Updated Nov. 25, 2024
January 2010
New music releases: "Baby" - Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris; "Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)" - Kid Cudi featuring MGMT and Ratatat; "Rude Boy" - Rihanna; "Telephone" - Lady Gaga featuring Beyoncé
On the 10th, Pete Townshend and his daughter Emma write pieces for The Sunday Times. Pete uses part of his space to defend himself against a group that wants to ban him from performing at the upcoming Super Bowl over his expired placement on Britain's Sex Offenders Registry.
On the 19th the album The Who's Greatest Hits - Live is released on iTunes. The selection of rare and previously unreleased live tracks from The Who's long career is an addition to the previous month's Greatest Hits release.
On the 22nd, The Rubinoos release their album Biff-Boff-Boing! featuring a cover of "Boris The Spider".
On the 26th, will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas tells Billboard that he is currently remixing The Who's "My Generation" to which he has added Slash on guitar. The track is set to premiere during the upcoming Super Bowl and sales will raise money for Haitian Earthquake Relief.
February 2010
New music releases: "Ridin' Solo" - Jason Derulo; "Drop the World" - Lil Wayne featuring Eminem; "The Cave" - Mumford & Sons; "Pass Out" - Tinie Tempah
On the 2nd, Greatest Hits & More is released. Unlinke the previous year's release, this is a 2-CD set with the second disc comprised of live tracks. It peaks on the U.K. charts at #20.
On the 4th, SiriusXM satellite radio revives The Who Channel for five days in honor of The Who's coming performance at The Super Bowl. On the same day Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey perform an acoustic set before hosting a press conference in Miami. Pete again responds to protestors against his presence due to his 2003 placement on Britain's Sex Offender's Registar. "I kind of feel like we're on the same side." Another interview conducted by Dave Marsh, is held on SiriusXM the following day.
On the 6th, Pete and Roger perform an acoustic set at a private party for CBS executives in Miami.
On the 7th, The Who perform a twelve-minute set during the half-time show at The Super Bowl. Roger later complains of lights that blinded him throughout the performance while Pete's underwhelmed response is "We had as much fun as we could have." The press grouses about The Who's age and complains about the lack of younger acts during the yearly sports extravaganza. Nevertheless, the next day's ratings show the Super Bowl had its biggest ever television audience with 106.5 million people watching the game and The Who.
Two weeks after the Super Bowl, Billboard reports that The Who's Greatest Hits release on Geffen has reached its chart peak at #56.
For Valentine's Day, singer Katy Perry gifts finaceé comedian Russell Brand with Keith Moon's lilac-painted Bentley Brooklands. Reported cost $341,000.
On the 17th, Roger is back in London, introducing a revived Depeche Mode at the Royal Albert Hall Teenage Cancer Trust concert.
Pete throws doubt on The Who's future in the latest issue of Rolling Stone claiming his tinnitus has returned and "if my hearing is going to be a problem, we're not delaying shows. We're finished." One note of hope is an in-ear monitor recommended by an audiologist that Pete will try out at a 30 March charity show.
On the 25th, Roger is back in the U.S. and back on the road, opening for Eric Clapton at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh. The tour continues on to Sommet Center in Nashville (27th) and the BJCC Arena in Birmingham (28th).
March 2010
New music releases: "Billionaire" - Travie McCoy featuring Bruno Mars; "The House That Built Me" - Miranda Lambert; My World 2.0 - Justin Bieber; Raymond v. Raymond - Usher
On the 2nd, producer Michael Dorf's annual tribute to musical legends at Carnegie Hall turns to The Who with a mix of stars and newcomers covering Pete Townshend tunes. Living Colour performs "Eminence Front", Bob Mould does "I Can't Reach You", The Smithereens cover "The Seeker", The Gaslight Anthem "Baba O'Riley", and Patti Smith with her version of "My Generation".
The usual singer of these songs, Roger Daltrey, is that night opening for Eric Clapton at the BOK Center in Tulsa. The tour continues with dates at the Sprint Center in Kansas City (3rd), the FedEx Forum in Memphis (5th), the New Orleans Arena (6th), the RBC Center in Raleigh (8th), the Gwinnett Center near Atlanta (9th), the Bank Atlantic Center in Fort Lauderdale (11th) and ending at the Amway Arena in Orlando.
On the 10th arrives one of the most unusual of Who tribute albums, Out Here In The Fields: Legends of Reggae Celebrate The Who.
The Who Greatest Hits Live, previously released on iTunes in January, is released on CD on the 23rd in the U.S., Germany and Australia.
On the 24th, Roger is interviewed on ITV's Titchmarsh Today and later performs at a private show in the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall. The event held before a crowd of 200 raised money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
On the 30th, The Who revive Quadrophenia for the first time in thirteen years at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Teenage Cancer Trust concerts. Joining the band as special guests are Eddie Vedder and Kasabian's Tom Meighan.
April 2010
New music releases: "Not Afraid" - Eminem; "Airplanes" - B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams; "Cooler Than Me" - Mike Posner; "Like a G" - Far East Movement featuring The Cataracs and Dev
On the 12th, the CBS-TV series Two and a Half Man airs an episode entitled "Keith Moon is Vomiting in His Grave".
On the 10th, Roger Daltrey performs at Jeremy Clarkson's 50th birthday bash. Legendary producer Trevor Horn puts together a special band for the night and Squeeze also perform. The event is packed with celebs including model Jodie Kidd, socialite Jemima Khan, singer Bryan Ferry and comedians Jimmy Carr, Harry Enfield, Dom Joly and Paul Whitehouse.
On the 14th, Roger helps launch a job centre for people with learning disabilities in Stanmore, Middlesex. Also attending are publisher Richard Desmond, the Duchess of York, and Elizabeth Hurley.
On the 20th, the TV episode Keith Moon: Final 24 is released on DVD.
On the 24th, Roger performs at the What: Imagine A Cure II concert st the Snoqualmie Casino in Washington. Joining Roger to raise money for Susan G. Komen For The Cure are Alan White and Simon Kirke.
On the 27th, the website Wolfgang's Vault releases the audio from The Who's 1970 Tanglewood concert in an online streaming format.
May 2010
New music releases: "California Gurls" - Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg; "Dynamite" - Taio Cruz; "Your Love Is My Drug" - Kesha; "I Like It" - Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull
In Uncut magazine, Roger Daltrey says health issues may mean the end of The Who: "If carrying on is going to mean Pete going deaf, let's stop now. Entering old age in a silent world -- nothing is worth that."
On the 4th, Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby release their album Two-Way Family Favorites featuring a cover of "Endless Wire".
On the 19th, Roger attends the opening of a new teenage cancer wing at the Great North Children's Hospital in Newcastle. Accompanying him are the Duchess of York, her two daughters and X Factor winner Joe McElderry.
On the 25th, Bettye LaVette releases her album Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook featuring as a bonus track, her cover of "Love, Reign O'er Me" and The Who's Kennedy Center Honors.
On the 30th, the press reveals that Pete Townshend has bought Ashdown House in Berkshire, a National Trust property. Pete's investment allows renevations to be made to the estate that had been built for the daughter of King James I and is now a tourist destination.
June 2010
New music releases: "Love the Way You Lie" - Eminem featuring Rihanna; Recovery - Eminem; "If I Die Young" - The Band Perry; Time Flies - 1994-2009 - Oasis
On the 1st The Melvins release their album The Bride Screamed Murder with a cover of "My Generation" and JFA releases Speed of Sound with a cover of "My Wife".
On the 7th, Roger Daltrey spearheads a charter petitioning for better care for teenage cancer victims worldwide.
On the 10th, Roger attends the GBR: British Fashion Council NEWGEN Awards in London and on the 15th, he goes to the going-away party for Universal Music Group's CEO Lucien Grainge at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London's Knightsbridge.
On the 22nd, Roger and his solo band resume their tour at the Anselmo Valencia Amphitheatre in Tucson, Arizona before playing a Hewlett-Packard event with the Goo Goo Dolls at HP Tech Forum 2010 in Las Vegas on the 23rd. Two more nights of headlining continue at the Steifel Theatre for the Performing Arts in Salinas, Kansas (25th) and the Uptown Theater in Kansas City, Missouri (26th) before Roger becomes Eric Clapton's opening act beginning at the Markus Amphitheatre Summerfest in Milwaukee (28th) and the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati (30th). This latter date marked the first time any member of The Who performed in Cincinnati since the tragedy in 1979.
July 2010
New music releases: "Just the Way You Are" - Bruno Mars; "Teenage Dream" - Katy Perry; "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" - Usher featuring Pitbull; "Jar of Hearts" - Christina Perri
Roger Daltrey wraps up his solo tour supporting Eric Clapton with two dates, the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Indianopolis on the 2nd and the DTE Energy Center in Detroit on the 3rd.
On the 15th, Steve Grantley and Alan G. Parker's book The Who By Numbers: The Story of The Who Through Their Music is published by Helter Skelter.
On the 16th, the press reports that designer Alex Mardikian has negotiated the largest lifestyle licensing deal in the history of rock with The Who. "Quadrophenia" is presented as a "lifestyle movement" defined by Alex as "clothing and accessories that make a statement, that revisit or flouish in the feelings of youth, that wear well and look hip, and that appeal to all age demographics."
August 2010
New music releases: Teenage Dream - Katy Perry; "F**k You" - CeeLo Green; "No Hands" - Waka Flocka Flame featuring Roscoe Dash and Wale; "Danza Kuduro" - Don Omar featuring Lucenzo
On the 3rd, The Sun reports that Roger Daltrey is working with LiveNation trying to book acts for the Help For Heroes benefit concert scheduled to take place in Twickenham 12 September.
On the 15th, Matt Kent's book The Who Revealed is published by Flame Tree in the U.K
On the 21st, the Billy Joel concert movie The Last Play at Shea premieres at Citi Field in Flushing, New York. It features a duet with Roger on "My Generation".
On the 28th, Roger writes an article for The Sun about the Help For Heroes concert. He discusses how opposition to a war should never divorce anyone from taking care of the nation's troops after service.
September 2010
New music releases: "Pumped Up Kicks" - Foster The People; "Only Girl (In the World)" - Rihanna; "Down on Me" - Jeremih featuring 50 Cent; "Black and Yellow" - Wiz Khalifa
On the 13th, Roger Daltrey is one of many celebrities answering the phone at The BGC Partner's 6th Annual Charity Day at Canary Wharf in London. The charity is raising money in memory of staffers murdered in New York's September 11, 2001 attack.
On the 14th, the Columbus, Ohio rapper Blueprint releases the EP Blueprint Who with raps over Who songs.
On the 24th, Roger is interviewed on thewho.com. He says it was Pete Townshend's decision not to perform "It's Not Enough" from the album Endless Wire live: "Pete said it had no dynamic... it's just a rant."
October 2010
New music releases: "Firework" - Katy Perry; Doo-Wops & Hooligans - Bruno Mars; "Grenade" - Bruno Mars; "What's My Name?" - Rihanna featuring Drake
On the 2nd, Pete Townshend plays a show for adults with Down's Syndrome at Portsmouth's Guildhall. The concert was organized by Pete's girlfriend Rachel Fuller in association with the Southsea charity Downsed. Fuller creates new songs using lyrics written by eight of the adults that she and Pete perform.
On the 20th, Roger Daltrey attends the Channel 5 opening party at the Norther & Shell Building near London's Tower Bridge.
On the 30th, Gov't Mule plays a Halloween show at the Fox Theater in Oakland, California where they play the entirety of Who's Next.
November 2010
New music releases: "Rolling in the Deep" - Adele; "Sail" - Awolnation; Loud - Rihanna; Progress - Take That
On the 8th, Ray Davies tells Gigwise that Pete Townshend had wanted to work with him on an album covering old Kinks' songs, "but he was away on holiday and we had to finish the album at some point".
On the 10th, Roger Daltrey gets a standing ovation from a packed audience at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute in Brighton after he has an hour-long Q&A session. During the talk, Roger makes some critical remarks about Simon Cowell and his show The X Factor that are picked up by the press.
On the 12th, Roger says that he is considering a solo live album from his 2009 tour. The album has yet to appear.
On the 15th, the 4-CD box set Live At Leeds 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Collector's Ediiton is released in the U.K. The U.S. release follows on the 22nd. The set includes the first release of The Who's 15 February 1970 performance at the Hull City Hall.
On the 25th Roger performs at the Collars & Coats Gala Ball at the Battersea Power Station in South London. The show benefits the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.
On the 29th, James Wood writes a long piece for The New Yorker praising Keith Moon's drumming. Entitled "Personal History: The Fun Stuff: My Life as Keith Moon", the article says "Moon was the drums not because he was the most technically accomplished of drummers but because his joyous, semaphoring lunacy suggested a man possessed by the antic spirit of drumming. He was pure, irresponsible, restless childishness".
December 2010
New music releases: "6 Foot 7 Foot" - Lil Wayne featuring Cory Gunz; "Moment 4 Life" - Nicki Minaj featuring Drake; "Colder Weather" - Zac Brown Band; Michael - Michael Jackson
On the 6th, The Who release a video for the song "Tattoo" created to celebrate the recent release of Live At Leeds 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Collector's Edition. The video is created by Chris Boyle.
On the 8th, the Christian rock band ApologetiX releases their album ApologetiX Classics: The 70's featuring a Who parody entitled "Won't Get Born Again".
On the 13th, Pete Townshend is one of eighty celebrities signing a letter in The Times calling for Iran to release Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery. Four years later her sentence is commuted and she is set free.
On the 13th, the press reports that Ross Halfin is suing LiveNation for using on merchandise a 1978 photo he shot of The Who without his permission.
Right after Christmas, Townshend matriarch Betty Townshend dies at the age of 87.