The Who is an English rock band formed in London in 1964. The original lineup consisted of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist and vocalist Pete Townshend, bass guitarist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. The band is considered one of the most influential and innovative rock bands of the 20th century, known for their explosive live performances and for pioneering the concept of the rock opera.

The Who first gained popularity in the mid-1960s with hits such as "My Generation," "Substitute," and "I Can't Explain." They were known for their high-energy live shows, which often included Townshend's signature move of smashing his guitar on stage. The band's music incorporated elements of pop, rock, and R&B, and they were among the first to use synthesizers and other electronic instruments in their recordings.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, The Who released several critically acclaimed albums, including "Tommy," "Who's Next," and "Quadrophenia." These albums were examples of rock operas, which were essentially concept albums with a storyline and recurring musical themes. "Tommy" tells the story of a deaf, dumb, and blind boy who becomes a pinball wizard, while "Quadrophenia" is a coming-of-age story set in the 1960s mod subculture.

The Who continued to release albums and tour throughout the 1970s and 1980s, though the death of drummer Keith Moon in 1978 marked the beginning of the end for the band's classic lineup. Moon was replaced by Kenney Jones, and later by Zak Starkey. The band's final album with their original lineup was "It's Hard," released in 1982.

In the years since, The Who have continued to tour and release new music with various lineups. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and their influence on rock music is still felt today.

The best live band I've ever seen...and I've seen a lot of great bands! Dedicated to the memory of musicians extraordinaire Keith Moon and the recently departed John Entwistle...we'll miss both of 'em. -GSH

• Pete Townshend - banjo - b. Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend, May 19, 1945, London, England.
• John Entwistle - trumpet - b. John Alec Entwistle, October 9, 1944, London, England; d. June 27, 2002, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

• Pete Townshend - guitar
• John Entwistle - bass

• Roger Daltrey - lead guitar - b. Roger Harry Daltrey, March 1, 1944, London, England.
• Pete Townshend - guitar
• John Entwistle - bass
• Colin Dawson - vocals
• Dougie Sandom - drums

• Roger Daltrey - lead guitar
• Pete Townshend - guitar
• John Entwistle - bass
• Dougie Sandom - drums
• Gabby ? - vocals - formerly with The Bel-Aires.

• Roger Daltrey - vocals
• Pete Townshend - guitar
• John Entwistle - bass
• Dougie Sandom - drums

• Roger Daltrey - vocals
• Pete Townshend - guitar/vocals
• John Entwistle - bass/vocals
• Keith Moon - drums/vocals - b. Keith John Moon, August 23, 1947, London, England; d. September 7, 1978, London, England - formerly with The Beachcombers.

1. "The Who Sings My Generation" (1965) - Single: "My Generation"
2. "A Quick One" (1966)
3. "The Who Sell Out" (1967) - "I Can See For Miles"
4. "Magic Bus: The Who on Tour" (1968)
5. "Tommy" (1969) - Singles: "Pinball Wizard", "I'm Free"
6. "Live at Leeds" (1970) - Without question (at least in MY mind!) the greatest live rock album ever made...by anybody...period...by arguably the greatest live band ever.  The only other album that even comes close is "The Who Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970", which was recorded only a few weeks following the Leeds concert.  The Who were always at their best in a "live" setting, and "Live at Leeds" succeeds in capturing their intense energy and creativity.  The version of "My Generation" on this album is my favorite...lengthy and filled with jamming on riffs from "Tommy".  Whether you're a hard-core Who fan or not, you NEED this album.  You should know that this assessment is based on the original vinyl pressing of the album...the CD version now includes additional material, which practically doubles the amount of music that was on the original album!  Go buy this...now!
7. "Who's Next" (1971) - Single: "Won't Get Fooled Again"
8. "Quadrophenia" (2-CDs) (1973)
9. "The Who By Numbers" (1975) - Single: "Squeeze Box"
10. "Who Are You" (1978)
11. "The Kids Are Alright soundtrack" (live) (1979)
12. "Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970" (1996)

• Roger Daltrey - vocals
• Pete Townshend - guitar/vocals
• John Entwistle - bass/vocals
• Kenny Jones - drums - b. September 16, 1948, London, England - formerly with The Small Faces.

1. "Face Dances" (1981) - Single: "You Better You Bet"
2. "It's Hard" (1982)
3. "Who's Last" (live) (1984)

1. "Meaty, Beaty, Big & Bouncy" (1971)
2. "Odds & Sods" (1974)
3. "Who's Greatest Hits" (1983)
4. "Who's Missing" (1985)
5. "Two's Missing" (1987)
6. "Who's Better, Who's Best" (1988)
7. "Join Together" (1990)
8. "Thirty Years of Maximum R&B" (4-CD box set) (1994)
9. "My Generation: The Very Best of The Who" (1996)

1. "Who Came First" (1972)
2. "Rough Mix" (1977) (with Ronnie Lane)
3. "Empty Glass" (1980)
4. "All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes" (1982)
5. "Scoop" (1983)
6. "White City (A Novel)" (1985)
7. "Pete Townshend's Deep End Live!" (1986)
8. "Another Scoop" (1987)
9. "The Iron Man: The Musical by Pete Townshend" (1989)
10. "PsychoDerelict" (1993)
11. "The Best of Pete Townshend: coolwalkingsmoothtalkingstraightsmokingfirestoking" (1996)

1. "Smash Your Head Against the Wall" (1971)
2. "Whistle Rymes" (1972)
3. "John Entwistle's Rigor Mortis Sets In" (1973)
4. "John Entwistle's Ox: Mad Dog" (1975)
5. "Too Late the Hero" (1981)
6. "Rock" (1996)
7. "Thunderfingers: The Best of John Entwistle" (1996)
8. "King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents John Entwistle" (1997)
9. "Anthology" (1997)

1. "Two Sides of the Moon" (1975)

1. "Daltrey" (1973)
2. "Ride a Rock Horse" (1975)
3. "One of the Boys" (1977)
4. "McVicar: Original Soundtrack Recording" (1980)
5. "Best Bits" (1982)
6. "Under a Raging Moon" (1985)
7. "Can't Wait to See the Movie" (1987)
8. "Rockers and Ballads - Best of Roger Daltrey" (1991)
9. "Rocks in the Head" (1992)
10. "A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who" (1994)
11. "Martyrs and Madmen: The Best of Roger Daltrey" (1997)
12. "Anthology - The Best of Roger Daltrey" (1999)

• The Hypertext Who - the greatest Who resource on the Internet.
• Whotabs - the definitive online tablature resource for The Who