The Who performing with orchestra at the T-Mobile Park in 2019. (from left to right) Simon Townshend, Billy Nichols, Roger Daltrey, Jon Button, Pete Townshend, Zak Starkey and Loren Gold.
Timeline
1964–1978
1979–1988
1989–2002
  • Roger Daltrey
  • Pete Townshend
  • John Entwistle
2002–present
  • Roger Daltrey
  • Pete Townshend

This page is a list of the various personnel and line-ups that have been a part of the English rock band the Who, from their origin as the Detours in 1962 to the present day. Founding members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend have been the band's only constant members throughout its history.[1]

Members

Current members

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Roger_Daltrey_-_May_2016.jpg
 Roger Daltrey
  • 1962–1982
  • 1989
  • 1996-present
  • lead vocals
  • harmonica
  • rhythm guitar
  • percussion
 All releases
Pete_Townshend_(2012).jpg
 Pete Townshend
  • lead and rhythm guitar
  • lead and backing vocals
  • keyboards
  • synthesizers

Former members

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
John_Entwistle-1.jpg
 John Entwistle
  • 1962-1982
  • 1989
  • 1996-2002 (died 2002)
  • bass
  • backing and lead vocals
  • brass
  • piano
  • synthesizers
 All releases from My Generation (1965) to Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2003)
Colin Dawson 1962-1963 lead vocals none
Gabby Connolly 1963
Doug Sandom 1964 (died 2019) drums
Keith_Moon_4_-_The_Who_-_1975-2.jpg
 Keith Moon
  • 1964-1978 (died 1978)
  • drums
  • percussion
  • occasional vocals
 All releases from My Generation (1965) to Quadrophenia soundtrack (1979)
Kenney Jones (cropped modded).jpg
 Kenney Jones
  • 1978–1982 (one off 2014)
 drums All releases from Quadrophenia soundtrack (1979) to Who's Last (1984)

Touring members

Current touring members

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Zak Starkey1.jpg
 Zak Starkey 1996–present
  • drums
  • percussion
 All current releases from Live At The Royal Albert Hall (2001) to present
The Who.DSC 0100- 11.27.2012 (8226176557).jpg
 Simon Townshend
  • 1996–1997
  • 2002–present
  • guitar
  • vocals
LGPhoto.jpg
 Loren Gold 2012–present
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
 All current releases from 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief (2013) to present except Who (2019)
Jon Button.jpg
 Jon Button 2017–present
  • bass guitar
  • backing vocals
 Tommy - Live At The Royal Albert Hall (2017)
Billy Nicholls.jpg
 Billy Nicholls
  • 1989
  • 1996–1997
  • 2019–present
 backing vocals
Keith Levenson 2019–present
  • music coordinator
  • conductor
 none
Katie Jacoby violin
Audrey Q. Snyder cello
Emily Marshall
  • keyboards
  • associate conductor
Randy Landau 2022–present contrabass

[2]

Former touring members

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
RabbitBundrick1974.png
 John "Rabbit" Bundrick
  • 1979–1981
  • 1985
  • 1988
  • 1989
  • 1996–2011
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
Howie Casey 1979–1980 saxophone none
Dick Parry
David Caswell trumpet
Reg Brooks trombone
Tim Green Headshot.png
 Tim Gorman 1982
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
Chyna Gordon 1989 backing vocals Join Together (1990)
Cleveland Watkiss.jpg
 Cleveland Watkiss
Simon Clarke saxophone
Tim Sanders
Roddy Lorimer trumpet
Simon-Phillips.jpg
 Simon Philips drums
  • Thirty Years of Maximum R&B (1994)[4]
  • Join Together (1990)[3]
Atomic Rooster live at HRH Prog X at Shepherd's Bush Empire 5th Sept 2021 - 51437302034.jpg
 Steve Bolton rhythm and lead guitar
Jody Linscott
  • 1989
  • 1996–1997
 percussion
Simon Gardner trumpet Join Together (1990)
Neil Sidwell trombone
Jon Carin on stage.jpg
 Jon Carin
  • 1996–1997
  • 2001 (substitute)
 keyboards
Dennis Farias 1996–1997 trumpet none
Roy Wiegand
Nick Lane trombone
Pino Palladino (cropped).jpg
 Pino Palladino 2002–2016 bass
  • all releases from Live In Boston (2004)[6] to Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival 2004 (2017)[8]
  • Who (2019)[13]
FrankSimesPRphoto.jpg
 Frank Simes 2012–2017
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
  • musical director
John Corey
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
J. Greg Miller 2012–2013 brass
Reggie Grisham

Substitutes

Image Name Years active Instruments Notes
Scot Halpin 1973 (died 2008) drums Moon lost consciousness during a show in San Francisco on 20 November 1973, and was substituted for by audience member Halpin.
Peter Huntington 2004–2006 Due to Starkey's touring commitments with Oasis, Huntington was the main drummer on Endless Wire.
SteveW3.jpg
 Steve White 2005 Starkey and Palladino were not able to join the band at Live8 in 2005, and were substituted for by White and Minchella
Damon Minchella bass
Brian Kehew 2006–2007 keyboards Bundrick was tending to his terminally ill wife between November 2006 and March 2007 and was substituted for by his keyboard tech Kehew.
J.J. Blair 2006 Kehew was unable to join the band on 8 November 2006, and was substituted for by Blair.
Chris Stainton.jpg
 Chris Stainton 2012 Nicholls and Stainton performed with the band at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony.
Morgan_Nicholls.jpg
 Morgan Nicholls bass
Scott_Devours1.jpg
 Scott Devours 2013 drums Starkey was unable to join the band from 5–14 February and from 8 June – 8 July 2013, and was substituted for by Scott Devours.

Session musicians

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Jimmy Page2.jpg
 Jimmy Page 1965
  • lead guitar
  • twelve string guitar
The Ivy League backing vocals
Perry Ford 1965 (died 1999) piano My Generation (1965)[19]
Nicky Hopkins.png
 Nicky Hopkins
  • 1965
  • 1971
  • 1974
(died 1994)
Speedy Keen.jpg
 Speedy Keen 1967 (died 2002) vocals The Who Sell Out (1967)[24]
Al Kooper 01.jpg
 Al Kooper
  • 1967
  • 1971
 organ
  • The Who Sell Out (1967)[24]
  • Who's Next (1971)[21]
Dave Arbus 1971 violin Who's Next (1971)[21]
Leslie west-2.jpg
 Leslie West 1971 (died 2020) lead guitar
Jon Curle 1972–1973 voice Quadrophenia (1973)[25]
Chris Stainton.jpg
 Chris Stainton 1972–1974
  • piano
  • organ
  • acoustic guitar
  • Quadrophenia (1973)[25]
  • Tommy (soundtrack) (1975)[22]
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, live at Shepherd's Bush Empire 5th September 2021 - 51440000789.jpg
 Arthur Brown 1974 vocals Tommy (soundtrack) (1975)[22]
Tina_Turner_50th_Anniversary_Tour.jpg
 Tina Turner 1974 (died 2023)
Eric-Clapton 1975.jpg
 Eric Clapton 1974
  • vocals
  • guitar
Elton John November 2015.jpg
 Elton John
  • vocals
  • piano
Mick Ralphs - Bad Company - 1976.jpg
 Mick Ralphs guitar
Caleb Quaye
Ronnie Wood (55208398).jpeg
 Ronnie Wood
Davey Johnstone at Elton John Concert Wiesbaden.jpg
 Davey Johnstone
13-09-14 Blitzkrieg Alan Ross 05.JPG
 Alan Ross acoustic guitar
Gerald Shaw organ
Phil Chen (Riders on the storm) - 4935198456.jpg
 Phil Chen 1974 (died 2021) bass
Dave Wintour 1974
Tony Stevens - Foghat - 1973.jpg
 Tony Stevens
Dee_Murray_1971.jpg
 Dee Murray 1974 (died 1992)
Samuels1972.JPG
 Fuzzy Samuels 1974
Mike Kellie.jpg
 Mike Kellie drums
Tony Newman
Graham Deakin
Nigel Olsson 2007.jpg
 Nigel Olsson
Ray_Cooper_2010_(cropped).jpg
 Ray Cooper percussion
Rod Argent.jpg
 Rod Argent 1977–1978
  • synthesizer
  • piano
  • keyboards
 Who Are You (1978)[26]
Ted Astley string arrangements
Andy_Fairweather_Low_(17067293038)_(cropped).jpg
 Andy Fairweather-Low
  • 1977–1978
  • 1982
  • backing vocals
  • rhythm guitar
Emerson, Lake & Palmer 03.jpg
 Greg Lake 2003–2004 (died 2016) bass guitar "Real Good Looking Boy" (2004)
Jolyon Dixon 2004–2006 acoustic guitar Endless Wire (2006)[28]
Lawrence Ball electronics
Gallows 2006 - Stuart Gili-Ross.jpg
 Stuart Ross bass
Peter Huntington drums
Gill Morley violin
Brian Right
Ellen Blair viola
Vicky Matthews cello
Rachel Fuller.jpg
 Rachel Fuller
  • 2004–2006
  • 2019
  • keyboards
  • orchestrations
Mick Talbot (cropped).jpg
 Mick Talbot 2014 keyboards "Be Lucky" (2014)[29]
Andrew Synowiec 2019 acoustic guitar Who (2019)[13]
Gordon Giltrap
Benmont_Tench,_2017-08-28.jpg
 Benmont Tench
  • organ
  • mellotron
Dave Sardy
  • mellotron
  • synthesizer programming
Martin Batchelar
  • programming
  • orchestration
  • arrangements
  • conducting
Peter Rotter orchestra fixer
Bruce Dukov orchestra leader
Gus Seyffert bass
Joey Waronker onstage, 2018 (cropped).jpg
 Joey Waronker drums
Carla Azar.jpg
 Carla Azar
Matt Chamberlain
Josh Tyrrell handclaps
Rowan McIntosh

Timeline

Official members

Touring members timeline

Line-ups

Period Members Studio and live releases
The Detours
(1962 – January 1963)
The Detours
(January–December 1963)
  • Gabby Connolly – lead vocals
  • Pete Townshend – lead guitar
  • Roger Daltrey – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • John Entwistle – bass, backing vocals
  • Doug Sandom – drums
The Detours / The Who[A]
(December 1963 – April 1964)
  • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, harmonica
  • Pete Townshend – lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
  • John Entwistle – bass, backing vocals
  • Doug Sandom – drums
The Who[B]
(April 1964 – September 1978)
  • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, harmonica
  • Pete Townshend – lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards, backing and lead vocals
  • John Entwistle – bass, backing and lead vocals
  • Keith Moon – drums, occasional vocals[C]
Death of Keith Moon
(7 September 1978)
The Who
Who Are You Tour
(1979–1980)
  • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, harmonica
  • Pete Townshend – lead and rhythm guitars, backing and lead vocals
  • John Entwistle – bass, backing and lead vocals
  • Kenney Jones – drums

with

The Who
Face Dances Tour
(1981)
  • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, harmonica
  • Pete Townshend – lead and rhythm guitars, backing and lead vocals
  • John Entwistle – bass, backing and lead vocals
  • Kenney Jones – drums

with

  • John "Rabbit" Bundrick – keyboards
The Who
It's Hard Tour
(1982)
  • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
  • Pete Townshend – lead guitar, backing and lead vocals
  • John Entwistle – bass, backing and lead vocals
  • Kenney Jones – drums

with

Hiatus
(1983–1988)
One-off performances
at Live Aid (1985) and the
BPI Awards Ceremony (1988)
  • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, harmonica
  • Pete Townshend – lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
  • John Entwistle – bass
  • Kenney Jones – drums

with

  • John "Rabbit" Bundrick – keyboards
The Who
25th Anniversary Tour
(1989)
  • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
  • Pete Townshend – lead, acoustic, and rhythm guitars, backing and lead vocals
  • John Entwistle – bass, occasional vocals

with

One-off performance at the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Induction Ceremony (1990)
  • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals
  • Pete Townshend – lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
  • John Entwistle – bass

with

Hiatus
(1990–1995)
The Who
Quadrophenia Tour
(1996–1997)
  • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
  • Pete Townshend – lead and rhythm guitars, backing and lead vocals
  • John Entwistle – bass

with

  • John "Rabbit" Bundrick – keyboards
  • Zak Starkey – drums
  • Simon Townshend – rhythm and lead guitars, backing vocals
  • Jon Carin – keyboards
  • Jody Linscott – percussion
  • Dennis Farias – horn section
  • Nick Lane – horn section
  • Roy Wiegand – horn section
  • Simon Gardner – trumpet
  • Neil Sidwell – trombone
  • Billy Nicholls – backing vocals, musical director
The Who
(1999 – February 2002)
  • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
  • Pete Townshend – lead guitar, backing and lead vocals
  • John Entwistle – bass, occasional vocals

with

  • John "Rabbit" Bundrick – keyboards[D]
  • Zak Starkey – drums
The Who
(February–June 2002)
  • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, harmonica
  • Pete Townshend – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • John Entwistle – bass

with

  • John "Rabbit" Bundrick – keyboards
  • Zak Starkey – drums
  • Simon Townshend – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
 none – This line-up rehearsed for the 2002 tour, but did not actually perform in concert, as John Entwistle died shortly before the first show of the tour.
Death of John Entwistle
(27 June 2002)
The Who
(July 2002 – 2011)
  • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
  • Pete Townshend – lead guitar, backing and lead vocals

with

  • John "Rabbit" Bundrick – keyboards[E][F]
  • Zak Starkey – drums[G]
  • Simon Townshend – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Pino Palladino – bass[G]
One-off performance at the
2012 Summer Olympics
closing ceremony (2012)
  • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals
  • Pete Townshend – lead guitar, backing vocals

with

  • Zak Starkey – drums
  • Simon Townshend – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, keyboards
  • Billy Nicholls – backing vocals, musical director
  • Morgan Nicholls – bass
  • Chris Stainton – piano, keyboards
The Who
Quadrophenia and More Tour
(2012–2013)
  • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
  • Pete Townshend – lead guitar, backing and lead vocals

with

  • Zak Starkey – drums[H]
  • Simon Townshend – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Pino Palladino – bass
  • Frank Simes – keyboards, backing vocals, musical director
  • Loren Gold – keyboards, backing vocals
  • John Corey – piano, keyboards, backing vocals
  • J. Greg Miller – brass
  • Reggie Grisham – brass
The Who
(2014–2016)
  • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
  • Pete Townshend – lead guitar, backing and lead vocals

with

  • Zak Starkey – drums
  • Simon Townshend – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Pino Palladino – bass
  • Frank Simes – keyboards, backing vocals, musical director
  • Loren Gold – keyboards, backing vocals
  • John Corey – piano, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Live in Hyde Park (2015)
The Who
(2017)
  • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
  • Pete Townshend – lead guitar, backing and lead vocals

with

  • Zak Starkey – drums
  • Simon Townshend – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Frank Simes - keyboards, backing vocals, musical director
  • Loren Gold – keyboards, backing vocals
  • John Corey – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Jon Button – bass, backing vocals
  • Tommy Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2017)
The Who
(2019–present)[31]
  • Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
  • Pete Townshend – lead guitar, backing and lead vocals

with

  • Zak Starkey – drums
  • Simon Townshend – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Loren Gold – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Jon Button – bass, backing vocals
  • Billy Nicholls - backing vocals, musical director
  • Katie Jacoby – lead violin
  • Audrey Q. Snyder – lead cello
  • Emily Marshall – keyboards, associate conductor
  • Keith Levenson – conductor
  • Who (2019) (with Palladino)
  1. ^ The name change took place in February 1964.
  2. ^ For a few months between July and October 1964, The Who were renamed The High Numbers at the insistence of their manager Peter Meaden.
  3. ^ Keith Moon lost consciousness during a show in San Francisco on 20 November 1973, and was substituted for by audience member Scot Halpin.
  4. ^ John Bundrick was not able to join the band at The Concert for New York City in 2001, and was substituted for by Jon Carin.
  5. ^ John Bundrick was tending to his terminally ill wife between November 2006 and March 2007 and was substituted for by his keyboard tech Brian Kehew.
  6. ^ Brian Kehew was unable to join the band on 8 November 2006, and was substituted for by J.J. Blair.
  7. ^ a b Zak Starkey and Pino Palladino were not able to join the band at Live8 in 2005, and were substituted for by Steve White and Damon Minchella of The Players.
  8. ^ Zak Starkey was unable to join the band from 5–14 February and from 8 June – 8 July 2013, and was substituted for by Scott Devours.


References

  1. ^ "Even with just two original members, the Who prove they can still rock". New York Daily News. 8 February 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Current Touring Band".
  3. ^ a b The Who - Join Together, retrieved 19 October 2022
  4. ^ a b c The Who - Thirty Years Of Maximum R&B, retrieved 19 October 2022
  5. ^ The Who - Live At The Royal Albert Hall, retrieved 19 October 2022
  6. ^ a b The Who - Live In Boston, retrieved 19 October 2022
  7. ^ a b The Who - Tommy And Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests, retrieved 19 October 2022
  8. ^ a b The Who - Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival 2004, retrieved 19 October 2022
  9. ^ The Who - It's Hard, retrieved 19 October 2022
  10. ^ The Who - Who's Last, retrieved 19 October 2022
  11. ^ The Who - Live From Toronto, retrieved 19 October 2022
  12. ^ Various - The Concert For New York City, retrieved 19 October 2022
  13. ^ a b The Who - Who, retrieved 19 October 2022
  14. ^ a b Various - 12-12-12 The Concert For Sandy Relief, retrieved 19 October 2022
  15. ^ a b The Who - Quadrophenia: Live In London, retrieved 19 October 2022
  16. ^ The Who - Live In Hyde Park, retrieved 19 October 2022
  17. ^ Schaal, Eric (16 May 2020). "How Jimmy Page Played Lead Guitar on The Who's 'Bald Headed Woman'". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  18. ^ "How Jimmy Page helped The Who secure their first hit song". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  19. ^ a b "HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY, 'I CAN'T EXPLAIN'". The Who. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  20. ^ "My Generation". The Who. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  21. ^ a b c The Who - Who's Next, retrieved 19 October 2022
  22. ^ a b c Various - Tommy (Original Soundtrack Recording), retrieved 19 October 2022
  23. ^ The Who - The Who By Numbers, retrieved 19 October 2022
  24. ^ a b "Images for The Who - The Who Sell Out". www.discogs.com. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  25. ^ a b The Who - Quadrophenia, retrieved 19 October 2022
  26. ^ a b The Who - Who Are You, retrieved 19 October 2022
  27. ^ The Who - It's Hard, retrieved 19 October 2022
  28. ^ a b The Who - Endless Wire, retrieved 19 October 2022
  29. ^ The Who - Hits 50!, retrieved 19 October 2022
  30. ^ "The Who This Month! 1962". www.thewhothismonth.com. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  31. ^ "Current Touring Band". Thewho.com. Retrieved 7 March 2019.

External links

The Who
Categories