The Who adds shows, tweaks schedule
The Who continues to fine-tune the schedule for its forthcoming North American tour in support of a forthcoming album that will be the group's first new collection in 24 years.
Since last count, the group has tacked onto its schedule a September stop in Baltimore--where it will appear as part of the first-ever US Virgin Festival--as well as a November show in Atlantic City. The band has also added a second night to its New York City visit, and has moved its previously announced gig at L.A.'s Hollywood Bowl up one night, from Nov. 5 to Nov. 4. Details are shown below.
As previously reported, The Who--which features surviving founders Pete Townshend (guitar/vocals) and Roger Daltrey (vocals)--recently yanked the plug on its plans to webcast each concert on the tour. Townshend, an avid Internet enthusiast, hatched the idea, but subsequently ran into a stalemate with Daltrey, who, according to diary entries Townshend posted on his own website, was not sold on the idea.
Townshend's diary entries resulted in a number of news reports that emphasized the conflict between the two musicians, which Townshend has since addressed in a new diary entry.
"It's Lebanon and Israel who are 'at war'--not Roger and Pete," he wrote. "Roger and I are in full accord about our lack of accord. Always have been."
Townshend posted the entry following The Who's Thursday (7/27) concert in Madrid, which he described as "the best show of our entire NEW career."
"This is not the old Who," he continued. "We never said it would be. It is something else. It matters. The music came alive tonight in the actions and voices of the audience."
Original Who bassist John Entwistle died of a cocaine-induced heart attack in 2002 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, where the band was preparing for a North American tour that was scheduled to launch three days later. Daltrey and Townshend canceled the first two shows, but ultimately forged ahead with the outing.
Original drummer Keith Moon died of a drug overdose in 1978.
Townshend and Daltrey have tapped drummer Zak Starkey (son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr), guitarist/vocalist Simon Townshend (Pete's younger brother), bassist Pino Palladino and keyboardist John "Rabbit" Bundrick to back them during the upcoming tour.
On Oct. 23, The Who will issue a new album tentatively titled "Who 2," which is group's first new studio collection since 1982's "It's Hard."
September 2006
12 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
13 - Wantagh, NY - Jones Beach Theater
15 - Boston, MA - TD BankNorth Garden
16 - Ottawa, Ontario - Scotia Place
18, 19 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
21 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
23 - Baltimore, MD - Pimlico Race Course (Virgin Festival)
25 - Chicago, IL - United Center
29 - Clarkston, MI - Palace of Auburn Hills
30 - London, Ontario - John Labatt Centre
October 2006
3 - Winnipeg, Manitoba - MTS Centre
5 - Calgary, Alberta - Pengrowth Saddledome
6 - Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place
8 - Vancouver, British Columbia - General Motors Place
10 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden
11 - Seattle, WA - Key Arena
November 2006
4 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
5 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
24 - Atlantic City, NJ - The Borgata
December 2006
4 - Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre
VH1, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters Honor The Who [May 2008]
VH1 Honors The Who [March 2008]
Illness forces The Who off stage, Tampa show rescheduled [March 2007]
Live Review: The Who in Phoenix [March 2007]
The Who stretch out 'Endless' tour [February 2007]
The Who piles more dates on 'Endless' tour [January 2007]
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