Page updated Dec. 16, 2020
March 2015
New music releases: "See You Again" - Wiz Khalifa fteaturing Charlie Puth; "Lean On" - Major Lazer and DJ Snake featuring MØ; "Want to Want Me" - Jason Derulo; "Hey Mama" - David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha and Afrojack
On the 2nd, Vanilla Fudge releases a new album, Spirit of '67, featuring a cover of "I Can See for Miles"
On the 4th, the fourth CSI series, CSI: Cyber premieres. This time "I Can See for Miles" is the theme song.
On the 22nd, The Who begin their The Who Hits 50! Tour at O2 Arena in London. They are back in the same venue the next night playing another two-hour concert. "Can you imagine a football team playing two games in a row?" exclaims Roger.
On the 25th, Pete joins Van Morrison during his set at the Royal Albert Hall to sing "Talk Is Cheap".
The next night it's The Who at the Royal Albert performing for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Before the show Pete and Roger receive an "official" apology for being banned from the venue 9 Dec. 1972.
April 2015
New music releases: "Stressed Out" - Twenty One Pilots; "Here" - Alessia Cara; "Wet Dreamz" - J. Cole; "This Could Be Us" - Rae Sremmurd
On the 3rd, the final release cut of the documentary Lambert & Stamp premieres in the U.S. covering the career of the mismatched duo that guided The Who's early career.
On the 5th, Roger has a letter concerning The Who's charity Teen Cancer America printed in The New York Times.
On the 15th, The Who open their North American tour at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The show is followed by appearances at American Airlines Arena in Miami (17th), Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena (19th), PNC Arena in Raleigh (21st), Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia (23rd), the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans (25th), Frank Erwin Center in Austin (27th), and Toyota Center in Houston (29th).
On the 27th, a video of "Love, Reign O'er Me" from Classic Quadrophenia premieres on YouTube.
Also on the 27th, Pete is on the cover of Uncut magazine. Inside he is quoted as saying, "There's a desire I have to do a show which is crap. Go out in front of a bunch of devoted Who fans and say, 'Listen, you bunch of fucking cunts. Fuck off. Don't come back...'" On the 28th, Pete apologizes on thewho.com fan site. "I'm out here on our 50th because I am sincerely pleased to see old faces, old friends, and do my best to be as much of an asshole as ever."
May 2015
New music releases: "The Hills" - The Weeknd; "Tennessee Whiskey" - Chris Stapleton; "Stitches" - Shawn Mendes; "Photograph" - Ed Sheeran
The Who's North American tour continues on the 2nd at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Miley Cyrus, topless with her nipples covered with electrical tape performs with opening act Joan Jett and can be later seen watching The Who from the side of the stage.
The 4th comes with the sad announcement that upcoming shows will have to be postponed as doctors have ordered Roger to rest his voice.
The Who come roaring back the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on the 11th. Before the show, Roger announces a partnership with The Band Perry to fund the establishment of a new adolescent and young adult cancer program at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.
The 13th has The Who at Allstate Arena in Chicago. Roger takes the 14th off as "An Evening Celebrating The Who" is held at the Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont, Illinois. Pete and brother Simon are joined by Eddie Vedder and others. Roger returns on the 15th at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio followed by the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on the 17th.
On the 19th Roger is on Howard Stern's show at Sirius/XM headquarters in New York. He says he thinks the song "Music Must Change" is cursed because Keith died after he couldn't play it, then John died after they rehearsed it in 2002.
Also on the 19th, Pete releases a new solo song, "Guantanamo" on YouTube's VEVO channel. The protest song, critical of the U.S.'s refusal to try the inmates it holds in Guantanamo, will later be retitled "Ball and Chain" for the 2019 album Who.
The Who continues at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York (20th), Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City (22nd), Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut (24th), Barclays Center in Brooklyn (26th) and Forest Hills Stadium (30th).
On the 27th, Roger launches a new Teen and Young Adult lounge at New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Made possible by a donation from The Who, the lounge is outfitted with the latest technology, craft and workspace, and communal snack bar.
On the 28th, the MusiCares MAP fund holds a benefit to honor Pete and Who manager Bill Curbishley at the Best Buy Theater in New York. Bruce Springsteen presents Pete with the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award for his dedication to the fund and his commitment to helping people with the addiction recovery process. Afterwards, Bruce Sprinsteen plays with The Who.
On the 29th, Rachel Fuller and Pete are interviewed at Barnes & Noble in Union Square, New York City about their CD Classic Quadrophenia. Pete signs copies afterwards.
June 2015
New music releases: "Can't Feel My Face" - The Weeknd; "679" - Fetty Wap featuring Remy Boyz; "Roses" - The Chainsmokers featuring Rozes; "Lush Life" - Zara Larsson
On the 1st, a new song, "Chameleon", with music by and peformed by Pete Townshend appears on YouTube. It comes from the album The Bastard's Tin by Des Horsfall's Kuschty Rye. The lyrics are by Ronnie Lane's ex-wife Kate Lane and is based on a letter she wrote Ronnie.
On the 2nd the band The Hillbenders release their bluegrass version of Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry.
On the 8th, the cd Pete Townshend's Classic Quadrophenia, featuring Rachel Fuller's orchestral arrangement of the entire work and lead vocal by Alfred Boe, is released. The deluxe ediiton comes with a DVD of the Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me? documentary.
On the 12th, Roger is a guest on Chris Evans' show on Channel 4 TFI Friday celebrating its 20 years on the air. Roger performs with Liam Gallagher.
On the 21st, The Who start back to touring in Northern Ireland at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast then to 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland (23rd), Hyde Park, London for Barclaycard British Summer Time with Paul Weller, The Kaiser Chiefs, and Johnny Marr (26th), the final night of the Glastonbury Festival (28th) and Le Zenith in Paris (30th). The Hyde Park concert is later released on CD, vinyl, and blu-ray.
July 2015
New music releases: "Hotline Bling" - Drake; "I Took a Pill in Ibiza (SeeB Remix)" - Mike Posner; "I Hate U, I Love U" - Gnash featuring Olivia O'Brien; "Antidote" - Travis Scott
On the 2nd, The Who wrap up the first leg of their "Who Hits 50!" tour at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam.
On the 3rd, The Who Hits 50! album receives a Silver Certification from the BPI.
On the 5th, is the world premiere of Rachel Fuller's adaptation Classic Quadrophenia performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall.
On the 31st, Natalie Imbruglia releases her album Male featuring a cover of "Let My Love Open the Door".
August 2015
New music releases: "What Do You Mean?" - Justin Bieber; "White Iverson" - Post Malone; "The Sound of Silence" - Disturbed; Beauty Behind the Madness - The Weeknd
On the 1st, Roger attends a 40th anniversary screening of Tommy: The Movie at the Whitley Bay Film Festival. He confesses to the audience that he is "the worst pinball player in the world. I can hardly score a point."
On the 3rd, Roger accepts a £250,000 cheque at The Close House Golf Club, near Newcastle for the Teenage Cancer Trust. The money was raised by March of the Mods.
On the 10th, Roger is joined aboard a Clipper yacht by eight young people from from the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at Southampton General Hospital. They were invited to see the Clipper yachts in Gosport, before they circumnavigate the globe for the 2015/16 Clipper Round-the-World Yacht Race.
On the 14th, the vinyl box set of The Who's Reaction singles is released.
On the 18th, the documentary Lambert and Stamp is released on DVD and blu-ray.
September 2015
New music releases: "7 Years" - Lukas Graham; Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) - Original Broadway Cast; "Cake by the Ocean" - DNCE; "Die a Happy Man" - Thomas Rhett
On the 11th, the 1972 album Tommy by the London Symphony Orchestra is reissue remastered and pressed on grey vinyl.
Also on the 11th, Alice Cooper releases his album Hollywood Vampires featuring a cover of "My Generation" with guitar by Johnny Depp and drums by Zak Starkey.
The Who were to have started the second leg of their Who Hits 50! North American tour at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego on the 14th. However, that and all the following dates of the tour are relisted as postponed.
On the 17th, Robert Ellis publishes his book The Who Images 1969-1979 through Repfoto's The Rock Library.
On the 18th, the reason for the postponed Who dates is revealed. Roger has been battling a case of viral Meningitis. The press release downplays the seriousness of the illness but Roger will later admit that he came close to losing his life to the disease.
October 2015
New music releases: "Sorry" - Justin Bieber; "Hello" - Adele; "Me, Myself & I" - G-Easy and Bebe Rexha; "Unsteady" - X Ambassadors
Thirteen Who dates in North America during this month are postponed as Roger recovers from meningitis.
On the 8th, Keith Richard comments on The Who in Rolling Stone: "I always thought Daltrey was all flash. And I love Pete Townshend, but I always thought the Who were a crazy band, anyway. You would say to [Keith] Moon, if you were in a session with him, 'Just give me a swing,' and he [couldn't] ... He was an incredible drummer, but only with Pete Townshend. He could play to Pete like nobody else in the world. But if somebody threw him into a session with somebody else, it was a disaster. There's nothing wrong with that; sometimes you've got that one paintbrush, and you rock it."
Also on the 8th, the film The Who at Hyde Park is shown in various U.S. movie theaters.
Apologetix releases another Christian parody of a Who song "I Can't Escape" ("I Can't Explain") as the b-side to a single.
On the 16th, Jean-Michael Jarre releases his album Electronica Part 1: The Time Machine featuring a co-composition/performance with Pete on "Travelator (part 2)".
On the 27th, the official Who book The Who: 50 Years: The Official History is published and on the 30th, the boxset The Who: The Track Records Singles 1967-1973 is released in the U.K.
November 2015
New music releases: 25 - Adele; "Baby Shark" - Pinkfong; Purpose - Justin Bieber; "Losin' Control" - Russ
The Who Hits 50! tour remains in limbo as Roger continues to battle the effects of meningitis.
On the 13th, Pete Townshend's Classic Quadrophenia Live from the Royal Albert Hall is released on DVD and Blu-ray.
On the 19th, the Detroit punk rock band Gold Route releases their EP I'm Just Killing Time featuring a cover of "Baba O'Riley".
And on the 23rd, Roger releases online a cover of Pete's solo hit "Let Me Love Open the Door" to help raise money for Teen Cancer U.S.A.
December 2015
New music releases: "Love Yourself" - Justin Bieber; "Cheap Thrills" - Sia featuring Sean Paul; "Panda" - Desiigner; "Faded" - Alan Walker
On the 3rd, a crowd gathers in cold temperatures outside the U.S. Bank Arena to mark the 36th anniversary of the 1979 Cincinnati concert disaster with a memorial marker. Who manager Bill Curbishley sends a message that is read to those in attendance: "Many people suffered as a result of that day and I am sure that many still do. If myself and the band can be of any assistance in the healing process going forward we are there for you."
On the 6th, Roger tells The Sun about his own recent health scare from viral menegitis. "It was touch and go. But out of all that I came to terms with my own mortality. I was ready to go, and if I had to go I would have gone out with a smile on my face." Roger is working with The Sun on their Christmas Appeal raising money for the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London.
On the 12th, Roger returns to the stage with a perfornance at Cliveden House in Buckinghamshire. Performing with him is Billy Nicholls, Simon Townshend, and Jody Linscott.
On the 15th, prints by Richard Evans, personally signed by Pete and Roger, are put on sale to raise money for The Who's new charity Teen Cancer America.