The Who are an English rock band. Founded in 1961 under the name the Detours, they changed their name to the Who in 1964. Their classic line-up was Roger Daltrey (vocals), Pete Townshend (guitar), John Entwistle (bass) and Keith Moon (drums). Moon and Entwistle died in 1978 and 2002 respectively, with Daltrey and Townshend being the only constant members throughout the band's history.
History The band were first founded by Roger Daltrey under the name the Detours in 1961. The first line-up included Daltrey on rhythm guitar, Pete Townshend on lead guitar, John Entwistle on bass, Colin Dawson on vocals and Harry Wilson on drums. Wilson was fired in mid-1962 and replaced by Doug Sandom.
Dawson left after frequently arguing with Daltrey and was briefly replaced by Gabby Connolly, before Daltrey moved to lead vocals. Townshend, with Entwistle's encouragement, became the sole guitarist. Sandom was fired after an argument with Townshend in 1964; the band continued with stand-in drummers until Keith Moon joined in April of that year.
Moon was the Who's drummer until his death on 7 September 1978; the band decided to continue without him. He was replaced that November by Kenney Jones, who had previously played with the Small Faces and Faces. Joining alongside Jones were keyboardist John "Rabbit" Bundrick and a four-piece horn section consisting of Dick Parry and Howie Casey (saxophone), David Caswell (trumpet), and Reg Brooks (trombone). The horn section departed in 1980, and Bundrick left in 1981. The latter was replaced by Tim Gorman for the band's final tour in 1982. The Who broke up in 1983.
The Who reunited at Live Aid in 1985, with Jones and Bundrick reprising their roles. The band reunited again in 1988, which the same personnel. In 1989, the band embarked on a 25th-anniversary The Kids Are Alright reunion tour with Simon Phillips on drums, Steve "Boltz" Bolton on second guitarist, Jody Linscott on percussion, Simon Clarke and Tim Sanders on saxophone, Roddy Lorimer and Simon Gardner on trumpet, Neil Sidwell on trombone, and Chyna Gordon, Cleveland Watkiss and Billy Nicholls on backing vocals.
The band reformed again at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction with Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band as backup band.
The band would tour again in 1996, with an expanded band, consisting of John "Rabbit" Bundrick on keyboards, Zak Starkey on drums, Simon Townshend on second guitar, Jon Carin on keyboards, Jody Linscott on percussion, Dennis Farias, Nick Lane and Roy Wiegand on horns, Simon Gardner on trumpet, Neil Sidwell on trombone, and Billy Nicholls on backing vocals and as musical director.
In late 1999, the Who performed as a five-piece for the first time since 1985, with Bundrick on keyboards and Starkey on drums. The band toured the US and UK from June to October 2000, with Simon Townshend returning as second guitarist. The Who played concerts in the UK in early 2002 in preparation for a full US tour. On 27 June, the day before the first date, Entwistle, 57, was found dead of a heart attack at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. Cocaine was a contributing factor.
Entwistle's son, Christopher, gave a statement supporting the Who's decision to carry on. The US tour began at the Hollywood Bowl with touring bassist Pino Palladino. Bundrick took a hiatus from the band to tend to his terminally ill wife between November 2006 and March 2007, and was substituted for by his keyboard tech Brian Kehew.
The band played at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony, with Chris Stainton on keyboards and Morgan Nicholls on bass. The Quadrophenia and More tour started in November 2012 in Ottawa with keyboardists John Corey, Loren Gold and Frank Simes, the last of whom was also musical director, second guitarist Simon Townshend, and J. Greg Miller and Reggie Grisham on brass. Miller and Grisham both departed in 2013. Palladino departed in 2015, followed by Corey and Simes in 2017. Jon Button took over bass while the band continued with Gold as their sole keyboardist.
The band started touring with an orchestra in 2019. Billy Nichols returned as musical director and backing vocalist, Keith Levenson joined as conductor, Katie Jacoby on lead violin, Audrey Q. Snyder on lead cello, and Emily Marshall on second keyboards. Randy Landau joined as lead contrabassist in 2022. The band ceased performing with an orchestra in 2025 (though retaining Jacoby on violin), and were joined by backing vocalist John Hogg (replacing Nicholls) and returning percussionist Jody Linscott.
On 16 April 2025, the band announced they would be parting ways with longtime touring drummer Zak Starkey, before reversing their decision on 19 April. On May 18, Pete Townshend announced on Instagram that Zak Starkey would be leaving to pursue other projects and Scott Devours from Roger Daltrey's solo touring band would replace him for the Who's final shows. Shortly after, Starkey posted his own statement in which he said that he had been fired two weeks after reinstatement and been asked by the band to state that he had quit.
Members
Current members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsRoger Daltreyall releasesPete Townshend
Former members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJohn Entwistleall releases from My Generation (1965) to Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2003)Colin Dawson 1961–1963lead vocals noneHarry Wilson1961–1962drumsDoug Sandom1962–1964 Gabby Connolly 1963lead vocalsKeith Moonall releases from My Generation (1965) to Quadrophenia soundtrack (1979)Kenney Jonesdrums all releases from Quadrophenia soundtrack (1979) to Who's Last (1984)
Touring members Current touring members Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributionsJody LinscottpercussionSimon Townshendall current releases from Live At The Royal Albert Hall (2001) to presentLoren Gold2012–presentall current releases from 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief (2013) to present except Who (2019)Jon Button2017–presentTommy - Live At The Royal Albert Hall (2017)Katie Jacoby2019–presentviolinnone to date Scott Devours2025–present drumsJohn Hogg2025–present
Former touring members Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributionsJohn "Rabbit" BundrickHowie Casey 1979–1980saxophonenoneDick Parry 1979–1980 David Caswell1979–1980trumpetReg BrookstromboneTim Gorman1982 Billy Nichollsbacking vocalsSimon GardnertrumpetJoin Together (1990)Neil SidwelltromboneSimon Philips1989drums Steve Boltonrhythm and lead guitarChyna Gordonbacking vocalsJoin Together (1990)Cleveland WatkissSimon ClarkesaxophoneTim SandersRoddy Lorimertrumpet Zak Starkey1996–2025 all releases from Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2001) to The Who with Orchestra Live at Wembley (2023)Jon CarinkeyboardsDennis Farias1996–1997trumpetnoneRoy WiegandNick LanetrombonePino Palladino2002–2016bassFrank Simes2012–2017John CoreyJ. Greg Miller2012–2013brassReggie GrishamKeith Levenson2019–2024noneAudrey Q. SnydercelloEmily MarshallRandy Landau2022–2024contrabass
Substitutes Image Name Years active Instruments NotesDave Golding 1964drumsSession drummer Golding played with the Who following the departure of Sandom before the arrival of Moon.Scot Halpin 1973 Moon lost consciousness during a show in San Francisco on 20 November 1973, and was substituted for by audience member Halpin.Peter Huntington2004–2006Due to Starkey's touring commitments with Oasis, Huntington was the main drummer on Endless Wire.Steve White2005Starkey and Palladino were not able to join the band at Live8 in 2005, and were substituted for by White and Minchella.Damon MinchellabassBrian Kehew2006–2007keyboardsBundrick was tending to his terminally ill wife between November 2006 and March 2007 and was substituted for by his keyboard tech Kehew.J.J. Blair2006Kehew was unable to join the band on 8 November 2006, and was substituted for by Blair.Chris Stainton2012Nicholls and Stainton performed with the band at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony.Morgan Nichollsbass
Session musicians Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributionsJimmy Page1965The Ivy Leaguebacking vocalsPerry Ford1965 pianoNicky Hopkins Speedy Keen1967 vocalsThe Who Sell Out (1967)Al KooperorganDave Arbus1971 violinWho's Next (1971)Leslie West1971 lead guitarJon Curle1972–1973voiceQuadrophenia (1973)Chris Stainton1972–1974Arthur Brown1974vocalsTommy (soundtrack) (1975)Tina Turner1974 Eric Clapton1974Elton JohnMick Ralphs 1974 guitarCaleb Quaye 1974Ronnie WoodDavey JohnstoneAlan Rossacoustic guitarGerald ShaworganPhil Chen1974 bassDave Wintour 1974 Tony Stevens 1974Dee Murray1974 Fuzzy Samuels 1974Mike Kellie 1974 drumsTony Newman 1974Graham DeakinNigel OlssonRay CooperpercussionRod Argent 1977–1978Who Are You (1978)Ted Astley 1977–1978 string arrangementsAndy Fairweather-LowGreg Lake2003–2004 bass guitar"Real Good Looking Boy" (2004)Jolyon Dixon2004–2006acoustic guitarEndless Wire (2006)Lawrence BallelectronicsStuart RossbassPeter HuntingtondrumsGill MorleyviolinBrian RightEllen BlairviolaVicky MatthewscelloRachel FullerMick Talbot2014keyboards"Be Lucky" (2014)Andrew Synowiec2019acoustic guitarWho (2019)Gordon GiltrapBenmont TenchDave SardyMartin BatchelarPeter Rotterorchestra fixerBruce Dukovorchestra leaderGus SeyffertbassJoey WaronkerdrumsCarla AzarMatt ChamberlainJosh TyrrellhandclapsRowan McIntosh
Timeline
Official members
Touring members timeline
Line-ups PeriodMembersReleases 1962: The Detours Colin Dawson – lead vocals Pete Townshend – lead guitar Roger Daltrey – rhythm guitar, backing vocals John Entwistle – bass, backing vocals Doug Sandom – drumsnone1963: The Detours Gabby Connolly – lead vocals Pete Townshend – lead guitar Roger Daltrey – rhythm guitar, backing vocals John Entwistle – bass, backing vocals Doug Sandom – drums January – February 1964: The Detours February – April 1964: The Who Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, harmonica Pete Townshend – lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals John Entwistle – bass, backing vocals Doug Sandom – drumsApril – July 1964: The WhoJuly – October 1964: The High NumbersOctober 1964 – 7 September 1978: The Who 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 "I'm the Face" (1964) "I Can't Explain" (1965) "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (1965) My Generation (1965) "Substitute" (1966) "I'm a Boy" (1966) Ready Steady Who (1966) "Happy Jack" (1966) A Quick One (1966) "Pictures of Lily" (1967) "The Last Time" (1967) The Who Sell Out (1967) "Dogs" (1968) "Magic Bus" (1968) Tommy (1969) "The Seeker" (1970) Live at Leeds (1970) Who's Next (1971) "Let's See Action" (1972) "Join Together" (1972) "Relay" (1972) Quadrophenia (1973) Odds & Sods (1974) Tommy (soundtrack) (1975) The Who by Numbers (1975) Who Are You (1978) The Kids Are Alright (1979) Quadrophenia (soundtrack) (1979) Thirty Years of Maximum R&B (1994) Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 (1996) BBC Sessions (2000) View from a Backstage Pass (2007) Greatest Hits Live (2010) Live at Hull 1970 (2012) Live at the Fillmore East 1968 (2018) Keith Moon died 7 September 19781979 – 1980: The Who 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 Reg Brooks – trombone David Caswell – trumpet Howie Casey – saxophone Dick Parry – saxophone Quadrophenia (soundtrack) (1979) 1981: The Who 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 Face Dances (1981) Thirty Years of Maximum R&B (1994)1982: The Who Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica