The Who Tour 2008–2009

The Who Tour 2008–2009

Tour by The Who
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, 26 October 2008
Start date	13 April 2008
End date	6 December 2009
Legs	8
Number of shows	33
The Who concert chronology

The Who Tour 2008–2009 was The Who's first "greatest hits" concert tour since their successful world tour for their Endless Wire album.

History

Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend began performing again on 13 April 2008 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, closing the week of Teenage Cancer Trust benefit concerts with a six-song acoustic set in a rare Who performance that did not include a full band. On 12 July, The Who were honoured by the VH1 Rock Honors, where they played a brief set after tribute performances by several bands, namely the Foo Fighters, Incubus, the Flaming Lips, Tenacious D and Pearl Jam; four days later the group played a private show at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles for a party celebrating the launch of the music video game Rock Band 2. Four days after that, the Who appeared at the T4 on the Beach concert in Weston-super-Mare. The group returned to North America in October for another short tour, also playing a private event for a 50th birthday and a benefit gig for the Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson's Research; five more shows in Japan immediately followed. They closed the year with three Christmas concerts at the indigO2 in London in December.

2009 saw the band's second short trip to Australia of the decade, preceded by their first appearance in New Zealand since 1968. In May Townshend and Daltrey again did an acoustic performance for the Teenage Cancer Trust concerts, this time at Emirates Stadium in London. In June, The Who returned to the Emirates Stadium for the first ever Capital FM Summertime Ball concert. In December, The Who headlined the second night of the 2009 Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball concert at The O2 Arena in London alongside Shakira, Janet Jackson and the Backstreet Boys.

Tour band

• Roger Daltrey - lead vocals, harmonica, acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar, tambourine
• Pete Townshend - lead guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals, mandolin

Additional Members

• Pino Palladino - bass guitar
• Zak Starkey - drums
• John "Rabbit" Bundrick - keyboards, piano
• Simon Townshend - rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals, mandolin

Typical set lists

2008 Teenage Cancer Trust Benefit Concert

The band's short acoustic set on 13 April was the last performance of the 2008 Teenage Cancer Trust benefit concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Set list (all songs written by Pete Townshend unless otherwise specified):

1. "Let's See Action"
2. "Behind Blue Eyes"
3. "Two Thousand Years"
4. "Mike Post Theme"
5. "Won't Get Fooled Again"
6. "Tea and Theatre"

This was the only time that "Let's See Action" was used to open a Who concert. "Two Thousand Years" from the album Endless Wire made its debut appearance here as well, with Simon Townshend on mandolin.

VH1 Rock honors

The Who played a short set on 12 July 2008 at the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles following tributes from several different bands and performers. Set list (all songs written by Pete Townshend unless otherwise specified):

1. "Baba O'Riley"
2. "The Seeker"
3. "Who Are You"
4. "Behind Blue Eyes"
5. "Two Thousand Years"
6. "You Better You Bet"
7. "My Generation"
8. "Won't Get Fooled Again"

Encore:

1. "Tea and Theatre"

Part of the band’s set was broadcast on VH1.

Rock Band 2 Launch Party

The band played a private show on 16 July 2008 at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles for the Rock Band 2 launch party. Set list (all songs written by Pete Townshend unless otherwise specified):

1. "I Can't Explain"
2. "The Seeker"
3. "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend)
4. "Fragments" (Lawrence Ball, Pete Townshend)
5. "Who Are You"
6. "Behind Blue Eyes"
7. "Baba O'Riley"
8. "The Relay"
9. "5.15"
10. "My Generation" (often including lyrics to "Cry If You Want")
11. "Won't Get Fooled Again"

Encore:

1. "The Kids Are Alright"
2. "Pinball Wizard"
3. "Amazing Journey"
4. "Sparks"
5. "See Me, Feel Me"
6. "Tea and Theatre"

T4 on the Beach

The Who played a short set at the T4 on the Beach concert in Weston-super-Mare on 20 July 2008. The songs that they performed were as follows.

1. "Baba O'Riley"
2. "I Can't Explain"
3. "My Generation"
4. "Love, Reign o'er Me"
5. "Substitute"
6. "Pinball Wizard"
7. "Won't Get Fooled Again"

American leg

This leg started on 21 October 2008 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan and ended on 9 November at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California. These shows saw the addition of "Sister Disco", which hadn't been played since the 1989 tour; "Getting in Tune" was also reintroduced after a fairly long absence. Here is a fairly typical set list for the tour (all songs written by Pete Townshend unless otherwise specified):

1. "I Can't Explain"
2. "The Seeker"
3. "The Relay" or "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend)
4. "Fragments" (Lawrence Ball, Pete Townshend)
5. "Who Are You"
6. "Behind Blue Eyes"
7. "Real Good Looking Boy" (Pete Townshend, Luigi Creatore, Hugo Peretti, George David Weiss)
8. "Sister Disco"
9. "Baba O'Riley"
10. "Getting in Tune"
11. "Eminence Front"
12. "5.15"
13. "Love, Reign o'er Me
14. "My Generation" (often including lyrics to "Cry If You Want")
15. "Won't Get Fooled Again" (sometimes before "My Generation")

Encore

1. "Pinball Wizard"
2. "Amazing Journey"
3. "Sparks"
4. "See Me, Feel Me"
5. "Tea and Theatre"

There were some set list substitutions, variations, and order switches during the tour. The third song slot rotated between "The Relay", "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere", "Getting in Tune", "Substitute" and "The Kids Are Alright" throughout the leg, although the first two were played as the third song most often. The set lists were also very different at the two private shows. Other songs which were played on the tour and are not in the above list are:

• "Magic Bus"
  • Performed on 21 October and 5 November (as encores).
• "Mike Post Theme"
  • Performed on 21 October.
• "Tattoo"
  • Performed on 21 October.
• "Naked Eye"
  • Performed on 22 October (as an encore); and 3 & 9 November (twice; one as part of Townshend's "Boomer rap" during "My Generation").
• "The Kids Are Alright"
  • Performed on 22 October; and 1 November.
• "Sea and Sand"
  • Performed on 24 October.
• "Dance it Away"
  • Performed on 28 October; and 9 November. These were loose versions as part of Townshend's "Boomer rap" during "My Generation".
• "Woodstock" (Joni Mitchell)
  • Performed on 28 & 29 October. Townshend referenced and sang some lyrics of this song as part of his "Boomer rap" during "My Generation".
• "Substitute"
  • Performed on 1 November.

Japanese Leg

This leg started on 13 November 2008 at the Castle Hall in Osaka and ended on 19 November at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. Here is a fairly typical set list for the tour (all songs written by Pete Townshend unless otherwise specified):

1. "I Can't Explain"
2. "The Seeker"
3. "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend; replaced by "The Relay" on 13 November.)
4. "Fragments" (Lawrence Ball, Pete Townshend)
5. "Who Are You"
6. "Behind Blue Eyes"
7. "The Relay" (replaced by "Real Good Looking Boy" on 13 November.)
8. "Sister Disco"
9. "Baba O'Riley"
10. "Eminence Front"
11. "5.15"
12. "Love, Reign o'er Me
13. "My Generation" (often including lyrics to "Cry If You Want")
14. "Won't Get Fooled Again" (sometimes before "My Generation")

Encore

1. "Pinball Wizard"
2. "Amazing Journey"
3. "Sparks"
4. "See Me, Feel Me"
5. "Tea and Theatre"

There were some set list substitutions, variations, and order switches during the tour. "Naked Eye" was sometimes played after "My Generation" as the set closer. Other songs which were played on the tour and are not in the above list are:

• "Real Good Looking Boy" (Pete Townshend, Luigi Creatore, Hugo Peretti, George David Weiss)
  • Performed on 13 November.
• "Dance it Away"
  • Performed on 14 November as a loose version part of Townshend's "Boomer rap" during "My Generation".
• "Old Red Wine"
  • Performed on 16 November.
• "Woodstock" (Joni Mitchell)
  • Performed on 17 November as a loose version part of Townshend's "Boomer rap" during "My Generation".
• "Naked Eye"
  • Performed on 17 & 19 November.

indigO2 Christmas Concerts

This short leg started on 14 December 2008 at the indigO2 in London and ended on 17 December at the same venue. The show on the 15th had the band leave the stage after "I Can't Explain" because of an inner ear problem suffered by Townshend, but they returned shortly afterwards and played it again, following with the rest of the set; a loose and problematic version of "Slip Kid" was performed by Townshend and Daltrey at the start of the encore during the same show, the first attempt at the song since 1976. Here is a fairly typical set list for the tour (all songs written by Pete Townshend unless otherwise specified):

1. "I Can't Explain" (performed twice on the 15th)
2. "The Seeker"
3. "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend)
4. "Fragments" (Lawrence Ball and Townshend)
5. "Who Are You"
6. "Behind Blue Eyes"
7. "Tattoo"
8. "Sister Disco" (sometimes including teases of "Drowned" during the guitar outro)
9. "Baba O'Riley"
10. "Eminence Front"
11. "5.15"
12. "Love, Reign o'er Me
13. "Won't Get Fooled Again"
14. "My Generation" (often including lyrics to "Cry If You Want")
15. "Naked Eye"

Encore

1. "Magic Bus" (not on 14 December.)
2. "Pinball Wizard"
3. "Amazing Journey"
4. "Sparks"
5. "See Me, Feel Me"
6. "Tea and Theatre"

There were some set list substitutions, variations, and order switches during the tour. Other songs which were played on the tour and are not in the above list are:

• "Slip Kid"
  • Performed on 15 December.
• "Boris the Spider" (John Entwistle)
  • Performed on 17 December as a short tease before "Magic Bus".

New Zealand/Australian Leg

This leg started on 21 March 2009 at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand and ended on 4 April at Perth Oval in Perth, Australia. Here is a fairly typical set list for the tour (all songs written by Pete Townshend unless otherwise specified):

1. "I Can't Explain"
2. "The Seeker"
3. "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend)
4. "Fragments" (Lawrence Ball and Townshend)
5. "Who Are You"
6. "Behind Blue Eyes"
7. "The Relay"
8. "Baba O'Riley"
9. "Eminence Front"
10. "5.15"
11. "Love, Reign o'er Me
12. "You Better You Bet"
13. "My Generation" (often including lyrics to "Cry If You Want")
14. "Won't Get Fooled Again"

Encore

1. "The Kids Are Alright" (not played on 21 March)
2. "Substitute" (not played on 21 March)
3. "Pinball Wizard"
4. "Amazing Journey"
5. "Sparks"
6. "See Me, Feel Me"
7. "Tea and Theatre"

There were some set list substitutions, variations, and order switches during the tour. Other songs which were played on the tour and are not in the above list are:

• "Sister Disco"
  • Substituted for "The Relay" on 21 & 24 March; and 4 April.
• "Ring of Fire" (June Carter, Merle Kilgore)
  • Performed on 26 March (as an encore).
• "Bargain"
  • Substituted for "The Relay" on 28 March.

2009 Teenage Cancer Trust Benefit Concert

Townshend and Daltrey played another short acoustic set on 21 May for the 2009 Teenage Cancer Trust benefit concerts at Emirates Stadium in London. Set list (all songs written by Pete Townshend):

1. "The Kids Are Alright"
2. "Who Are You"
3. "Won't Get Fooled Again"

Summertime Ball

The Who played a short set at the Summertime Ball concert at the Emirates Stadium in London on 7 June 2009. The songs that they performed were as follows.

1. "Baba O'Riley"
2. "Pinball Wizard"
3. "My Generation"
4. "Won't Get Fooled Again"

Jingle Bell Ball

The Who played a headline set at the Jingle Bell Ball concert at the The O2 Arena in London on 6 December 2009. The songs that they performed were as follows.

1. "Baba O'Riley"
2. "Pinball Wizard"
3. "Substitute"
4. "The Kids Are Alright"
5. "Magic Bus"
6. "Love, Reign o'er Me"
7. "Who Are You"
8. "I Can't Explain"
9. "My Generation"
10. "Won't Get Fooled Again"

Tour dates

Date	City	Country	Venue
Teenage Cancer Trust Benefit Concert
13 April 2008	London	England	Royal Albert Hall
VH1 Rock Honors
12 July 2008	Los Angeles, California	United States	Pauley Pavilion
Rock Band 2 Launch Party
16 July 2008	Los Angeles	United States	Orpheum Theater
T4 on the Beach
20 July 2008	Weston-super-Mare	England	Weston-super-Mare Beach
North America
21 October 2008	Auburn Hills, Michigan	United States	The Palace of Auburn Hills
22 October 2008	Hamilton, Ontario	Canada	Copps Coliseum
24 October 2008	Boston, Massachusetts	United States	TD Banknorth Garden
26 October 2008	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania		Wachovia Center
28 October 2008	Uncasville, Connecticut		Mohegan Sun Arena
29 October 2008	East Rutherford, New Jersey		Izod Center
31 October 2008	Atlantic City, New Jersey		The Borgata
1 November 2008	New York City		Irving Plaza (private)
3 November 2008	Washington, D.C.		Verizon Center
5 November 2008	New York City		Sheraton Hotel (private)
8 November 2008	Los Angeles		Nokia Theatre
9 November 2008
Asia
13 November 2008	Osaka	Japan	Castle Hall
14 November 2008	Yokohama		Yokohama Arena
16 November 2008	Saitama		Saitama Super Arena
17 November 2008	Tokyo		Nippon Budokan
19 November 2008
indigO2 Christmas Concerts
14 December 2008	London	England	indigO2
15 December 2008
17 December 2008
Oceania
21 March 2009	Auckland	New Zealand	North Harbour Stadium
24 March 2009	Brisbane	Australia	Brisbane Entertainment Centre
26 March 2009	Adelaide		Adelaide Entertainment Centre
28 March 2009	Hunter Region		Hope Estate Winery
29 March 2009	Melbourne		Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit
31 March 2009	Sydney		Acer Arena
4 April 2009	Perth		Perth Oval
Teenage Cancer Trust Benefit Concert
21 May 2009	London	England	Emirates Stadium
Summertime Ball
7 June 2009	London	England	Emirates Stadium

!colspan="4"|Jingle Bell Ball |- |6 December 2009 || London || England || The O2 Arena |}

See also

• List of The Who tours and performances

External links

• The Who Online Concert Guide (2008)
• The Who Online Concert Guide (2009)