Issue 155

Who Are You?

14th May 2007

June 1st will be an historic day for Swansea as the city's Liberty Stadium plays host to its first gig nearly two years after it opened it's doors.

It will be an equally emotional moment for the band that will play that gig as The Who return to Swansea 30 years after drummer Keith Moon played his last paid show at the old Vetch Field before his death in 1978.

The loss of Moon was the start of a downward spiral for the band which led to their eventual split in 1983. After surviving members Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend and John Entwistle had all had flirtations with solo careers they decided to reform for a one off tour in 1989 before making a fully fledged return in 1996.

Despite the loss of Entwislte in 2002 the band have maintained their muscular, energetic presence on stage and continue to be one of the best live acts around, as proved by their superb performance at Live8. When asked if the band were intimidated by having to follow Robbie Williams at the huge Hyde Park show the very modest Townshend said, "No not really, I knew I had been playing really well around that time and that we were going to blow people away."

Expect more of the same when they pitch up in Swansea where they will be supporting their first studio album in 24 years, Endless Wire, which has recieved positive reviews from critics and fans alike.

With the new material to be added to old favourites such as Baba O'Riley, Won't Get Fooled Again, I Can't Explain and My Generation it should be one hell of a show.

Andrew Gwilym