On the 22nd and 23rd of March, London found itself catapulted back into the midst of the 1960s as The Who took their place to celebrate 50 years of their rock and roll hits. Playing to a packed O2 Arena full of expectant faces, young and old, the remaining members of The Who retold their history through the medium of music as the walls echoed with the sounds of the band's greatest hits throughout the years.
In amongst numerous jokes, often more inappropriate than not, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey captivated audiences with vocals and guitar skills that were still almost as up to scratch as they had been many years ago. Despite having to postpone the concerts from December last year due to Daltrey coming down with illness, the entire band found themselves with the reception they deserved – honest adoration from all of the generations filling the venue, from people who had experienced the band in their starting steps, to youngsters who were just stumbling into the world of rock and roll – including Townshend's own grandson.
Despite the joyous occasion of the semicentenary event, the band did not fail to recognise the loses they had suffered in their career, instead showing an montage of images and videos of Keith Moon and John Entwistle, the band-mates they had so sadly lost in 1978 and 2002 respectively. With the help of known musical virtuosos Simon Townshend, 'Pino' Palladino, and Zak Starkey to fill in the spaces left, Daltrey and Townshend played hits from various albums, including ones featured on American shows such as CSI, and they even brought a few of Townshend's rock operas to life. Backed by an incredible team of dedicated stage hands and technicians, including Townshend's guitar technician Alan Rogan who has been with the band since 1965, and with a dynamic light and image display filling the stage, The Who reminded London just why they should be remembered for decades to come.
By Alice Middlemiss, Dartford Grammar School For Girls
