Updated Aug. 30, 2023
January 1991
New music releases: Into the Light - Gloria Estefan; Wicked Game - Chris Isaak; Doubt - Jesus Jones; "Wind of Change" - The Scorpions
On the 11th, Bob Saget performs "My Generation" on the episode "Ol' Brown Eyes" of ABC-TV's Full House.
The two Who collection LP's Rarities 1966-1972 Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 are released on a single CD. It features the only CD release to date of the British 45 mix of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and the original mix of the live version of "Baby Don't You Do It" from the B-side of "Join Together." Unfortunately some of the first pressings of the CD cut the latter track short.
On the 28th, John is sighted at the China Club in New York.
On the 29th, Susanna Hoffs' CD When You're A Boy hits the U.S. charts. It features a cover of David Bowie's "Boys Keep Swinging" with John on bass.
February 1991
New music releases: "Losing My Religion" - R.E.M.; "Fancy" - Reba McEntire; Auberge - Chris Rea; Innuendo - Queen
On the 6th, Roger is interviewed on Channel 4's Tonight with Jonathan Ross and on the 9th he is interviewed again on BBC1's programme Going Live.
On the 10th, Roger is one of the presenters at the Brit Awards at the Dominion Theatre in London. Roger stirs up some controversy before giving the award for Best Britsh Group to The Cure when he says, "When I was asked to present this award, I had visions that I could be presenting it to a sampler and a drum machine." His remark is seen as a slam on the rap artists up for awards.
On the 15th, Roger guest stars in an episode of the NBC-TV (U.S.) series Midnight Caller entitled "Can't Say N-N-N-No" playing a rocker with a drug problem.
Pete, meanwhile, is stocking up at the computer store. "By February, I had access to a whole set of Apple computers for music, graphics, animation and word-processing."
C+C Music Factory release their single "Here We Go." The Who are mentioned in the lyrics.
On the 28th, Roger attends the premiere of Buddy's Song in London. The premiere is a charity showing raising money for the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Centre and HIV/Aids charity Positively Women. Buddy's Song, starring and co-produced by Roger, is based on the Nigel Hinton novel Buddy and a 1986 TV adaptation that also starred Roger. In the movie, Roger plays a middle-aged Rocker (as opposed to Mod) raising a teenage son who wants to enter the music business. The actor playing the son, Chesney Hawkes, releases a single from the movie, "The One And Only," that goes to #1 in the U.K. charts.
March 1991
New music releases: Out Of Time - R.E.M.; Greatest Hits - Eurythmics; Heart In Motion - Amy Grant; Joyride - Roxette
On the 15th, the movie If Looks Could Kill, a spy comedy featuring Roger as "Blade," is released.
Pete writes the short story "The Glass Household" that becomes the basis of the story behind Psychoderelict.
April 1991
New music releases: Time, Love & Tenderness - Michael Bolton; Cooleyhighharmony - Boyz II Men; Power of Love - Luther Vandross; Blue Lines - Massive Attack
On the 13th, A documentary on record industry gimmicks called Don't Believe the Hype airs on BBC Radio One. Pete and John are interviewed.
On the 17th, Roger appears on Thames Television's This is Your Life honouring Lonnie Donegan.
May 1991
New music releases: Don't Rock the Jukebox - Alan Jackson; Spellbound - Paula Abdul; Forever My Lady - Jodeci; It's All About to Change - Travis Tritt
In the second week of May, Roger's solo collection Best Of Rockers And Ballads is released in Britain. It does not chart.
The movie "Father Jim", co-starring Roger and now renamed Cold Justice, is premiered at Cannes for exhibitors. The best it can manage is a deal for satellite television and home video.
Quadrophenia is released by Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs as a gold CD.
June 1991
New music releases: Unforgettable... With Love - Natalie Cole; Luck of the Draw - Bonnie Raitt; "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" - Bryan Adams; Love Hurts - Cher
On the 12th, Pete receives the Living Legend Award at the 3rd (and last) International Rock Awards at London's Docklands Arena.
Roger sings the Led Zeppelin song "Rock and Roll" on a charity single released as McEnroe & Cash with The Full Metal Rackets. It is done for Rock Aid Armenia.
On the 18th, Keith Moon receives a plaque on the Rock Walk in Hollywood.
July 1991
New music releases: C.M.B. - Color Me Badd; "Enter Sandman" - Metallica; Into The Great Wide Open - Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers; Woodface - Crowded House
On the 15th, PACE Theatrical Group approaches Des McAnuff about creating a stage musical out of Tommy. McAnuff insists that Pete be involved.
This month Pete, Roger and John meet to decide on a song to record for an upcoming Elton John tribute CD. Roger presses for "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" and ultimately gets his way. Pete however, in a nod to Elton's inclusion of "I Can't Explain" in the middle of his version of "Pinball Wizard," includes a bit of "Take Me to the Pilot" in the middle of The Who's cover. The Who do not record it together. Pete and drummer Simon Phillips record their part at Eel Pie Studios. Producer Jon Astley is displeased with Simon's work and replaces it with a programmed drum machine. The track is then sent off to Revolution Studios for Roger and John to lay in their parts. While there they are filmed for a music video and interview segments to be included in a later video release. Although John has more than a decade of life left, this track will end up being the last studio recording of The Who with John.
Jimmy Guterman and Owen O'Donnell give their opinion of The Worst Rock n' Roll Records of All Time in a new book of that name. Who's Last places as the 24th worst album, declaring it a "sad statement" with "rote versions of the same songs they've been serving up for years."
On the 31st and the next night, Roger makes a special appearance with The Chieftains at the Grand Opera House in Belfast. He must perform without a soundcheck due to a bomb scare. The result is later released on CD as An Irish Evening: Live At The Grand Opera House, Belfast with Roger singing "Raglan Road" and "Behind Blue Eyes."
August 1991
New music releases: Metallica - Metallica; Ten - Pearl Jam; Pocket Full of Kryptonite - The Spin Doctors; Brand New Man - Brooks & Dunn
Roger begins working on a new solo album, Rocks In The Head, at Abbey Road Studios in London.
September 1991
New music releases: Nevermind - Nirvana; Ropin' The Wind - Garth Brooks; Stars - Simply Red; Blood Sugar Sex Magic - Red Hot Chili Peppers
On the 6th, the press reports that Pete is selling his riverfront home and studio in Twickenham.
On the 11th, John makes his longtime girlfriend Maxene the second "My Wife" in a ceremony in Las Vegas. Their witness is an Elvis impersonator.
On the 13th, while Pete is on holiday with his family on the Isles of Scilly, he pitches over the handlebars of his bicycle on a bumpy road, stopping his fall with his right hand. The bones in his wrist and arm are badly broken and he has to be flown out for medical treatment. A metal plate is put in his wrist and he is told he may never play the guitar again.
Marillion releases a live version of "Substitute" on the 12" single of "Dry Land". On the 17th, the Disney-created youth music group The Party releases their CD In The Meantime, In Between Time featuring a cover of "My Generation".
On the 21st, Roger attends the AT&T Presents City Kids Foundation Event at Carnegie Hall in New York.
On the 27th, the Japanese pop music artists Tomoyasu Hotei releases his CD Guitarhythm Forever Vol. 2 containing a track called "The Light of Quadrophenia".
On the 28th, country singer Garth Brooks scores his first #1 album in the U.S. charts. The extremely popular crossover artist often climaxes his shows by smashing his guitar.
October 1991
New music releases: Greatest Hits II - Queen; Simply The Best - Tina Turner; Diamonds and Pearls - Prince and The New Power Generation; Greatest Hits Vol. II - Alabama
On the 14th, Two Rooms: Celebrating the songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin is released on as an album and background msuic video in the U.K. The video features interviews with Roger and John and a little of Roger recording "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting." The album will peak at #21.
November 1991
New music releases: Dangerous - Michael Jackson; Achtung Baby - U2; We Can't Dance - Genesis; Shepherd Moons - Enya
On the 7th, Pete's commemoration for Bill Graham, the American rock promoter who died in a helicopter accident the previous month, is published in Rolling Stone.
On the 9th, Two Rooms, The Elton John-Bernie Taupin tribute album featuring The Who's cover of "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" enters the U.S. charts. It reaches #18 there.
Des McAnuff, assigned to put together a musical version of Tommy, begins meetings with Pete at the Royalton Hotel in New York. In the two months since he badly injured his wrist, Pete has been questioning his relatives about his past and he will weave some of his family revelations into the musical.
December 1991
New music releases: "Waterfall" - The Stone Roses; Ten Strait Hits - George Strait; Mental Jewelry - Live; Kerplunk! - Green Day
On the 20th, it is reported that Pete has sold the Anchorage, his Thames-side mansion for £595,000.
On the 28th, Roger is one of a large number of guests appearing on ITV's Amnesty International's Big 30 special.