Page updated Dec. 21 2021

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January 2016

New Music Releases: "Work" - Rihanna featuring Drake; "Hymn for the Weekend" - Coldplay; "Pillowtalk" - Zayn; Anti - Rihanna

On the 11th, Pete writes an obituary for the recently deceased David Bowie. "Woke up to the awful news that my lovely friend David Bowie passed away. I am so deeply sad, but he just completed a radical and audacious new album, and that is a great thing. Personally I am grateful to him for doing it. For those who were his fans he was a charismatic and exotic creature and still gloriously beautiful even as he approached 70. But face to face he was funny, clever, well-read, excited by the arts, and really good company. In a Japanese restaurant we once ate tiny live crabs sent over to our table by a businessman fan. David said we must try, out of courtesy. I wouldn't have done it with anyone else on the planet. Delicious, of course. He was simply a joy to be around, so good at making everyone feel at ease. I'm sorry to hear it was cancer that got him. I knew he had been ill for several years but didn't know the details. My thoughts now go to his family and close ones, and to so many of his fans who will be beyond distraught today. We have lost a monumental figurehead of the British arts scene. We have also lost a wonderful clown whose combined sense of mischief and creativity delightedly touched our hearts. David Bowie was my Salvador Dali. He was also one facet of my perfect Ace Face."


February 2016

New Music Releases: "Don't Let Me Down" - The Chainsmokers featuring Daya; "Work from Home" - Fifth Harmony featuring The Weekend; "Ophelia" - The Lumineers; "Somebody Else" - The 1975
Who Are You Waterloo 2016

On the 13th, The Who return for a concert at SSE Arena in Wembley. To highlight the show, energy company SSE sets up a giant playable version of the board game Guess Who?, here called Who Are You?, at Waterloo Station on the 8th. The faces on the cards are replaced with faces from the 60s Mod era.














Ahead of their return to America, Pete and Roger are interviewed by Gary Graff in The Oakland Press on the 23rd. Pete: ""Whether I see the Who as an abstract or not, I care about Roger more than I used to, and I think I care more about trying to make sure Roger still has a way of expressing that stuff. When he’s singing these days, he’s singing better than ever."

On the 26th, Redemption releases their album The Art of Loss featuring a cover of "Love Reign O'er Me."

Roger Daltrey Let My Love Open the Door

Also on the 26th, First Citizens Bank, Republic Records, and Teen Cancer America team up to release a cover of Pete's "Let My Love Open the Door", sung for the first time by Roger. The track had played in First Citizens Bank commercials in North and South Carolina during the holiday season.











On the 27th, The Who return to the U.S. for The Who Hits 50! tour performing at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.


March 2016

New Music Releases: "Needed Me" - Rihanna; "Low Life" - Future featuring The Weekend; "Exchange" - Bryson Tiller; "Good as Hell" - Lizzo
Roger Daltrey Toronto 2016

The Who Hits 50! North American tour continues at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto (1st), Madison Square Garden (3rd), TD Garden, Boston (7th), United Center, Chicago (10th), KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Kentucky (12th), Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia (14th), and Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh (16th).
















The Who Tonight Show 2016
Photo: Andrew Lipovsky

And for an additional treat, on the 4th The Who perform "Who Are You" on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

The Who Sloan Kettering 2016
Photo: Gary Gershoff

On the 18th, Roger and Pete attend a ceremony to mark the opening of The Lounge, a teenage cancer facility at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for which The Who had donated $1 million. It is stocked with board games, books, video games and a state-of-the-art television and sound system.











The Who tour continues at Prudential Center in Newark (19th) and BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee (21st).

Roger Daltrey US Capitol 2016

On the 23rd, Roger attends a discussion on "Coversations on Child Cures" at the U.S. Capitol. Afterwards he is asked about the recent IS attack in Belgium and whether musical acts should cancel European tours. His response: "Keep calm and carry on. It's the British way."











On the 24th, The Who are at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Pete suffers from a gravelly voice caused by a cold. "Eminence Front" is replaced with "Slip Kid" to give his voice a rest.

Also on the 24th, Who's Last receives a long-delayed award of Gold certification from the BPI.

The Who end the month at Scottrade Center in St. Louis (26th) and Pepsi Center, Denver (29th).


April 2016

New Music Releases: "One Dance" - Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla; "This Is What You Came For" - Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna; Views - Drake; "Broccoli" - DRAM featuring Lil Yachty

On the 1st, Pete is one of over 400 songwriters, artists, and managers who have signed a position paper asking the US Copyright Office to reform the "safe harbour" provisions of the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and its "notice and takedown" system. The paper notes that rights holders had sent more that a billion takedown notices to Google in the last year alone.

On the 21st, Pete says in reaction to the death of Prince, "Goodbye sweet Prince. Pure, certified genius at the highest level. Too soon."

On the 22nd, the CD The Who Hits 50! receives Gold certification from the BPI.

The Who Toronto 2016

The Who return to their The Who Hits 50! tour on the 27th at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The show had been bumped from the 26th by the Raptors playoff.
















From there Roger jets down to Raleigh, North Carolina on the 28th to host North Carolina Cares, an event at the Raleigh Convention Center to benefit The Who's charity Teen Cancer America. Roger supplies a VIP meet-and-greet along with an auction of Who memorabilia.

Roger rejoins Pete for another Who show on the 29th at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.


May 2016

New Music Releases: "Location" - Khalid; "Can't Stop the Feeling!" - Justin Timberlake; "We Don't Talk Anymore" - Charlie Puth featuring Selena Gomez; "Into You" - Ariana Grande

The Who continue their North American tour of The Who Hits 50! with dates at Target Center, Minneapolis (1st), MTS Centre, Winnipeg (4th), Sasktel Centre, Saskatoon (6th), Rexall Place, Edmonton (8th), Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary (10th), Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena, Vancouver (13th), KeyArena at Seattle Center (15th), and Moda Center, Portland (17th).

On the 21st, Roger and Pete receive the George and Ira Gershwin award for Lifetime Musical Achievement at the Spring Sing at UCLA. Pete mentions that his mother Betty recorded only one song in her musical career, a cover of the Gershwin's "Irreplaceable You".

Moon drumhead auction

Also on the 21st, a 1969 Keith Moon drumhead sells for $187,500 at Julien's Auctions.

The Who Las Vegas 2016
Photo: Erik Kabik

The Who tour continues on the 22nd at the Honda Center in Anaheim, followed by the Staples Center, Los Angeles (25th), The Valley View Casino Center in San Diego (27th), and Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas (29th). At San Diego, Pete comments on U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump, "I'll tell you one good thing about Donald Trump. He's a big Who fan! (pause) But would you want a Who fan for President. No!"













On the 31st, Roger tells Rolling Stone that the Internet has killed chances for a new Who album. "I’m certainly not going to pay money to give my music away for free. I can’t afford to do that. I’ve got other things I could waste the money on."

The Who Cares fundraising concert

Also on the 31st, The Who headline Who Cares About The Next Generation benefit in Pacific Palisades, California. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts open and the crowd is full of celebrities like Cindy Crawford, Adam Sandler, Dustin Hoffman, David Spade, and Paul Stanley.


June 2016

New Music Releases: "Heathens" - Twenty-One Pilots; "Treat You Better" - Shawn Mendes; "Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1" - Kanye West; "Sucker for Pain" - Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa and Imagine Dragons with Logic and Ty Dolla Sign featuring X Ambassadors

On the 8th, The Who officially deny reports that the band has endorsed a sequel film to Quadrophenia. Based on the book To Be Someone, the story would pick up 37 years after the first movie and feature several members of the original cast. Speaking for the band, manager Bill Curbishely says, "Quadrophenia is a significant and influential film based on The Who’s music, not some Carry On franchise. Any follow-up to this film could only be made by the authors of the original and would need to be worthy of the name. This karaoke sequel announced recently in the press would be totally ridiculous." After Covid-caused delays the film is released in 2021.

The Who Isle of Wight 2016

On the 11th, The Who headline the second night of the Isle of Wight Festival.
















The Who Azkena 2016

On the 15th, The Who Hits 50! tour is taken to the Continent with the band performing at Zénith in Toulouse, France followed by Mad Cool Festival in Caja Mágica in Madrid on the 16th and Azkena Rock Festival, CIFP Mendizabala LHII, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain on the 18th. These three shows are the last with long-time Who soundman Bobby Pridden running the onstage soundboard. After this he retires from touring at doctor's orders.













The Who The Polydor Singles

On the 17th, the last set of The Who's singles collection, The Polydor Singles (1979-2012), is released.

On the 22nd, Roger comes forward as a Brexit supporter in an editorial in The Mirror. Roger will continue to be an outspoken supporter of the Leave movement while Pete will be a quieter supporter of Remain. Much like their nation, The Who will continue to work together although politically divided.

On the 23rd, the comic news programme 28 minutes on France's ARTE channel has a segment wondering whether Europe should consider leaving Roger Daltrey.

The Who and Philosophy

Also on the 23rd, the book The Who and Philosophy (The Philosophy of Popular Culture), edited by Rocco J. Gennaro and Casey Harison, is published.


July 2016

New music releases: "Closer" - The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey; "Too Good" - Drake featuring Rihanna; "Human" - Rag'n'Bone Man; "Cold Water" - Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber and MØ
Grand Cru Studios

On the 5th, ProSound reports that the Grand Cru barge, the floating recording studio Pete had built in the late 1970's, has been completely refurbished by Pete and his long term producer/engineer Myles Clarke. Myles says, "I don’t think he will mind me saying that he loves to build studios!"

Roger Daltrey Champagne

On the 7th Roger hosts an evening of charity fundraising in Mayfair London along with a tasting of Charles Orban's new Cuvée Roger Daltrey, a champagne wrapped in a Tommy cover label. Proceeds go to Roger's charities Teenage Cancer Trust UK and Teen Cancer America. Bottles of Cuvée Roger Daltrey go on sale to the public Jiune 18th at £95 a bottle.

Roger Daltrey TCT parliamentary reception

On the 13th, Roger attends the parliamentary reception for the Teenage Cancer Trust. The Trust urges NHS England and Public Health England to roll out a programme of cancer education in Britain's secondary schools.








On the 17th, an episode of Cameron Crowe's series Roadies is on Showtime called "The City Whose Name Must Not Be Spoken". The City is Cincinnati because of The Who's 1979 concert disaster. After it is spoken, the roadies go through an elaborate ritual to break the curse capped by a performance of "They Are All in Love".


August 2016

New music releases: "Let Me Love You" - DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber; "Side to Side" - Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj; "Blue Ain't Your Color" - Keith Urban; Suicide Squad: The Album - Original Soundtrack
The Life and Death of Keith Moon graphic novel

On the 18th, the graphic novel Who Are You? The Life and Death of Keith Moon by Jim McCarthy is published.

The Who were to have begun a short UK tour starting on the 29th in Glasgow, but this leg of the tour is postponed until the following April.


September 2016

New music releases: "Say You Won't Let Go" - James Arthur; "Starboy" - The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk; "Black Beatles" - Rae Sremmurd featuring Gucci Mane; "Love on the Brain" - Rihanna

On the 7th, Roger gives a talk at the opening of the exhibit "You Say You Want a Revolution? Records and Rebels 1966-1970" at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The Who Oberhausen 2016

Having missed the postponed U.K. tour, The Who manage to hold their tour of Europe starting on the 10th at Koenig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany. The following dates are Schleyer-Halle in Stuttgart (12th), Wiener Stadhalle in Vienna (14th), Unipol Arena, Bologna (17th), and ending at the Mediolanum Forum in Milan (19th).














Deep End Live 2016 DVD

On the 16th, Pete Townshend's Deep End: Face the Face, shot in Cannes January 29th, 1986, is released on DVD.

In The City book

On the 20th, Ian Snowball's book The Who in the City, concentrating on The Who's performances in London, is published.











On the 28th, the press reports that Roger and his wife Heather are auctioning a collection of rare 19th Century French automata expected to get more than £50,000.


October 2016

New music releases: "Don't Wanna Know" - Maroon 5 featuring Kendrick Lamar; "Hurricane" - Luke Combs; "Mercy" - Shawn Mendes; "24K Magic" - Bruno Mars
2016 Desert Trip Ad

The Who's North American tour continues on the 6th at the Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara, California. Afterwards, they take a desert detour to play Desert Trip at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California on the 9th and 16th. As the event also includes performances by The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Neil Young, and Roger Waters, the press dubs it "Oldchella."














In betweeh these dates, The Who finally break long-promised new ground, performing in Mexico City at the Palacio de los Deportes on the 12th.

The Who Times Magazine 2016

On the 22nd, Pete and Roger are interviewed by The Times Magazine of London.


November 2016

New music releases: "I Feel It Coming" - The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk; "Redbone" - Childish Gambino; Moana - Original Soundtrack; Starboy - The Weeknd
Roger Daltrey MITA award 2016
Photo: Dean Fardell

On the 7th, Roger receives the 25th Music Industry Trusts Award for his contribution to the music and entertainment industry as well as his work with various charities at a gala ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Jeremy Clarkson presents Roger with the award. Robert Plant and Paul Weller are among the celebrities that send their congratulations via video.

Roger Daltrey Samuel Waxman 2016
Photo: Patrick McMullan

On the 10th, Roger is in New York for another charity event, performing a set for the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation at an event and live auction at Cipriani Wall Street.








My Generation Super Deluxe Edition

On the 25th, the huge boxset My Generation Super Deluxe Edition is released with 5 CD's, poster and hardback book. The stereo mix CD features new performances of the pieces missing from the earlier stereo mix supplied by Pete and Roger.




Roger Daltrey Mary Berry Shirley Bassey

On the 30th, a photographic collage of 90 famous Britons is unveiled in honour of the Queen's 90th birthday. Created by photographer Alistair Morrison, the giant birthday card contains Roger amongst other celebrities.


December 2016

New music releases: "Goosebumps" - Travis Scott featuring Kendrick Lamar; "iSpy" - Kyle featuring Lil Yachty; "How Far I'll Go" - Auliʻi Cravalho; "What Ifs" - Kane Brown featuring Lauren Alaina
Roger Daltrey at Chris Robshaw 2016
Photo: David M. Benett

On the 5th, Roger performs at "An Evening with Chris Robshaw & Friends" at The Old Billingsgate in London.

Rachel Fuller and Pete Townshend 2015
Photo: J. Countess

Sometime during this month Pete marries for the second time to musician and partner Rachel Fuller. The ebulliant Rachel reports: "It was fabulous! It was eight minutes long and there were no guests. We had two witnesses and it was like 'Hello, I love you. Marry me. Yes, I do.' And we went to the local pub for lunch."


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