afterwards. For a time they called themselves Dale Angelo and the Detours. Doug Sandom came onto the scene when he replaced original drummer Harry Wilson. The Detours became The Who. They unsuccessfully auditioned for Fontana. The record label’s A&R man, Chris Parmenter identified Doug Sandom as the weak link. As a result, the band set about finding a new drummer.
Keith Moon was with Mark Twain and the Strangers when they unsuccessfully auditioned for the BBC in September 1962. He loved surf music and subsequently moved on to the Beachcombers. After successfully auditioning to replace Doug Sandon in the Who, they had a second audition for Fontana. This time they were successful and released I’m the Face c/w Zoot Suit. They were now calling themselves The High Numbers.
First Who single – I Can’t Explain
Peter Meaden managed the High Numbers. Shortly afterwards, Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp took the helm. They negotiated a deal with Brunswick. After reverting to the old name, The Who, they released I Can’t Explain.
The Brunswick singles ended with My Generation. Generally, used as the encore, when they smashed up their kit onstage. The move from Brunswick to Reaction resulted in a lawsuit with their old producer Shel Talmy.
International success followed their appearance at Monterey Pop Festival in California in 1967. As a result, the band broke into the lucrative American music scene.
The Who’s success continued and the rock opera Tommy arrived in the summer of 1969. The follow-up album, Lifehouse, was too complex and the project aborted. Although, some of the songs found their way on to the Who’s Next album.
The band recorded the legendary Live at Leeds album on Valentine’s Day in 1970. Despite all the success to date, the tour of their 1973 album Quadrophenia proved problematic. This resulted in the removal of three songs. The sound quality was also far from perfect.
Quadrophenia
Keith Moon collapsed onstage on the opening night of the American Quadrophenia tour. This proved to be the beginning of the end for Keith. His performance in Toronto on 21 October 1976, proved to be his final concert appearance. After that he recorded some footage for their movie The Kids are Alright. The album cover for Keith’s last album, Who Are You, shows Moon seated on a chair. The inscription on the chair eerily reads, “NOT TO BE TAKEN AWAY”. Keith Moon died of an accidental overdose on 7 September 1978.
Derek Shelmerdine presents the outline of the story. In addition Tony and his other guests relate their own comments and memories. Plus live music, poetry readings and some very lively conversation.
Tony Higginson’s Beyond Books Book Club
Every week Tony Higginson hosts his Beyond Books Book Club.
Moreover, it goes out live on Zoom and Facebook at 7.00 to 9.00 pm (UK) on Sunday evenings.
If you are watching the show live on Facebook you can certainly join in the conversation.
Author of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled, Derek Shelmerdine is a regular monthly guest on the Beyond Books Book Club.
The Book Club has a regular panel of writers, poets, musicians and book-lovers in general. Consequently, the discussion is wide ranging with readings, poetry recitals and live performances from the musicians.
The Who Detours to Who Are You – Beyond Books Book Club
Recorded live on Facebook and Zoom on 15 May 2022.
