The Who Tour 1979 was
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...
's first
concert tour
A concert tour (or simply tour) is a series of concerts by an artist or group of artists in different cities, countries or locations. Often concert tours are named to differentiate different tours by the same artist and to associate a specific to ...
since the death of original drummer
Keith Moon. The tour supported their 1978 album ''
Who Are You
''Who Are You'' is the eighth studio album by English rock band the Who, released on 18 August 1978 by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and MCA Records in the United States. Although the album received mixed reviews from critics, it was a ...
'', and consisted of concerts in Europe and the United States and acknowledged the band's return to live performance.
History
Following Keith Moon's death in September 1978, The Who decided to continue as a band, recruiting former
Small Faces
Small Faces were an English rock band from London, founded in 1965. The group originally consisted of Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones and Jimmy Winston, with Ian McLagan replacing Winston as the band's keyboardist in 1966. The ...
drummer
Kenney Jones
Kenneth Thomas "Kenney" Jones (born 16 September 1948) is an English drummer best known for his work in the groups Small Faces, Faces, and the Who. Jones was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 as a member of Small Faces/Faces ...
; keyboardist
John "Rabbit" Bundrick
John Douglas "Rabbit" Bundrick (born November 21, 1948 in Houston, Texas) is an American–English rock keyboardist. He is best known for his work with The Who and associations with others including Eric Burdon, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Rog ...
was also added to the line-up for live performances, adding another element to the band's sound. The post-Moon incarnation of The Who played as a five-piece for seven shows, the first occurring on 2 May at the
Rainbow Theatre in London.
![Stampede victim covered, The Cincinnati Post 1979-12-04 page 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Stampede_victim_covered%2C_The_Cincinnati_Post_1979-12-04_page_1.jpg)
In September, the group made their first trip to the United States since
1976
Events January
* January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force.
* January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea.
* January 11 – The 1976 ...
for a series of shows at the
Capitol Theatre in
Passaic, New Jersey, and
Madison Square Garden in New York City. A horn section was introduced to the band's act for the first time around this time. It would be retained through
1980. They returned to the States in November for an official tour, which was marred by tragedy when
11 fans were killed and 26 others were injured at a crowd crush before a concert at
Riverfront Coliseum
Heritage Bank Center is an indoor arena located in downtown Cincinnati, next to the Great American Ball Park. It was completed in September 1975 and named Riverfront Coliseum because of its placement next to Riverfront Stadium. In 1997, the fa ...
in
Cincinnati
Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...
on 3 December.
This led to the banning of festival seating in Cincinnati and many other cities and states around the United States for a considerable period.
The disaster also caused a scheduled concert for 17 December in
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts ...
, to be cancelled, leading to a second show in
Landover, Maryland
Landover is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 25,998.
Landover is contained between Sheriff Road and Central Avenue to the so ...
(the first was on 13 December) to be scheduled in its place. The group ended the year with a benefit appearance at the
Hammersmith Odeon
The Hammersmith Apollo, currently called the Eventim Apollo for sponsorship reasons, and formerly known as the Hammersmith Odeon, is a live entertainment performance venue, originally built as a cinema called the Gaumont Palace. Located in Ha ...
, London, on 28 December as part of the
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea was a series of concerts featuring Queen, The Clash, The Pretenders, The Who, Elvis Costello, Wings, and many more artists which took place at the Hammersmith Odeon in London during December 1979 to raise m ...
.
The band added three new songs from ''
Who Are You
''Who Are You'' is the eighth studio album by English rock band the Who, released on 18 August 1978 by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and MCA Records in the United States. Although the album received mixed reviews from critics, it was a ...
'' in 1979, "
Who Are You
''Who Are You'' is the eighth studio album by English rock band the Who, released on 18 August 1978 by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and MCA Records in the United States. Although the album received mixed reviews from critics, it was a ...
," "
Sister Disco
A sister is a woman or a girl who shares one or more parents with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to ...
," and "Music Must Change";
John Entwistle's "
Trick of the Light" was also played occasionally, with Entwistle playing
8 string bass
An eight-string bass guitar is a type of bass guitar with double course strings normally tuned in octaves, with both strings in a course usually played simultaneously. As on a 12-string guitar, this produces a natural chorus effect due to the subtl ...
and
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (; born 19 May 1945) is an English musician. He is co-founder, leader, guitarist, second lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the Who, one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s.
Townsh ...
also playing a standard bass guitar. The horn section also allowed numbers like "
5:15" and "
Drowned
Drowning is a type of suffocation induced by the submersion of the mouth and nose in a liquid. Most instances of fatal drowning occur alone or in situations where others present are either unaware of the victim's situation or unable to offer as ...
" (now sung by Townshend) to be reintroduced to the act. Meanwhile, 1979 shows are known among Who fans for new material that Townshend introduced on some nights during jams, most of which did not see release until later on. Some notable songs that evolved from these jams are "Cat's in the Cupboard" and "I Am an Animal" from Townshend's 1980 album ''
Empty Glass'', as well as "How Can You Do It Alone" from The Who's 1981 album ''
Face Dances'', and "Dance It Away," a bonus track on the reissued edition of Townshend's 1982 album ''
All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes''.
Live releases
Live material from 1979 has appeared on the following:
*The three-disc version of the Who biographical film ''
Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who'' includes the majority of the band's show of 8 December at the
International Amphitheatre
The International Amphitheatre was an indoor arena located in Chicago, Illinois, that opened in 1934 and was demolished in 1999. It was located on the west side of Halsted Street, at 42nd Street, on the city's south side, in the Canaryville n ...
in Chicago.
*The version of "How Can You Do It Alone" from the ''
Face Dances'' reissue also comes from the Chicago show.
*"
5:15", "
My Wife
"My Wife" is a song by the British rock band the Who, written by bass guitarist John Entwistle. It was originally released in 1971 on ''Who's Next'' and later as the B-side of the single "Baba O'Riley" on 6 November 1971 in Europe by Polydor R ...
", "Music Must Change", and "
Pinball Wizard" from the ''
Thirty Years of Maximum R&B Live'' video and DVD come from the same Chicago show.
*"
Dancing in the Street
"Dancing in the Street" is a song written by Marvin Gaye, William "Mickey" Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter. It first became popular in 1964 when recorded by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas whose version reached No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 ...
" from the ''
Won't Get Fooled Again
"Won't Get Fooled Again" is a song by the English rock band the Who, written by Pete Townshend. It was released as a single in June 1971, reaching the top 10 in the UK, while the full eight-and-a-half-minute version appears as the final track ...
'' EP was recorded at
The Spectrum in Philadelphia on 11 December.
*"
Baba O'Riley
"Baba O'Riley" is a song by the English rock band the Who, and the opening track to their fifth album ''Who's Next'' (1971). It was issued in Europe as a single on 23 October 1971, coupled with "My Wife".
Roger Daltrey sings most of the song ...
", "
Sister Disco
A sister is a woman or a girl who shares one or more parents with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to ...
", "
Behind Blue Eyes
"Behind Blue Eyes" is a song by English rock band the Who. It is the second single from the band's fifth album, ''Who's Next'' (1971), and was originally written by Pete Townshend for his '' Lifehouse'' project. The song is one of the Who's best ...
", "
See Me, Feel Me
"See Me, Feel Me" (aka Listening To You/See Me, Feel Me and See Me, Feel Me/Listening To You) is a song from the Who's 1969 album '' Tommy''. It consists of two overture parts from ''Tommy'', the second and third parts of the album's final song ...
" from the ''
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea was a series of concerts featuring Queen, The Clash, The Pretenders, The Who, Elvis Costello, Wings, and many more artists which took place at the Hammersmith Odeon in London during December 1979 to raise m ...
'' album were recorded at the
Hammersmith Odeon
The Hammersmith Apollo, currently called the Eventim Apollo for sponsorship reasons, and formerly known as the Hammersmith Odeon, is a live entertainment performance venue, originally built as a cinema called the Gaumont Palace. Located in Ha ...
in London on 28 December. "
Sister Disco
A sister is a woman or a girl who shares one or more parents with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to ...
", "
Behind Blue Eyes
"Behind Blue Eyes" is a song by English rock band the Who. It is the second single from the band's fifth album, ''Who's Next'' (1971), and was originally written by Pete Townshend for his '' Lifehouse'' project. The song is one of the Who's best ...
", and "
See Me, Feel Me
"See Me, Feel Me" (aka Listening To You/See Me, Feel Me and See Me, Feel Me/Listening To You) is a song from the Who's 1969 album '' Tommy''. It consists of two overture parts from ''Tommy'', the second and third parts of the album's final song ...
" appear in the
film.
Tour band
*
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey (born 1 March 1944) is an English singer, musician and actor. He is a co-founder and the lead singer of the rock band The Who.
Daltrey's hit songs with The Who include " My Generation", " Pinball Wizard", " Won't Get Fooled ...
– lead vocals, tambourine, harmonica
*
John Entwistle – bass guitar, 8-string bass, vocals
*
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (; born 19 May 1945) is an English musician. He is co-founder, leader, guitarist, second lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the Who, one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s.
Townsh ...
– lead guitar, vocals, bass guitar
*
Kenney Jones
Kenneth Thomas "Kenney" Jones (born 16 September 1948) is an English drummer best known for his work in the groups Small Faces, Faces, and the Who. Jones was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 as a member of Small Faces/Faces ...
– drums
Additional musicians
*
John "Rabbit" Bundrick
John Douglas "Rabbit" Bundrick (born November 21, 1948 in Houston, Texas) is an American–English rock keyboardist. He is best known for his work with The Who and associations with others including Eric Burdon, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Rog ...
– keyboards, piano, tambourine, backing vocals
*Reg Brooks –
trombone
The trombone (german: Posaune, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate ...
*
Howie Casey
Howard William Casey (born 12 July 1937) is a British rhythm and blues and rock saxophonist. He came to prominence in the early 1960s as a member of Derry and the Seniors, the first rock and roll band from Liverpool to play clubs in Germany, ...
– saxophone (mid-1979)
*Dave Caswell – trumpet
*
Dick Parry – saxophone (late 1979)
Typical set lists
First UK/Europe leg
This "leg" started from 2 May 1979 at the
Rainbow Theatre in London and went on until 1 September 1979 at the
Zeppelinfeld in
Nuremberg
Nuremberg ( ; german: link=no, Nürnberg ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 (2019) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest ...
. Here is a fairly typical set list for this leg (actually taken from a concert at the Arenes de Frejus in Frejus on 12 May 1979).
This leg featured the first performances of four songs from the band's most recent album, ''
Who Are You
''Who Are You'' is the eighth studio album by English rock band the Who, released on 18 August 1978 by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and MCA Records in the United States. Although the album received mixed reviews from critics, it was a ...
'': "
Who Are You
''Who Are You'' is the eighth studio album by English rock band the Who, released on 18 August 1978 by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and MCA Records in the United States. Although the album received mixed reviews from critics, it was a ...
", "
Trick of the Light", "
Sister Disco
A sister is a woman or a girl who shares one or more parents with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to ...
" and "Music Must Change". All songs written by
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (; born 19 May 1945) is an English musician. He is co-founder, leader, guitarist, second lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the Who, one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s.
Townsh ...
unless otherwise specified.
#"
Substitute"
#"
I Can't Explain"
#"
Baba O'Riley
"Baba O'Riley" is a song by the English rock band the Who, and the opening track to their fifth album ''Who's Next'' (1971). It was issued in Europe as a single on 23 October 1971, coupled with "My Wife".
Roger Daltrey sings most of the song ...
"
#"
The Punk and the Godfather
"The Punk and the Godfather" (titled "The Punk Meets the Godfather" on the US album) is a song written by Pete Townshend, the guitarist for The Who, for their sixth album, ''Quadrophenia''.
Lyrics
In "The Punk and the Godfather", the protagonis ...
"
#"
Boris the Spider
"Boris the Spider" is a song written by the Who's bass guitarist, John Entwistle. It appears as the second track of their 1966 album ''A Quick One''. This song is claimed to be Entwistle's first composition, and became a staple of live shows. T ...
" (
John Entwistle)
#"
Sister Disco
A sister is a woman or a girl who shares one or more parents with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to ...
"
#"Music Must Change"
#"
Behind Blue Eyes
"Behind Blue Eyes" is a song by English rock band the Who. It is the second single from the band's fifth album, ''Who's Next'' (1971), and was originally written by Pete Townshend for his '' Lifehouse'' project. The song is one of the Who's best ...
"
#"
Dreaming from the Waist" (dropped after 18 August)
#"
Pinball Wizard"
#"
See Me, Feel Me
"See Me, Feel Me" (aka Listening To You/See Me, Feel Me and See Me, Feel Me/Listening To You) is a song from the Who's 1969 album '' Tommy''. It consists of two overture parts from ''Tommy'', the second and third parts of the album's final song ...
"
#"
Long Live Rock
"Long Live Rock" is a 1972 single by The Who, written by Pete Townshend. A different version of the song was performed by Billy Fury's character in the film ''That'll Be the Day'' (a film which featured Who drummer Keith Moon).
The original Wh ...
" (not played on 1 September)
#"
Bargain" (dropped after 8 June)
#"
Who Are You
''Who Are You'' is the eighth studio album by English rock band the Who, released on 18 August 1978 by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and MCA Records in the United States. Although the album received mixed reviews from critics, it was a ...
"
#"
My Generation
"My Generation" is a song by the English rock band the Who, which became a hit and one of their most recognizable songs. The song was named the 11th greatest song by ''Rolling Stone'' on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It becam ...
"
#"
Join Together"
#"
My Generation Blues" (dropped after 9 June)
#"
Magic Bus"
#"Keyboard Bridge" (Townshend and
John Bundrick
John Douglas "Rabbit" Bundrick (born November 21, 1948 in Houston, Texas) is an American–English rock keyboardist. He is best known for his work with The Who and associations with others including Eric Burdon, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Rog ...
; dropped after 18 August)
#"
Won't Get Fooled Again
"Won't Get Fooled Again" is a song by the English rock band the Who, written by Pete Townshend. It was released as a single in June 1971, reaching the top 10 in the UK, while the full eight-and-a-half-minute version appears as the final track ...
"
Encores (variations of the following list):
*"
The Real Me"
**''Performed every show except 8 June.''
*"
Summertime Blues
"Summertime Blues" is a song co-written and recorded by American rock artist Eddie Cochran. It was written by Cochran and his manager Jerry Capehart. Originally a single B-side, it was released in August 1958 and peaked at number 8 on the ''Bi ...
" (
Eddie Cochran
Ray Edward Cochran (; October 3, 1938 – April 17, 1960) was an American rock and roll musician. Cochran's songs, such as " Twenty Flight Rock", "Summertime Blues", " C'mon Everybody" and " Somethin' Else", captured teenage frustration and desir ...
,
Jerry Capehart)
**''Performed on 12, 16 and 17 May; 8 and 9 June; and 18 August.''
*"
Young Man Blues
"Young Man Blues" is a song by jazz artist Mose Allison. Allison first recorded it in March 1957 for his debut album, '' Back Country Suite'', in which it appears under the title "Back Country Suite: Blues." In Allison's two-CD compilation set of ...
" (
Mose Allison
Mose John Allison Jr. (November 11, 1927 – November 15, 2016) was an American jazz and blues pianist, singer, and songwriter. He became notable for playing a unique mix of blues and modern jazz, both singing and playing piano. After moving to N ...
)
**''Performed on 13 and 17 May; and 8 June.''
*"
Shakin' All Over
"Shakin' All Over" is a song originally performed by Johnny Kidd & the Pirates. It was written by leader Johnny Kidd, and his original recording reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in August 1960. The song is sometimes credited to Frederick ...
" (
Johnny Kidd)
**''Performed on 13 May.''
*"
My Wife
"My Wife" is a song by the British rock band the Who, written by bass guitarist John Entwistle. It was originally released in 1971 on ''Who's Next'' and later as the B-side of the single "Baba O'Riley" on 6 November 1971 in Europe by Polydor R ...
" (Entwistle)
**''Performed on 1 September.''
There were some set list substitutions, variations, and order switches during the tour. "Behind Blue Eyes" switched places with "Music Must Change" after the second concert. "Bargain" was dropped after a concert in
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
, Scotland, on 8 June 1979. Also, some other songs were played which are not in the above lists:
*"
Trick of the Light" (Entwistle)
**''Performed on 18 August and 1 September.''
*"
5:15"
**''Performed on 18 August and 1 September.''
*"
Drowned
Drowning is a type of suffocation induced by the submersion of the mouth and nose in a liquid. Most instances of fatal drowning occur alone or in situations where others present are either unaware of the victim's situation or unable to offer as ...
" (Townshend on vocals)
**''Performed on 18 August and 1 September.''
*"Blue Black White" (unreleased Who song)
**''Performed on 1 September.''
First US leg
This leg was one of the shorter ones of the tour, only lasting from 10 to 18 September (two nights at the
Capitol Theatre in
Passaic, New Jersey, and five nights at the
Madison Square Garden in New York City), but it was also the one with the most set list variations. Nearly nightly, Townshend was improvising and incorporating new songs into the set list, such as "Dance It Away", "That's Rock And Roll", "I'm London", "Cat's in the Cupboard" and others. This particular set list is taken from the second show in New York, 14 September 1979.
All songs written by
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (; born 19 May 1945) is an English musician. He is co-founder, leader, guitarist, second lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the Who, one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s.
Townsh ...
unless otherwise specified.
#"
Substitute"
#"
I Can't Explain"
#"
Baba O'Riley
"Baba O'Riley" is a song by the English rock band the Who, and the opening track to their fifth album ''Who's Next'' (1971). It was issued in Europe as a single on 23 October 1971, coupled with "My Wife".
Roger Daltrey sings most of the song ...
"
#"
The Punk and the Godfather
"The Punk and the Godfather" (titled "The Punk Meets the Godfather" on the US album) is a song written by Pete Townshend, the guitarist for The Who, for their sixth album, ''Quadrophenia''.
Lyrics
In "The Punk and the Godfather", the protagonis ...
"
#"
Boris the Spider
"Boris the Spider" is a song written by the Who's bass guitarist, John Entwistle. It appears as the second track of their 1966 album ''A Quick One''. This song is claimed to be Entwistle's first composition, and became a staple of live shows. T ...
" (
John Entwistle)
#"
Sister Disco
A sister is a woman or a girl who shares one or more parents with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to ...
"
#"
Behind Blue Eyes
"Behind Blue Eyes" is a song by English rock band the Who. It is the second single from the band's fifth album, ''Who's Next'' (1971), and was originally written by Pete Townshend for his '' Lifehouse'' project. The song is one of the Who's best ...
"
#"Music Must Change"
#"
Drowned
Drowning is a type of suffocation induced by the submersion of the mouth and nose in a liquid. Most instances of fatal drowning occur alone or in situations where others present are either unaware of the victim's situation or unable to offer as ...
"
#"
Who Are You
''Who Are You'' is the eighth studio album by English rock band the Who, released on 18 August 1978 by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and MCA Records in the United States. Although the album received mixed reviews from critics, it was a ...
"
#"
5:15"
#"
Pinball Wizard"
#"
See Me, Feel Me
"See Me, Feel Me" (aka Listening To You/See Me, Feel Me and See Me, Feel Me/Listening To You) is a song from the Who's 1969 album '' Tommy''. It consists of two overture parts from ''Tommy'', the second and third parts of the album's final song ...
"
#"
Long Live Rock
"Long Live Rock" is a 1972 single by The Who, written by Pete Townshend. A different version of the song was performed by Billy Fury's character in the film ''That'll Be the Day'' (a film which featured Who drummer Keith Moon).
The original Wh ...
"
#"
My Generation
"My Generation" is a song by the English rock band the Who, which became a hit and one of their most recognizable songs. The song was named the 11th greatest song by ''Rolling Stone'' on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It becam ...
"
#"Blue Black White" (dropped after 16 September)
#"
Join Together" (dropped after 14 September)
#"
Magic Bus"
#"
Won't Get Fooled Again
"Won't Get Fooled Again" is a song by the English rock band the Who, written by Pete Townshend. It was released as a single in June 1971, reaching the top 10 in the UK, while the full eight-and-a-half-minute version appears as the final track ...
"
Encores (variations of the following list):
*"
Trick of the Light" (Entwistle)
**''Performed on 10 (not as encore), 11, 13 and 16 September.''
*"
Young Man Blues
"Young Man Blues" is a song by jazz artist Mose Allison. Allison first recorded it in March 1957 for his debut album, '' Back Country Suite'', in which it appears under the title "Back Country Suite: Blues." In Allison's two-CD compilation set of ...
" (
Mose Allison
Mose John Allison Jr. (November 11, 1927 – November 15, 2016) was an American jazz and blues pianist, singer, and songwriter. He became notable for playing a unique mix of blues and modern jazz, both singing and playing piano. After moving to N ...
)
**''Performed on 10 and 14 September.''
*"
The Real Me"
**''Performed on 10, 14, 17 and 18 September.''
*"
Summertime Blues
"Summertime Blues" is a song co-written and recorded by American rock artist Eddie Cochran. It was written by Cochran and his manager Jerry Capehart. Originally a single B-side, it was released in August 1958 and peaked at number 8 on the ''Bi ...
" (
Eddie Cochran
Ray Edward Cochran (; October 3, 1938 – April 17, 1960) was an American rock and roll musician. Cochran's songs, such as " Twenty Flight Rock", "Summertime Blues", " C'mon Everybody" and " Somethin' Else", captured teenage frustration and desir ...
,
Jerry Capehart)
**''Performed on 11 and 13 September.''
*"
Road Runner" (
Ellas McDaniel
Ellas McDaniel (born Ellas Otha Bates; December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, inclu ...
)
**''Performed on 11 and 18 September.''
*"
All Right Now
"All Right Now" is a song by English rock band Free. It originally appeared on the band's third album '' Fire and Water'' (1970), which Free recorded on the Island Records label, formed by Chris Blackwell. Released as the album's second single ...
" (
Andy Fraser
Andrew McIan Fraser (3 July 1952 – 16 March 2015) was a British musician and songwriter, best known as the bassist and co-composer for the rock band Free, which he helped found in 1968 when he was 15. He also founded the rock band Sharks ...
,
Paul Rodgers)
**''Performed on 11 September.''
*"
Pictures of Lily"
**''Performed on 11 September as an abbreviated version.''
*"
Big Boss Man" (Al Smith,
Luther Dixon
Luther Dixon (August 7, 1931 – October 22, 2009) was an American songwriter, record producer, and singer. Dixon's songs achieved their greatest success in the 1950s and 1960s, and were recorded by Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Jackson 5, B. ...
)
**''Performed on 11, 13, 16 and 17 September.''
*"Cat's in the Cupboard"
**''Performed on 13 and 17 (not as encore) September.''
*"
Naked Eye
Naked eye, also called bare eye or unaided eye, is the practice of engaging in visual perception unaided by a magnifying, light-collecting optical instrument, such as a telescope or microscope, or eye protection. Vision corrected to normal ...
"
**''Performed on 13 September.''
*"Dance It Away"
**''Performed on 16 (not as encore) and 17 September''
*"
Shakin' All Over
"Shakin' All Over" is a song originally performed by Johnny Kidd & the Pirates. It was written by leader Johnny Kidd, and his original recording reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in August 1960. The song is sometimes credited to Frederick ...
" (
Johnny Kidd)
**''Performed on 16, 17 (not as encore) and 18 September.''
*"
Spoonful
"Spoonful" is a blues song written by Willie Dixon and first recorded in 1960 by Howlin' Wolf. Called "a stark and haunting work",
it is one of Dixon's best known and most interpreted songs. Etta James and Harvey Fuqua had a pop and R&B reco ...
" (
Willie Dixon)
**''Performed on 16 September.''
*"That's Rock And Roll" (unreleased Who song)
**''Performed on 16 September.''
*"Sparks"
**''Performed on 17 September.''
There were some set list substitutions, variations, and order switches during the tour. "
My Wife
"My Wife" is a song by the British rock band the Who, written by bass guitarist John Entwistle. It was originally released in 1971 on ''Who's Next'' and later as the B-side of the single "Baba O'Riley" on 6 November 1971 in Europe by Polydor R ...
" was played on 17 September and took the place of "
Boris the Spider
"Boris the Spider" is a song written by the Who's bass guitarist, John Entwistle. It appears as the second track of their 1966 album ''A Quick One''. This song is claimed to be Entwistle's first composition, and became a staple of live shows. T ...
" on 18 September. Some of the songs in the encore list also made appearances in the regular set, and vice versa. Also, some other songs were played which are not in the above lists:
*"I'm London" (unreleased Who song)
**''Performed on 10 September.''
*"You've Got Rock And Roll" (unreleased Who song)
**''Performed on 11 September.''
*"The Relay"
**''Performed on 11 and 13 September, both as abbreviated versions.''
*"
Highway to Hell
''Highway to Hell'' is the sixth studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released on 27 July 1979. It was the last album featuring lead singer Bon Scott, who would die early the following year on 19 February 1980.
Background
By 1978 ...
" (
Bon Scott
Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott (9 July 1946 – 19 February 1980) was an Australian singer and songwriter. He was the lead vocalist and lyricist of the hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980.
Born in Forfar in Angus, Scotlan ...
,
Angus Young
Angus McKinnon Young (born 31 March 1955) is an Australian musician, best known as the co-founder, lead guitarist, songwriter, and only remaining original member of the hard rock band AC/DC. He is known for his energetic performances, schoolbo ...
,
Malcolm Young)
**''Performed on 13 September, as a snippet intro to "Long Live Rock".''
*"
Let's See Action
"Let's See Action" is a song written and composed by Pete Townshend and recorded by the Who. It was released as a single in the UK in 1971 and reached #16 in the charts.
Song notes
The song is the first of three non-album singles by the Who, th ...
"
**''Performed on 14 December''
*"
My Generation Blues"
**''Performed on 16 September, as an intro to "My Generation".''
*"
Dreaming from the Waist"
**''Performed on 16 and 18 September.''
*"Harmonica Solo"/"Drum Solo"/"Bass Solo"/"Keyboard Solo" (
John Entwistle,
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey (born 1 March 1944) is an English singer, musician and actor. He is a co-founder and the lead singer of the rock band The Who.
Daltrey's hit songs with The Who include " My Generation", " Pinball Wizard", " Won't Get Fooled ...
,
Kenney Jones
Kenneth Thomas "Kenney" Jones (born 16 September 1948) is an English drummer best known for his work in the groups Small Faces, Faces, and the Who. Jones was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 as a member of Small Faces/Faces ...
,
John Bundrick
John Douglas "Rabbit" Bundrick (born November 21, 1948 in Houston, Texas) is an American–English rock keyboardist. He is best known for his work with The Who and associations with others including Eric Burdon, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Rog ...
)
**''Performed on 17 September, due to Townshend's leaving the stage due to a cut on his hand.''
*"
My Wife
"My Wife" is a song by the British rock band the Who, written by bass guitarist John Entwistle. It was originally released in 1971 on ''Who's Next'' and later as the B-side of the single "Baba O'Riley" on 6 November 1971 in Europe by Polydor R ...
" (Entwistle)
**''Performed on 17 and 18 (with an interruption due to crowd troubles) September.''
*"
Please Don't Touch" (
Johnny Kidd, Guy Robinson)
**''Performed on 17 September.''
*"
Sweets for My Sweet
"Sweets for My Sweet" is a song written by the songwriting team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, originally recorded by American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group the Drifters.
The Drifters version
The group's first single featuring Charlie Thoma ...
" (
Doc Pomus
Jerome Solon Felder (June 27, 1925 – March 14, 1991), known professionally as Doc Pomus, was an American blues singer and songwriter. He is best known as the co-writer of many rock and roll hits. Pomus was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall ...
,
Mort Shuman
Mortimer Shuman (12 November 1938 – 2 November 1991) was an American singer, pianist and songwriter, best known as co-writer of many 1960s rock and roll hits, including "Viva Las Vegas". He also wrote and sang many songs in French, such as " ...
)
**''Performed on 17 September.''
*"
Pretty Vacant
"Pretty Vacant" is a song by the English punk rock band the Sex Pistols. It was released on 2 July 1977 as the band's third single and was later featured on their only album, ''Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols'', released during t ...
" (
Paul Cook
Paul Thomas Cook (born 20 July 1956) is an English drummer and member of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. He was also called "Cookie" by his friends on the punk music scene.
Early life and career
Cook was raised in Hammersmith and atte ...
,
Steve Jones,
John Lydon,
Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock (born 27 August 1956) is an English musician, best known for being the bass guitarist in the original line-up of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. He is credited as a songwriter on 10 of the 12 songs on the Sex Pistols' only albu ...
)
**''Performed on 17 September.''
*"I Am an Animal"
**''Performed on 17 September.''
Second UK/US leg
This leg featured the second leg of the US tour, as well as its four warm-up shows from 10 to 17 November in
Brighton and
Stafford, England. The US tour started on 30 November 1979 at the
Detroit Masonic Temple in
Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...
,
Michigan
Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...
, and ended on 17 December 1979 at the
Capital Centre in
Landover, Maryland
Landover is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 25,998.
Landover is contained between Sheriff Road and Central Avenue to the so ...
.
The concert at the
Hammersmith Odeon
The Hammersmith Apollo, currently called the Eventim Apollo for sponsorship reasons, and formerly known as the Hammersmith Odeon, is a live entertainment performance venue, originally built as a cinema called the Gaumont Palace. Located in Ha ...
in London on 28 December for the
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea was a series of concerts featuring Queen, The Clash, The Pretenders, The Who, Elvis Costello, Wings, and many more artists which took place at the Hammersmith Odeon in London during December 1979 to raise m ...
could also be included here. A disaster occurred at the
Cincinnati concert on 3 December leading to the death of 11 fans and the cancellation of one scheduled concert. This particular set list is taken from a concert in
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut and is part of the New York City metropolitan area. With a population of 134 ...
, on 15 December 1979.
#"
Substitute"
#"
I Can't Explain"
#"
Baba O'Riley
"Baba O'Riley" is a song by the English rock band the Who, and the opening track to their fifth album ''Who's Next'' (1971). It was issued in Europe as a single on 23 October 1971, coupled with "My Wife".
Roger Daltrey sings most of the song ...
"
#"
The Punk and the Godfather
"The Punk and the Godfather" (titled "The Punk Meets the Godfather" on the US album) is a song written by Pete Townshend, the guitarist for The Who, for their sixth album, ''Quadrophenia''.
Lyrics
In "The Punk and the Godfather", the protagonis ...
"
#"
My Wife
"My Wife" is a song by the British rock band the Who, written by bass guitarist John Entwistle. It was originally released in 1971 on ''Who's Next'' and later as the B-side of the single "Baba O'Riley" on 6 November 1971 in Europe by Polydor R ...
" (
John Entwistle)
#"
Sister Disco
A sister is a woman or a girl who shares one or more parents with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to ...
"
#"
Behind Blue Eyes
"Behind Blue Eyes" is a song by English rock band the Who. It is the second single from the band's fifth album, ''Who's Next'' (1971), and was originally written by Pete Townshend for his '' Lifehouse'' project. The song is one of the Who's best ...
"
#"Music Must Change"
#"
Drowned
Drowning is a type of suffocation induced by the submersion of the mouth and nose in a liquid. Most instances of fatal drowning occur alone or in situations where others present are either unaware of the victim's situation or unable to offer as ...
"
#"
Who Are You
''Who Are You'' is the eighth studio album by English rock band the Who, released on 18 August 1978 by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and MCA Records in the United States. Although the album received mixed reviews from critics, it was a ...
"
#"
5:15"
#"
Pinball Wizard"
#"
See Me, Feel Me
"See Me, Feel Me" (aka Listening To You/See Me, Feel Me and See Me, Feel Me/Listening To You) is a song from the Who's 1969 album '' Tommy''. It consists of two overture parts from ''Tommy'', the second and third parts of the album's final song ...
"
#"
Long Live Rock
"Long Live Rock" is a 1972 single by The Who, written by Pete Townshend. A different version of the song was performed by Billy Fury's character in the film ''That'll Be the Day'' (a film which featured Who drummer Keith Moon).
The original Wh ...
"
#"
My Generation
"My Generation" is a song by the English rock band the Who, which became a hit and one of their most recognizable songs. The song was named the 11th greatest song by ''Rolling Stone'' on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It becam ...
"
#"
I Can See for Miles
"I Can See for Miles" is a song by the English rock band the Who, recorded for the band's 1967 album '' The Who Sell Out''. Written by guitarist Pete Townshend, it was the only song from the album to be released as a single.
Recording
Recorde ...
"
#"
Sparks"
#"
Won't Get Fooled Again
"Won't Get Fooled Again" is a song by the English rock band the Who, written by Pete Townshend. It was released as a single in June 1971, reaching the top 10 in the UK, while the full eight-and-a-half-minute version appears as the final track ...
"
Encores (variations of the following list):
*"
Trick of the Light" (Entwistle)
**''Performed on 11 November and 10 December.''
*"
Big Boss Man" (Al Smith,
Luther Dixon
Luther Dixon (August 7, 1931 – October 22, 2009) was an American songwriter, record producer, and singer. Dixon's songs achieved their greatest success in the 1950s and 1960s, and were recorded by Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Jackson 5, B. ...
)
**''Performed on 11 November; and 8 and 16 December.''
*"
Young Man Blues
"Young Man Blues" is a song by jazz artist Mose Allison. Allison first recorded it in March 1957 for his debut album, '' Back Country Suite'', in which it appears under the title "Back Country Suite: Blues." In Allison's two-CD compilation set of ...
" (
Mose Allison
Mose John Allison Jr. (November 11, 1927 – November 15, 2016) was an American jazz and blues pianist, singer, and songwriter. He became notable for playing a unique mix of blues and modern jazz, both singing and playing piano. After moving to N ...
)
**''Performed on 11 and 30 November; and 4 and 8 December.''
*"How Can You Do It Alone"
**''Performed on 11 November; and 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13 and 15 December.''
*"
Shakin' All Over
"Shakin' All Over" is a song originally performed by Johnny Kidd & the Pirates. It was written by leader Johnny Kidd, and his original recording reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in August 1960. The song is sometimes credited to Frederick ...
" (
Johnny Kidd)
**''Performed on 11 November and 16 December.''
*"
Dancing in the Street
"Dancing in the Street" is a song written by Marvin Gaye, William "Mickey" Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter. It first became popular in 1964 when recorded by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas whose version reached No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 ...
" (
Marvin Gaye,
William "Mickey" Stevenson
William "Mickey" Stevenson (born January 4, 1937) is an American former songwriter and record producer for the Motown group of labels from the early days of Berry Gordy's company until 1967.
Life and career
He was born William Stevenson and, a ...
,
Ivy Jo Hunter)
**''Performed on 11, 16, 17 and 30 November; and 2, 7 (not as encore), 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17 and 28 December.''
*"Dance It Away"
**''Performed on 16 and 30 November; and 2, 4 (not as encore), 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17 and 28 December.''
*"
The Real Me"
**''Performed on 16 and 30 November; and 3, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15 and 28 December.''
*"
Magic Bus"
**''Performed on 2, 7 and 17 December.''
*"
Summertime Blues
"Summertime Blues" is a song co-written and recorded by American rock artist Eddie Cochran. It was written by Cochran and his manager Jerry Capehart. Originally a single B-side, it was released in August 1958 and peaked at number 8 on the ''Bi ...
" (
Eddie Cochran
Ray Edward Cochran (; October 3, 1938 – April 17, 1960) was an American rock and roll musician. Cochran's songs, such as " Twenty Flight Rock", "Summertime Blues", " C'mon Everybody" and " Somethin' Else", captured teenage frustration and desir ...
,
Jerry Capehart)
**''Performed on 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 15 and 28 December.''
*"
Hoochie Coochie Man
"Hoochie Coochie Man" (originally titled "I'm Your Hoochie Cooche Man") is a blues standard written by Willie Dixon and first recorded by Muddy Waters in 1954. The song makes reference to hoodoo folk magic elements and makes novel use of a sto ...
" (
Willie Dixon)
**''Performed on 8 and 28 (not as encore) December.''
*"
I'm a Man" (
Ellas McDaniel
Ellas McDaniel (born Ellas Otha Bates; December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, inclu ...
)
**''Performed on 8 and 28 (not as encore) December.''
*"
Road Runner" (McDaniel)
**''Performed on 8 December.''
*"Take a Fool Like You"
**''Performed on 10 December.''
*"
Baby Don't You Do It
"Baby Don't You Do It" is a 1964 single by American singer Marvin Gaye. Released on the Tamla label, this song discusses a man who is at a standstill with his girlfriend, who he feels is neglecting his love stating "Don't break my heart/...I'v ...
" (
Holland-Dozier-Holland)
**''Performed on 16 December.''
There were some set list substitutions, variations, and order switches during the tour. "
Boris the Spider
"Boris the Spider" is a song written by the Who's bass guitarist, John Entwistle. It appears as the second track of their 1966 album ''A Quick One''. This song is claimed to be Entwistle's first composition, and became a staple of live shows. T ...
" was played in the first half of this leg, being dropped after 7 December. Some of the songs in the encore list also made appearances in the regular set, and vice versa. Also, some other songs were played which are not in the above lists:
*"
Boris the Spider
"Boris the Spider" is a song written by the Who's bass guitarist, John Entwistle. It appears as the second track of their 1966 album ''A Quick One''. This song is claimed to be Entwistle's first composition, and became a staple of live shows. T ...
" (Entwistle)
**''Performed on 10, 11, 16 and 30 November; and 2, 4, 6 and 7 December.''
*"
Dreaming from the Waist"
**''Performed on 11 November.''
*"I'm London"
**''Performed on 2 December.''
*"I Sent You a Letter"
**''Performed on 2 December.''
*"
Slip Kid
"Slip Kid" is a song from The Who's seventh album, ''The Who by Numbers''. Written originally for Pete Townshend's shelved '' Lifehouse'' rock opera, "Slip Kid" was revived in 1975. The song was originally written as a warning about the music bu ...
"
**''Performed on 4 December as a snippet.''
*"The Relay"
**''Performed on 8 December as a snippet.''
*"
Mystery Train
"Mystery Train" is a song written and recorded by American blues musician Junior Parker in 1953. Originally performed in the style of a Memphis blues or rhythm and blues tune, it was inspired by earlier songs and later became a popular rockabi ...
" (
,
Sam Phillips
Samuel Cornelius Phillips (January 5, 1923 – July 30, 2003) was an American record producer. He was the founder of Sun Records and Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, where he produced recordings by Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, ...
)
**''Performed during "
5:15" on 28 December. Short tease only.''
*"I Am the Sea"
**''Performed (loosely) on 28 December before the intro of "
Pinball Wizard".''
*"I Don't Want To Be an Old Man" (a.k.a. "Fuck All Blues")
**''Performed on 28 December.''
Tour dates
European leg (2 May – 1 September)
U.S. leg (10–18 September)
U.K. leg (10–17 November)
U.S. leg (30 November – 17 December)
U.K. show (28 December)
See also
*
List of The Who tours and performances
The Who are an English rock band, whose most commercially successful line-up was Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon. Originally known as the Detours, the group performed with varying personnel in and around the Londo ...
Notes
Footnotes
References
*
*
External links
The Who Concert Guide
{{DEFAULTSORT:Who, The
1979 concert tours
The Who concert tours
Concert tours of the United States
Concert tours of Europe
Concert tours of the United Kingdom