THE WHO 2015 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR KICKS OFF TO RAVE REVIEWS; FIRST LEG OF “THE WHO HITS 50!” TOUR INCLUDES STOPS IN HOUSTON, DALLAS, NASHVILLE, CHICAGO, PHILADELPHIA AND MULTIPLE STOPS IN NEW YORK AREA

THE WHO
2015 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
KICKS OFF TO RAVE REVIEWS

FIRST LEG OF
“THE WHO HITS 50!” TOUR
INCLUDES STOPS IN HOUSTON, DALLAS,
NASHVILLE, CHICAGO, PHILADELPHIA
AND MULTIPLE STOPS IN
NEW YORK AREA

One of rock’s most legendary and defining bands recently kicked off their “THE WHO HITS 50!” much-anticipated North American tour to overwhelming praise.  For these dates, THE WHO founding members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend are backed by guitarist/mandolinist Simon Townshend, drummer Zak Starkey, bassist Pino Palladino, keyboardist John Corey, keyboardist Loren Gold and multi-instrumentalist Frank Simes.

“…this year fans [at Jazz Fest] saw Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Who play with startling energy…The Who became more powerful as the show went on. By the concluding Won’t Get Fooled Again, Townshend was attacking his guitar ferociously, and Daltrey swung his microphone…as in days of yore.”
–Alex Rawls, USA TODAY, 4/27/15

“The Who delivered 50 years worth of power, all the hits, and a sprinkling of comedy to boot…The ‘Tommy’ set [at Jazz Fest] was the show’s pinnacle, a reminder of with what nuance Townshend can write and play, and what conviction and charisma Daltrey brings as a frontman.”
–Alison Fensterstock, NOLA.COM/TIMES-PICAYUNE, 4/25/15

“the band shredded through enough greatest hits in fine form to satisfy any purist.”
–Karen Dalton-Beninato, HUFFINGTON POST, 4/26/15

“The day’s biggest moment came in the form of a captivating Acura Stage set [at Jazz Fest] from legendary rockers The Who…Daltrey and Townshend refused to act their age as they powered through a litany of hits.”
—JAMBANDS.COM, 4/26/15

“The Who’s set was the only time that the sun came out on Saturday [at Jazz Fest] and it was shining bright for a performance that brought out 50 years of rock history…Even though the entire two-hour set by The Who was amazing, it was the ‘Tommy’ suite that was totally magnificent. Hearing the tunes of ‘Pinball Wizard’ and watching the entire field before the Acura Stage rock out was mesmerizing…Jazz Fest is just one stop on the 50^th anniversary tour for The Who, and it was one that was absolutely spectacular.”
–Justin Jimenez, AXS.COM, 4/26/15

“They are still fully capable of harnessing rock’s rebellious energy, The Who delivered smash after smash to a singalong crowd [at Jazz Fest]…The Who of 2015 looks and sounds fantastic.”
–Frank Etheridge, GAMBIT WEEKLY (New Orleans, LA), 4/26/15

“The Who put on a hell of a show [at Jazz Fest].”
–Kim Welsh, OFFBEAT (New Orleans, LA), 4/26/15

“The band…has fine-tuned a 140-minute concert that is the companion to the mega-collection also dubbed ‘The Who Hits 50!’ released last fall.  Layered harmonies caved to the explosive gut of ‘Who Are You,’ Townshend added wistful vocals to ‘The Kids are Alright’ and the band’s ‘first proper hit,’ 1967’s ‘I Can See for Miles’ provided another outlet for air guitar enthusiasts…Daltrey’s voice has held up remarkably well–as has his well-maintained physique–as he snarled appropriately through ‘My Generation,’ intoned dramatically during “Behind Blue Eyes” and nailed the booming notes in ‘Love, Reign O’er Me.’…Townshend sounded guttural and strong on “I’m One” and he played with the nimbleness of a man half his almost-70 years…For the moment, though, The Who is in admirable form, even able to tackle the epic ‘A Quick One (While He’s Away),’ the precursor to the band’s storied rock operas ‘Tommy’ and ‘Quadrophenia,’ and one stacked with twisty melodies, time changes and high notes.  Plenty of room remained for obligatory sing-alongs including the crunchy ‘Pinball Wizard’ and ‘Baba O’Riley,’ proof that if this is indeed The Who’s last waltz, they’re leaving fans with plenty of memories.”
–Melissa Ruggieri, ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 4/24/15

“As for the headliners, they wasted no time flashing the moves the crowd had come to see–Townshend with his guitar windmills and Roger Daltrey with the microphone twirl–as they opened with ‘I Can’t Explain.’ This show was part of The Who’s ongoing 50-year-anniversary tour that began last year, with a 22-song set that was pretty much all money shots from start to finish.”
–David Menconi, NEWS & OBSERVER (Raleigh, NC), 4/22/15

“At Wednesday’s North American kickoff to their The Who Hits 50! Tour, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend wailed and windmilled through a lifetime of rock ‘n’ roll in two frenzied hours…[the show is] a wildly kicking good time…and if it’s how The Who caps their career, you’ll hear no complaints from the crowd. The ovation will drown them all out.”
–Jay Cridlin, TAMPA BAY TIMES, 4/16/15

“If Wednesday night’s packed show at Amalie Arena indeed was the last time their fans will see the iconic British rockers perform their magic on a live stage, they certainly give them something to treasure…The band–some new faces, but with the familiar Daltrey and Townshend firmly anchored as the front men–took their fans on a fun ride that spanned the band’s six-decade career, from those heel-tapping ‘60s ditties to their introspective story-telling rock operas, and finally those hard-driving power chords that have become a staple for a new generation of Who followers.”
–Carl Lisciandrello, TAMPA TRIBUNE, 4/16/15

“As guitarist Pete Townshend and dynamic lead singer Roger Daltrey proved this past Wednesday, on the opening night of “The Who Hits 50!” tour, they may not be as rowdy as they once were…but, boy are they still LOUD. And can they still carry a show.”
–Gabe Echazabal, CREATIVE LOAFING TAMPA, 4/17/15

“…there’s nothing like seeing Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey side by side in full flight, with the strength of their classic anthems surging forward and shining resplendent once again…early on it became virtually impossible to distinguish any individual highlight, since each performance became a magnificent moment in itself.”
–Lee Zimmerman, MIAMI NEW TIMES, 4-20-15

“It took about 30 seconds for The Who to set the tone for their show. Before the first chorus of ‘I Can’t Explain,’ [Pete]Townshend was doing that windmill guitar thing, singer Roger Daltrey was swinging his microphone by the cord like it was 1972 all over again and the band was off and running. This is The Who’s 50th anniversary tour and they certainly brought out the hits–‘Substitute,’ ‘Who Are You’ and ‘My Generation’ were standouts early in the show, and it’s hard to imagine a better run of songs than the five they closed the show with–‘Pinball Wizard,’ ‘See Me, Feel Me,’ ‘Listening to You,’ ‘Baba O’Riley’ and ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again.’”
-–Tom Szaroleta, JACKSONVILLE.COM, 4-20-15

“THE WHO HITS 50!” North American tour includes special guests: 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. The spring run of 20 stops throughout the east wraps 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 and www.axs.com.  “THE WHO HITS 50!” tour is being presented by AEG Live.

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.

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

**Without Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.

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