THE WHO will perform their first U.S. festival appearance in more than 40 years at this year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell, set for April 24-May 3 in New Orleans, LA.

DATE:   JANUARY 12, 2015

FROM:  MARCEE RONDAN/MITCH SCHNEIDER/BARI LIEBERMAN

THE WHO

TO PERFORM FIRST U.S. FESTIVAL APPEARANCE

IN MORE THAN 40 YEARS

AT 2015

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY SHELL

SPECIAL APPEARANCE TO COME

AS PART OF FIRST LEG OF NORTH AMERICAN

50^TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

WHICH KICKS OFF

APRIL 15 IN TAMPA, FL

THE WHO will perform their first U.S. festival appearance in more than 40 years at this year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell, set for April 24-May 3 in New Orleans, LA.  THE WHO’s previous iconic U.S. festival appearances were in 1967 at the Monterey Pop Festival (where a coin toss decided whether they or Jimi Hendrix would close the evening’s performances) and at Woodstock in 1969 (where Townshend kicked Abbie Hoffman off the stage when Hoffman interrupted their set to make a political speech).

One of rock’s most legendary and defining bands will perform this special appearance as part of their 2015 “THE WHO HITS 50!” North American tour.  “THE WHO HITS 50!” tour–which includes special guests: 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Joan Jett & The Blackhearts–will kick off its spring run April 15 in Tampa, FL and include 20 stops throughout the east before wrapping May 30 in Forest Hills, NY.  The fall leg will launch September 14 in San Diego, CA and begin with west coast dates throughout the U.S. and across Canada before concluding November 4 in Philadelphia, PA.  Tickets are currently on sale at www.thewho.com  “THE WHO HITS 50!” tour is being presented by AEG Live.

Set lists on these shows will take  their audience on an “Amazing Journey” through THE WHO’s entire career, from the band’s early days to classic albums including WHO’S NEXT, TOMMY, QUADROPHENIA, MY GENERATION and LIVE AT LEEDS, through the present day.

THE WHO have sold over 100 million records since forming in 1964; they brought together four different personalities and in effect produced a musical hurricane.  Each of them was a pioneer. Wildman drummer Keith Moon beat his kit with a chaotic elegance; stoic bassist John Entwistle held down the center with the melodic virtuosity of a solo guitarist; raging intellectual Pete Townshend punctuated the epic universality of his songs with the windmill slamming of his fingers across his guitar strings; and Roger Daltrey roared above it all with an impossibly virile macho swagger. They exploded conventional rhythm and blues structures, challenged pop music conventions, and redefined what was possible on stage, in the recording studio, and on vinyl. As they enter their 50^th year, the band is still going strong, winning rave reviews for their performances of QUADROPHENIA in 2013.

One of America’s most beloved annual cultural celebrations, the world-famous New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell began in 1970 and draws over 400,000 music fans from around the globe to New Orleans for two unforgettable weekends (April 24-26 & April 30-May 3, 2015) every spring. “Jazz Fest” features the biggest names in music on 12 stages plus an extensive craft fair featuring contemporary and folks crafts plus a highly acclaimed food fair featuring Louisiana’s unique cuisine.  The 2015 Festival lineup includes:  Elton John, Jimmy Buffett, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, No Doubt, Keith Urban, Pitbull, John Legend, Ed Sheeran, T.I., Trombone Shorty, Hozier, Widespread Panic, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ryan Adams, Steve Winwood, Wilco, The Meters, Jimmy Cliff, Allen Toussaint and hundreds more.

THE WHO’s 2015 North American tour dates are as follows:

**Without Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.

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