The Who 1964 performances
Tour by The Who | |
Start date | 2 January 1964 |
---|---|
End date | 31 December 1964 |
Legs | 1 |
Number of shows | 188 (approximately) |
The Who concert chronology |
The Who performed extensively in 1964, supporting their first-ever single "Zoot Suit/I'm the Face" and their late-1964 single "I Can't Explain". The band were still known as The Detours when the year began before changing their name to The Who in February; another name change to The High Numbers in the middle of the year hoped to capitalise on the mod movement popular with British youth in the early to mid-1960s, but the group reverted to The Who after only a few months. 1964 was also the year drummer Keith Moon joined the band.
History
The band performed strictly in England throughout 1964, mostly in small clubs and hotels as they gained popularity. Original drummer Doug Sandom, who had been with the group since 1962, was persuaded to leave the band for a variety of reasons, opening the door for then 17-year-old Keith Moon to join the band, his first show occurring on 2 May. The group's first record, "Zoot Suit/I'm the Face", was released in July while the band was known as The High Numbers, but the single performed poorly and the name change was ultimately only temporary. As for the band's live shows, more and more R&B and Tamla Motown material worked its way into their sets, although their first Pete Townshend-penned single, "I Can't Explain", would begin a movement towards more original material in 1965. Meanwhile, a twist of fate saw Townshend accidentally break the neck off his Rickenbacker guitar during a show at the Railway Hotel in London, leading him to destroy the rest of the instrument in a fit of anger. Soon the band developed a reputation for instrument destruction (which Moon would extend to his drum kit) that would characterise the next several years of their existence.
As no audience recordings from 1964 have surfaced to date, only a promotional film gives much indication of the band’s act (see below).
Live Releases
- Performances of The Miracles' "I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying" and Wilson Pickett's "Ooh Poo Pah Doo" (originally performed by Jessie Hill) from a promotional film arranged by managers Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp are included on the second disc of the Who biographical film Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who. Accounts vary, but the film was likely shot either at the Railway Hotel in Wealdstone or the Scene Club in Soho, probably in early September 1964.
- Footage from the same film was included (with no sound) in the biopic The Kids Are Alright.
Tour band
- Roger Daltrey - lead vocals, harmonica, percussion
- Pete Townshend - lead guitar, vocals
- John Entwistle - bass guitar, vocals
- Doug Sandom - drums (until 13 April)
- Keith Moon - drums (auditioned 2 May and became a permanent member shortly afterwards)
- Brian Redman - drums (one show on 4 May as an audition)
Typical set lists
For most of the year the band's act consisted of cover material, which included songs like The Kinks' "You Really Got Me", Booker T. and the M.G.'s "Green Onions", and Bo Diddley's "Here 'Tis", which the group had recorded during the same sessions that produced the "Zoot Suit/I'm the Face" single. The promotional film and resulting audio bootlegs from the Railway Hotel or the Scene Club captured the following:
- "I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying" (Holland-Dozier-Holland)
- "You Really Got Me" (Ray Davies)
- "Young Man Blues" (Mose Allison)
- "Green Onions" (Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Lewis Steinberg, Al Jackson, Jr.)
- "Long Tall Shorty" (Herb Abramson, Don Covay)
- "Pretty Thing" (Willie Dixon)
- "Smokestack Lightning" (Chester Burnett)
- "Here 'Tis" (Bo Diddley)
- "Ooh Poo Pah Doo" (Wilson Pickett)
The group (then known as The High Numbers) also played Bo Diddley's "Bring It to Jerome" as well as "I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying" during their 20 August television debut on the BBC's The Beat Room. In addition, it's safe to assume they performed "I Can't Explain" late in the year and possibly the following numbers they recorded for an EMI Records test session in October:
Performance dates
Date | City | Country | Venue |
---|---|---|---|
2 January 1964 | Greenford | England | Oldfield Hotel |
3 January 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
11 January 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
12 January 1964 | Acton | White Hart Hotel | |
14 January 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
16 January 1964 | |||
18 January 1964 | |||
19 January 1964 | Acton | White Hart Hotel | |
21 January 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
23 January 1964 | |||
24 January 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
25 January 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
26 January 1964 | Putney | St. Mary's Hall | |
30 January 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
31 January 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
2 February 1964 | Putney | St. Mary's Hall | |
6 February 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
7 February 1964 | London | Goldhawk Social Club | |
9 February 1964 | Putney | St. Mary's Hall | |
13 February 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
14 February 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
20 February 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
22 February 1964 | |||
23 February 1964 | Putney | St. Mary's Hall | |
27 February 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
28 February 1964 | London | Goldhawk Social Club | |
29 February 1964 | Brentford | Evershed Sports Pavilion | |
1 March 1964 | Putney | St. Mary's Hall | |
5 March 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
6 March 1964 | London | Goldhawk Social Club | |
7 March 1964 | Ealing | Mead Hall | |
Shepherd's Bush | Old Oak Common Institute (wedding reception) | ||
8 March 1964 | Putney | St. Mary's Hall | |
15 March 1964 | Acton | White Hart Hotel | |
16 March 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
17 March 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
19 March 1964 | |||
23 March 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
26 March 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
27 March 1964 | London | Goldhawk Social Club | |
29 March 1964 | Brighton | Florida Rooms | |
2 April 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
3 April 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
4 April 1964 | Dunstable | California Ballroom | |
5 April 1964 | Acton | White Hart Hotel | |
6 April 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
10 April 1964 | |||
11 April 1964 | London | Goldhawk Social Club | |
12 April 1964 | Acton | White Hart Hotel | |
13 April 1964 | London | 100 Club | |
16 April 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
17 April 1964 | London | Goldhawk Social Club | |
18 April 1964 | Brighton | Florida Rooms | |
20 April 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
23 April 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
24 April 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
26 April 1964 | Acton | White Hart Hotel | |
27 April 1964 | London | 100 Club | |
30 April 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
2 May 1964 | North Circular | Unknown Pub | |
4 May 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
7 May 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
8 May 1964 | London | Goldhawk Social Club | |
10 May 1964 | Brighton | Florida Rooms | |
11 May 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
14 May 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
15 May 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
16 May 1964 | Brighton | Florida Rooms | |
17 May 1964 | |||
18 May 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
21 May 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
24 May 1964 | Luton | Majestic Ballroom | |
25 May 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
28 May 1964 | Greenford | Oldfield Hotel | |
29 May 1964 | Derby | Corporation Hotel | |
31 May 1964 | Acton | White Hart Hotel | |
1 June 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
4 June 1964 | Southall | White Hart Hotel | |
7 June 1964 | Brighton | Florida Rooms | |
8 June 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
11 June 1964 | Southall | White Hart Hotel | |
15 June 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
18 June 1964 | Southall | White Hart Hotel | |
19 June 1964 | Leicester | Granby Halls (unconfirmed) | |
20 June 1964 | Bath | Regency Ballroom (1964 Jazz Festival) | |
22 June 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
25 June 1964 | Southall | White Hart Hotel | |
26 June 1964 | London | Golders Green Refectory | |
28 June 1964 | Brighton | Florida Rooms | |
29 June 1964 | Forest Hill | Glenlyn Ballroom | |
30 June 1964 | Wealdstone | Railway Hotel | |
7 July 1964 | |||
11 July 1964 | Watford | Trade Union Hall | |
12 July 1964 | Brighton | Florida Rooms | |
14 July 1964 | Wealdstone | Railway Hotel | |
18 July 1964 | Watford | Trade Union Hall | |
19 July 1964 | Brighton | Florida Rooms | |
21 July 1964 | Wealdstone | Railway Hotel | |
22 July 1964 | Soho | Scene Club | |
25 July 1964 | Watford | Trade Union Hall | |
26 July 1964 | Acton | White Hart Hotel | |
28 July 1964 | Wealdstone | Railway Hotel | |
29 July 1964 | Soho | Scene Club | |
31 July 1964 | London | Goldhawk Social Club | |
1 August 1964 | Watford | Trade Union Hall | |
2 August 1964 | Brighton | Florida Rooms | |
4 August 1964 | Wealdstone | Railway Hotel | |
5 August 1964 | Soho | Scene Club | |
6 August 1964 | Southall | White Hart Hotel | |
8 August 1964 | Whetstone | All Saints Hall | |
9 August 1964 | Brighton | Hippodrome Theatre (2 shows) | |
11 August 1964 | Wealdstone | Railway Hotel | |
12 August 1964 | The Mine, Carpenders Park Station. South Oxhey. | ||
Soho | Scene Club | ||
15 August 1964 | London | Riverboat Shuffle | |
16 August 1964 | Blackpool | Blackpool Opera House (2 shows) | |
18 August 1964 | Wealdstone | Railway Hotel | |
19 August 1964 | Soho | Scene Club | |
20 August 1964 | Luton | Majestic Ballroom | |
22 August 1964 | Watford | Trade Union Hall | |
23 August 1964 | Brighton | Hippodrome Theatre (2 shows) | |
25 August 1964 | Wealdstone | Railway Hotel | |
26 August 1964 | Soho | Scene Club | |
30 August 1964 | Blackpool | Queen's Theatre (2 shows) | |
2 September 1964 | The Mine, Carpenders Park Station. South Oxhey. | ||
Soho | Scene Club | ||
4 September 1964 | Glasgow | Scotland | Kelvin Hall (2 shows) |
6 September 1964 | Blackpool | England | Queen's Theatre (2 shows) |
8 September 1964 | Wealdstone | Railway Hotel | |
15 September 1964 | |||
19 September 1964 | Watford | Trade Union Hall | |
22 September 1964 | Wealdstone | Railway Hotel | |
23 September 1964 | Greenwich | Town Hall | |
29 September 1964 | Wealdstone | Railway Hotel | |
30 September 1964 | Greenwich | Town Hall | |
2 October 1964 | Romford | Shandon Hall Dance Club | |
5 October 1964 | Rochester, Kent | Corn Exchange | |
6 October 1964 | Wealdstone | Railway Hotel | |
7 October 1964 | The Mine, Carpenders Park Station. South Oxhey. | ||
10 October 1964 | Reading | Olympia Ballroom | |
11 October 1964 | Cheshunt | Wolsey Hall | |
13 October 1964 | Watford | Trade Union Hall | |
14 October 1964 | Greenwich | Town Hall | |
19 October 1964 | Rochester | Corn Exchange | |
20 October 1964 | Wealdstone | Railway Hotel | |
21 October 1964 | Greenwich | Town Hall | |
24 October 1964 | Reading | Olympia Ballroom | |
27 October 1964 | |||
28 October 1964 | Greenwich | Town Hall | |
30 October 1964 | Windsor | Ricky-Tick | |
2 November 1964 | Wealdstone | Railway Hotel | |
4 November 1964 | The Mine, Carpenders Park Station. South Oxhey. | ||
7 November 1964 | Watford | Trade Union Hall | |
9 November 1964 | Rochester | Corn Exchange | |
14 November 1964 | Reading | Olympia Ballroom | |
18 November 1964 | Cheshunt | Wolsey Hall | |
21 November 1964 | London | Ealing Club | |
22 November 1964 | Goldhawk Social Club (unconfirmed) | ||
24 November 1964 | Marquee Club (2 shows) | ||
25 November 1964 | Brighton | Florida Rooms | |
27 November 1964 | Neasden | Railway Arms (unconfirmed) | |
28 November 1964 | Chelmsford | Corn Exchange | |
29 November 1964 | Watford | Trade Union Hall | |
1 December 1964 | London | Marquee Club | |
2 December 1964 | Brighton | Florida Rooms | |
8 December 1964 | London | Marquee Club | |
9 December 1964 | Brighton | Florida Rooms | |
12 December 1964 | London | Harrow Technical College | |
14 December 1964 | Leytonstone | Red Lion | |
15 December 1964 | London | Marquee Club | |
16 December 1964 | Brighton | Florida Rooms | |
18 December 1964 | Southampton | Waterfront Club, Cliff Hotel | |
19 December 1964 | Elephant and Castle | London College of Printing | |
21 December 1964 | Leytonstone | Red Lion | |
22 December 1964 | London | Marquee Club | |
23 December 1964 | Brighton | Florida Rooms | |
26 December 1964 | Basingstoke | Galaxy Club, Town Hall | |
27 December 1964 | London | Ealing Club | |
28 December 1964 | Leytonstone | Red Lion | |
29 December 1964 | London | Marquee Club | |
31 December 1964 | Pinner |
See also
References
- Neill, Andy; Matt Kent (2002). Anyway Anyhow Anywhere: The Complete Chronicles of The Who 1958–1978. Barnes & Noble. ISBN 1-58663-133-0.
- McMichael, Joe; 'Irish Jack' Lyons (1997). The Who Concert File. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-6316-9.