The Who

The Who are an English rock band that first formed in 1964 and is widely considered to be among the greatest rock and roll bands in history. Its primary lineup consisted of Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and Keith Moon.

Pete Townshend

• That was bowling.
  • After being asked how he learned to use the "windmill" guitar move, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, CBS Studios, Los Angeles, September 15, 1967

• If you steer clear of quality, you're alright.
  • A Whole Scene Going, BBC 1, Studio 7, BBC Television Centre, London, January 5, 1966

• John [Entwistle] and I were listening to a stereo L.P. of The Beatles in which the voices come out of one side and the backing track comes out of the other. And when you actually hear the backing tracks of The Beatles without their voices, they're flippin' lousy.
  • A Whole Scene Going, BBC 1, Studio 7, BBC Television Centre, London, January 5, 1966

• Russell Harty: Who does that machinery belong to, does it belong to you or to us? I mean who has to pay for it?
  Pete: It's alright.
  • After smashing an amp, Russell Harty Plus, London Weekend Television, South Bank, London, January 3, 1973

Keith Moon

• My friends call me Keith, but you can call me John.
  • Introducing himself to Tommy Smothers, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, CBS Studios, Los Angeles, September 15, 1967

• Russell Harty: You're all married, aren't you?
  The Who (various): Eh? Eh? No, no no.
  Keith Moon: I wouldn't marry this lot!
  • Russell Harty Plus, London Weekend Television, South Bank, London, January 3, 1973

John Entwistle

• We became rich later than I expected. Now I'm too old to enjoy my money.
  • Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, January 5-6, 1978

Roger Daltrey

• I think that if John could choose a way to die, it would be just the way it really was.
  • About John Entwistle's death, due to long time cocaine abuse.

Lyrics

• I hope I die before I get old
  • "My Generation", My Generation (1965); written by Pete Townshend

• It's only teenage wasteland
  • "Baba O'Riley", Who's Next (1970); written by Pete Townshend

• Meet the new boss
  Same as the old boss
  • "Won't Get Fooled Again", Who's Next (1971); written by Pete Townshend

• But my dreams aren't as empty
  As my conscience seems to be
  • "Behind Blue Eyes", Who's Next (1971); written by Pete Townshend

• Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals, I put my back into my living
  I don't need to fight, to prove my right, I don't need to be forgiven
  • "Baba O'Riley", Who's Next (1970); written by Pete Townshend

About The Who

• … one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time.
  • 
    
    • … among the most popular and influential bands of the 1960s and '70s…
      • 
        
        • The Who quite possibly remain the greatest live band ever.
          • 
            
            • More than any other band, The Who are our role models.
              • 
                
                • The one thing that disgusts me about The Who is the way they smashed through every door in the uncharted hallway of rock 'n' roll without leaving much more than some debris for the rest of us to lay claim to.