The Who are a legendary rock band first forming and achieving success in the 1960s.  The surviving 2 original members of the band, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend will play 16 dates this year in North America, one of them being our own Pengrowth Saddledome on October 5, 2006.  Tickets range from $57 up to $202, but with only the afore mentioned 2 original members remaining in the lineup, is the Who chemistry still going to feel complete and unblemished to fans of this classic band? 
 

The Early Years

Really what degree of the original Who chemistry remains intact in this version of the band - especially without the legendary Keith Moon or John Entwistle?  I myself think that Entwistle's presence and innovation was undeniable through most of the Who's classic material as a bass player, but there is no doubt that the most shaking change to the band came from the untimely death of Keith Moon; arguably one of the greatest rock drummers of all times, along with others we have lost over the years such as John Bonham(who died of accidental asphyxiation after an alcohol binge in 1980)

Keith Moon died tragically at the age of 32 due to a drug overdose.  He had been taking Heminevrin, a prescripton drug designed to combat alcoholism.  Moon was given 100 pills to be administered as he pleased, he sadly overdosed however with a lethal 32 pills on September 7, 1978.  Set for release sometime in 2007, is a biography movie called "See me feel me: Keith Moon Naked for your Pleasure" on the life of the icon, starring Mike Myers of all people.

To join Daltrey and Townsend on tour however will be bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Zak Starkey, the son of Ringo Star. The new mini rock opera is called "Wire and Glass" and there is also a new album provisionally being called "Who 2" which is scheduled for release in late October of this year. 

But ultimately, the Who are playing in Calgary in October of this year and tickets were on sale as of July 17.  The band have changed and metamorphosised over the years in response to certain events and circumstances surrounding them, just as we all adapt to changes and are eventually faced with a new and different result as their outcome.  I think as a band putting on a concert, this will be a good show, but it will never match or parallel the work and what came from the chemistry of the original 4 members of this classic band, the Who.