Updated November 14, 2024
January 2004
New music releases: "Yeah!" - Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris; "Toxic" - Britney Spears; "Take Me Out" - Franz Ferdinand; "The Reason" - Hoobastank
On the 6th, The Who Live At The Royal Albert Hall is released in SACD hybrid form. On the same day, Pete Townshend announces on his website that he has received his U.S. work visa.
On the 10th, Pete Townshend responds via e-mail to Mark Brown's review of Tommy Deluxe Edition in the Rocky Mountain News. He explains in detail his thoughts about the original production of the album and the changes he made for the 5.1 sound remix.
On the 15th, a launch party for the U.K. release of the Tommy Deluxe Edition is held at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.
New Musical Express puts out a magazine edition of archival articles about The Who from their magazine and Melody Maker.
On the 19th, Tommy Deluxe Edition is released in the U.K. It features the original mix and an SACD 5.1 remix on one disc and a selection of outtakes on the other disc.
On the 21st, The Trinity Mirror of Liverpool reports Pete's reaction to the planned closing of The Picket recording studio saying, "I am stunned, shocked, appalled to hear it might close."
Also on the 21st, an interview with Roger appears in the Evening Standard. Of the previous year he says, "It was very painful. [Pete and I] both re-evaluated our lives after that. I have watched a friend being brutalized for making what I think was a very stupid mistake - and I think there was nothing more to what he did than that. That was all very painful."
On the 23rd, Roger announces to the press that The Who will perform Tommy at the Royal Albert Hall show. Pete ultimately decides against it.
On the 27th, Jim Shepard's short story collection Love And Hydrogen is published. One of the stories is written from the perspective of John Entwistle.
February 2004
New music releases: Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters; "If I Ain't Got You" - Alicia Keys; Feels Like Home - Norah Jones; The College Dropout - Kanye West
On the 10th, Pete puts a limited edition DVD of the film O Parvardigar for sale on his website. It features a surround sound mix of his song.
On the 11th, The Wheels On The Bus Video - Mango and Papaya's Animal Adventure is released on DVD featuring Roger Daltrey singing the role of Argon, the bus-driving Dragon.
Also on the 11th, Roger appears on Liz Kershaw's show on BBC 6 Music discussing the upcoming Teenage Cancer Trust shows. He makes the Ben Jones-hosted Superstars show on Virgin Radio on the 15th, and the Steve Wright show on Radio 2 on the 17th.
On the 16th, The Old Grey Whistle Test, Vol. 3 DVD is released in the U.K. It has new Roger interview and his 1973 performance of "Giving It All Away."
On the 21st, Roger and Simon attend a launch party for the restored The Kids Are Alright DVD in London.
On the 24th, Roger attends Brian Wilson's performance of his Smile album in London.
On the 25th, Roger pays a return visit to the former Who-haunt The Goldhawk Club for an interview for London Tonight News. It airs on his birthday, March 1.
On the 26th, Rolling Stone reports that two new Who songs, "Real Good Looking Boy" and "Old Red Wine" will be released in March on the compilation CD Then & Now. They also report that Pete has "finished five backing tracks" that Roger will soon complete with vocals.
On the 27th, Pete delivers a diary entry from New York. He is there to play the new Who tracks for Universal Records CEO Doug Morris.
March 2004
New music releases: Confessions - Usher; Greatest Hits - Guns n' Roses; "Somebody Told Me" - The Killers; "Burn" - Usher
On the 4th, Uncut magazine releases a special issue about Tommy with a new Pete Townshend interview called "The Truth About Tommy, The Who and Me," a Roger Daltrey interview and a CD called The Roots Of Tommy.
On the 12th, The Who's two new recordings, "Real Good Looking Boy" and "Old Red Wine," become available as downloads on iTunes. The first song is about a childhood incident of Pete's where his mother told him he would never be handsome. The second is a tribute to the late John Entwistle and his love of collecting antique wines.
On the 13th, Roger begins appearing in an infomercial on U.S. cable television hawking a seven-CD set called Legends of Rock 'n Roll.
On the 15th, Sarah Dempster in The Guardian pens an article called "Why I Love...Roger Daltrey": "Loveable Laurel to Pete Townshend's truculent Hardy, Roger Daltrey was – and, indeed, still is – the Who's anchor, a graceless yet relentlessly honest reminder of his band's working-class roots and a necessarily earthy foil for the enormously nosed guitarist's artier excesses."
On the 17th, Roger and his wife Heather attend a party celebrating Paul McKenna's book Change Your Life in 7 Days staying at the top of the book sales chart.
On the 18th, The Who begin rehearsals for their upcoming live shows. Video and audio are streamed live over Pete's website.
Also on the 18th, Mario Martin Zelaya releases his CD Sorcery and Beer with an acoustic guitar cover of "I Can See For Miles".
On the 22th, The Who return for their first shows in 18 months with three performances at the Kentish Town Forum. The third night's show (25th) has to be cut short when cigarette smoke at the venue harms Roger's throat. A fan passes out from the heat and has to be carried outside. In a review The Telegraph declares night one "Blown away by the windmilling wizard." The Observer, however, does not care for the show declaring, "...there is more chemistry between Blair and Brown than between Townshend and Daltrey."
On the 23rd, Compendia Records releases a truncated CD of Pete Townshend Live: A Benefit for Maryville Academy as Magic Bus: Live From Chicago.
On the 25th, The Who make #29 on Rolling Stone's list of "The Immortals", a list compiled by rockers including Pete. The Beatles head up the list. Eddie Vedder writes the tribute for The Who.
On the 26th, H.E.A.R. releases the Who's tribute CD Who's Not Forgotten: FDR's Tribute to The Who.
On the 28th, Cartoon Network's late-night version, Adult Swim, shows the episode "Temporary Blindness" from the series Home Movies containing "Timmy," a parody of Tommy: The Movie.
On the 29th, The Who play the Royal Albert Hall as part of that year's Teenage Cancer Trust shows. Roger's voice is still somewhat given out. A planned acoustic performance of Tommy is passed over for a standard set list. The Coral are the opening act. Virgin Radio pretends to simulcast part of the show using the 2000 Royal Albert Hall recording.
On the 30th, the best-of compilation The Who: Then & Now 1964-2004 is released featuring the two new recordings, "Real Good Looking Boy" and "Old Red Wine (for John)."
Also on the 30th, Roger greets Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Albert Hall with supporters of Teenage Cancer Trust. "I asked her to speak up because I'm in a rock 'n' roll band. She did speak up, she was very gracious." Roger performs that night with Paul Weller, James Dean Bradfield and Kelly Jones doing "The Kids Are Alright" and "Magic Bus."
April 2004
New music releases: "99 Problems" - Jay-Z; "Locked Up" - Akon featuring Styles P; D12 World - D12; Now That's What I Call Music! 57 (U.K.) - Various Artists
On the 2nd, an Australian promoter papers Sydney and Melbourne with posters saying Who's Touring? hinting at a Who tour of Australia. A Japanese website called "Rock Odyssey" hints on the 14th of Who shows in Japan, a country where The Who had never before toured.
On the 4th, the SAS Band (Spike's All Star SAS Band) featuring Chris Tompson, Tony Hadley, Paul Young, Leo Sayer, Arthur Brown, Fish, Mark Shaw, Tom Robinson, Richard O'Brien, Roy Wood and Roger Taylor release The SAS Band live DVD. It contains a cover of "My Generation" with vocals by Leo Sayer and lead guitar by Formula 1 driver Damon Hill.
On the 7th, Roger receives a lifetime achievement award for The Who at the Capitol Radio Awards in London.
Also on the 7th, the group Recliner releases their CD Make a Friend featuring a cover of "The Kids Are Alright".
On the 8th, Pete performs at the Ronnie Lane Tribute Concert at the Royal Albert Hall. He does "Evolution" solo, and then performs "A Heart to Hang Onto" with the Kenney Jones band.
On the 10th, Pete publicly apologizes to John Entwistle's mother Queenie for some remarks he made about John in the previous month's issue of Uncut magazine.
On the 12th, a DVD of the British Rock Symphony, featuring Roger performing "Street Fightin' Man," "5:15," See Me Feel Me," "Let It Be" and "Pinball Wizard," is released in the U.K.
On the 14th, the Evening Standard prints a pic of Pete and his partner Rachel Fuller out and about after she lands a recording contract with Universal Records.
On the 21st, the Japanese heavy metal band Outrage releases their CD Cause For Pause with a cover of "I Can See For Miles" sung phonetically in English.
On the 26th, Sanctuary Visual Entertainment releases the restored The Kids Are Alright on DVD in Europe. It tops the DVD sales chart there.
On the 27th, Geffen releases Tommy: Deluxe Edition on DVD-A in the U.S.
On the 29th, the press reports that Roger recently told a Radio Academy audience that he listens primarily to BBC Radio 4, adding that Woman's Hour was one of his favourite shows. "But they f***ed up. Radio 4 used to be great until they moved The Archers. Then they've got these dreadful quizzes that no one listens to. If I listen to anything now it's Kiss FM." The moderator is former The Old Grey Whistle Test presenter Bob Harris.
On the same day Kevin Russell comes out with the CD My Generation featuring a jazz instrumental cover of "My Generation".
May 2004
New music releases: Hopes and Fears - Keane; Here for the Party - Gretchen Wilson; Under My Skin - Avril Lavigne; "Roses" - Oukast
On the 1st, Sydow Karl's picture book Bass Culture: The John Entwistle Collection is published by Sanctuary in the U.K.
On the 2nd, Polydor Records UK releases The Who: The Singles Box containing CD recreations of 11 classic Who singles and the new "Real Good Looking Boy"/"Old Red Wine" songs. The Who: Then & Now 1964-2004 is also released in the U.K. on this date.
On the 4th, The Times reports on recent remarks made by Roger Daltrey to a Radio Academy conference. "Why can't rock music be about growing old? I believe Pete Townshend is the only person in rock and roll who can write about that path from middle to old age. I'm still angry about lots of things. So many things we thought would get better when we were young have not. Pete is the one person who can articulate this and drag rock and roll into old age."
On the 10th, The Who Concert File is re-published in an updated (and tinier) edition in the U.K.
On the 19th, The Who play a surprise short set at Carnegie Hall promoting the CBS fall schedule. They perform "Who Are You", "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "Baba O'Riley" from the CSI programs.
And, as long as they are across the Atlantic, The Who launch a 2004 mini- tour with shows at the Tweeter Center in Boston on the 20th and Madison Square Garden on the 22nd.
June 2004
New music releases: Hot Fuss - The Killers; "Live Like You Were Dying" - Tim McGraw; "Confessions Part II" - Usher; "Collide" - Howie Day
On the 1st, Silverline Records releases From The Front Row...Live! John Entwistle on DVD-Audio.
On the 7th, The Who begin a short tour of the U.K., their first since 2000, at Birmingham NIA. Kasabian is the opening act.
Also on the 7th, The BBC Sessions CD by The Marmalade is released containing a cover of "I Can't Explain." On the 8th, String Cheese Incident release their CD March 13, 2004 Denver, CO: On The Road with a cover of "Won't Get Fooled Again".
The U.K. mini-tour continues at the Cardiff International Arena on the 10th, then finishes with the band headlining at the 2004 Isle of Wight Festival on the 12th, performing before an audience of 35,000. Their opening band is The Manic Street Preachers
Before the show, Roger holds a press conference: "Look at us - all we've got left is the music. All the sex idol thing which was important in the Sixties has all dropped away from us. So, all is left is the music and people still want to see it."
On the 14th, a Special Edition of Tommy: The Movie is released on DVD in the U.K. with new interviews with Pete Townshend and Roger and feature-length commentary by director Ken Russell.
On the 19th, The Who - Live In Boston DVD, recorded July 26, 2002, is released in the U.K., Europe and Japan.
On the 20th, The Guardian has a poll of British artists and critics who pick the 100 greatest British albums. Quadrophenia places at #74 and My Generation at #83.
On the 21st, a Lonnie Donegan tribute concert at Royal Albert Hall. Roger performs "Times Are Getting Hard," "Ham And Eggs" and sings on the finale "Goodnight Irene". Proceeds go to the British Heart Foundation.
On the 22nd, Roger presents Mick Jones, representing The Clash, with an Inspiration Award at the MOJO Magazine Awards in London.
On the 28th, McVicar is released in the U.K. on DVD.
On the 29th, the DVD John Entwistle Band: Live, is released by Image Entertainment.
Also released on the 29th is Rush's CD-EP Feedback featuring a cover of "The Seeker."
July 2004
New music releases: "She Will Be Loved" - Maroon 5; Autobiography - Ashlee Simpson; Now That's What I Call Music! 16 (U.S.) - Various Artists; Now That's What I Call Music! 58 (U.K.) - Various Artists
On the 6th, filmmaker Michael Moore claims in an interview with Film Comment that Pete refused use of "Won't Get Fooled Again" for Moore's movie Fahrenheit 9/11 because "Word came to us that he is not a fan of Michael Moore's and in fact supports the war and supports Tony Blair and doesn't want the song used in any way that would make Blair look bad. Harvey [Weinstein, producer and long-time friend of Pete's] personally made an appeal to him to reconsider. And he wouldn't." The next day, Pete replies: "I have never hidden the fact that at the beginning of the war in Iraq I was a supporter. But now, like millions of others, I am less sure we did the right thing...I have nothing against Michael Moore personally, and I know Roger Daltrey is a friend and fan of his, but I greatly resent being bullied and slurred by him in interviews just because he didn't get what he wanted from me."
On the 13th, Moore responds to Pete's remarks: "Last year, the Who asked me to do a documentary on their career. I was sorry I had to tell them that due to my need to finish 'Fahrenheit 9/11' I would not be able to make their film for them...I am sorry I wasn't able to do the Who documentary like they wanted me to, but this is certainly no way for Pete to show his anger, and frankly it is very embarrassing for him to behave in this manner, as he is the greatest rock star who ever lived."
Press battles concluded, Pete takes The Who to Japan for the first time on the 24th, opening for Aerosmith at the Yokohama Festival in Tokyo. The band plays a 90-minute set in near 100 degree Fahrenheit (upper 30's Celsius) heat. Pete smashes his guitar at the end.
On the 25th, The Who finish their appearances in Japan at the Osaka Festival. From there The Who return to Australia, thirty-six years after the band's previous disastrous tour. They play two nights at the Sydney Entertainment Centre (28th & 29th), then go to the Vodafone Arena in Melbourne on the 31st.
August 2004
New music releases: Genius Loves Company - Ray Charles; "My Boo" - Usher and Alicia Keys; "All These Things That I've Done" - The Killers; Live Like You Were Dying - Tim McGraw
Finished in Australia, The Who jump to mid-Pacific for shows at the Balsidell Arena in Honolulu on the 3rd and the A&B Amphitheatre in Maui on the 4th.
On the 6th, Tooga featuring Pit Bailey release a dance version of "Behind Blue Eyes."
From sunny Hawaii, The Who next hit the U.S. West Coast playing the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California on the 7th. The Greg Kihn Band opens. Two days later, the band returns to the Hollywood Bowl.
On the 10th, A new DVD edition of The Who Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970 is released featuring a 5.1 sound mix and a Pete Townshend interview on the show. It is also shown at select theaters across the U.S.
Also on the 10th, Rachel Fuller's CD Cigarettes & Housework is released. Pete plays acoustic and electric guitar on the CD and one song co-written by Townshend and Fuller, "Jigsaw," is included as a bonus on CD's sold at Barnes & Noble bookstores.
On the 31st, Pete writes the poem "Homage to Picasso."
September 2004
New music releases: American Idiot - Green Day; Feels Like Today - Rascal Flatts; Goodies - Ciara; Be Here - Keith Urban
On the 1st, CBS-TV premieres their third CSI series, CSI: New York, this time using "Baba O'Riley" as the theme song.
On the 6th, in an interview at the website Jewsweek.com, actor Jeremy Piven, also a drummer, expresses interest in portraying Keith Moon in a biopic.
On the 14th, The Who: Live in Boston DVD is released in the U.S. on DVD by Rhino.
On the 19th, Roger reviews Brian Wilson's finally completed album Smile for the Observer on Sunday. He says it gives him "musical courage."
On the 29th, Christie's auctions five pieces of one of Keith Moon's silver Premiere kits to an American collector for £120,000. Meanwhile a 1963 white Gibson SG Special played by Pete during the U.K. 1973 tour is won with a bid of £85,000.
October 2004
New music releases: Back to Bedlam - James Blunt; Greatest Hits - Robbie Williams; 50 Number Ones - George Strait; "Let Me Love You" - Mario
On the 7th, Roger Daltrey: The Biography by Tim Ewbank and Stafford Hildred, is published in the U.K.
On the 10th, the group Hawk Nelson portray The Who performing "My Generation" on the 60's-oriented television series American Dreams. It is something of a dream itself as it shows The Who performing in the studios of American Bandstand, an event that never took place.
On the 12th, The Rolling Stones Rock 'n' Roll Circus, featuring a performance by The Who and a newly recorded interview with Pete, is released on DVD.
Hillary Duff releases a CD single in Japan featuring a cover of "My Generation". Duff makes a change to the lyrics: "Hope I don't die before I get old."
On the 19th, The Queers, now with a new lineup, re-record their cover of "The Kids Are Alright" for a new release Summer Hits No. 1
November 2004
New music releases: Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson; Encore - Eminem; Love. Angel. Music. Baby. - Gwen Stefani; How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - U2
On the 6th, Pete Townshend, having recently watched Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ, writes the short poems "Are You God?" and "Two Thousand Years". The latter ultimately turns into a song for The Who album Endless Wire.
On the 9th, the 1985 event Live Aid is released as a 4-DVD box set.
Also on the 9th, U2 promotes their new album How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb with a free performance under the Brooklyn Bridge. Bono introduces a song from the album, "All Because Of You" as "a love song to The Who".
On the 10th, Pete announces that the forthcoming Who album "will not be a concept album" and his working title, "Who2," "is only partially tongue-in-cheek." He also announces that he will not add to what he has already published of his planned book on how the Internet has fostered child abuse, A Different Bomb. "I can't venture publicly into this area again."
The independent label Almost There puts out a Who covers CD called Who And Who.
On the 17th, Rolling Stone issues a list of the Top 500 rock songs of all time as chosen by 172 rock artists. "My Generation" posts at #11.
On the 22nd, Pete finishes the poem/song "More Misery." The following day he revises the song "I Lose The Thread." Neither have been released to date.
On the 30th, the A&E cable channel premieres its Biography of Pete Townshend. His mother Betty Townshend, Roger, Richard Barnes, Tom Wright, Billy Nicholls, Des McNuff and Bobby Pridden are interviewed.
December 2004
New music releases: "Numb/Encore" - Jay-Z and Linkin Park; Eye to the Telescope - KT Tunstall; Get Lifted - John Legend; "Rich Girl" - Gwen Stefani featuring Eve
On the 11th, Pino Palladino is presented with the 'Contribution to the Music Industry' Award at the Pop Factory Music Awards in his home country of Wales. Pete provides a video tribute to Pino which is played at the ceremony.
On the 12th, Roger is the star in the reasonably priced car on the Top Gear television programme. Roger is the fastest driver to that time on the test track in 'mildly moist' conditions.
John Entwistle's former home Quarwood, near Stow-on-the-Wold, is sold for more than £3 million to a mystery buyer.
On the 30th, Roger makes it onto the Queen's New Year's Honours list. He is named a Commander of the British Empire for his charity work with the Teenage Cancer Trust.