The Who Concerts Setlist

The Who is one of rock's most explosive forces. Born in London in 1964, they went from being mod scene favorites to rock revolutionaries who literally destroyed their instruments on stage. Where other bands merely played music, The Who created chaos: Pete Townshend windmilling his guitar, Keith Moon demolishing his drums, Roger Daltrey swinging his microphone like a lasso.

Early singles like "I Can't Explain" and "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" captured the energy of London's mod scene, but it was "My Generation" that made them legends. The famous line from this song, "Hope I die before I get old," was more than just teen-a­nger outrage—it was a manifesto. They weren't only playing rock—they were redefining it, blazing trails from Marshall stacks to synthesizers in rock music. John Entwistle's thundering bass and Moon's wild drumming set new standards for what rock musicians could do.

The band really hit their stride in the late '60s and early '70s. After stealing the show at Woodstock—despite despising playing it—they recorded "Live at Leeds", still considered one of the greatest live albums ever. Next came "Who's Next" in 1971, giving us ageless anthems in the form of "Baba O'Riley" and "Won't Get Fooled Again". Their rock opera "Tommy" proved that rock music could tell complex stories, leading to both an Oscar-nominated film and countless imitators.

Most groups would have called it a day when Moon died tragically in 1978, but The Who forged on with Kenney Jones behind the drums. Maybe they lost Moon and Entwistle along the way, but Townshend and Daltrey keep its spirit alive. From smashing gear in the early days at the Railway Hotel to headlining the world's biggest stages, they proved that rock music can be art and anarchy.

What makes The Who special isn't just the hits—it’s how they changed what a rock band could be. They created rock operas when most others were still writing love songs, pushed the boundaries of live performance, and influenced everyone from punk rockers to modern stadium bands. They don't play concerts anymore; they celebrate one of rock's great legacies.