The Who – Who Are You (Live 1989 LA Second Set)

A vibrant and energetic performance of one of the more recognizable songs by The Who.

“Who Are You” – Single by the Who from the album Who Are You
A-side: “Had Enough”
Released: 14 July 1978 (UK) and 5 August 1978 (US)
Recorded: 4 October 1977
Songwriters: Pete Townshend.

This song is based on a day in the life of Pete Townshend. It began with a very long meeting dealing with royalties for his songs: “Eleven hours in the Tin Pan, God, there’s got to be another way.” The “Tin Pan” he is referring to is Denmark Street, the “Tin Pan Alley” of London where many music publishers and songwriters were based. After this excruciating meeting he received a large check for royalties, left, went to a bar and got completely drunk. In that bar he encountered Paul Cook and Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols, who thought very highly of Pete for paving the way for punk rock music. Townshend was conflicted because he feared The Who had sold out, and seeing The Sex Pistols, who were icons of rebellion, exacerbated him even more. Pete left that bar and passed out in a random doorway in Soho (a part of London). A policeman recognized him (“A policeman knew my name”) and being kind, woke him and told him, “You can go sleep at home tonight (instead of a jail cell), if you can get up and walk away.” Pete’s response: “Who the f–k are you?”

“Who Are You” was released as a double-A side with the John Entwistle song, “Had Enough,” but “Who Are You” was the more popular song, reaching the Top 20 in both the United States and UK. The song has since been featured on multiple compilation albums. The single mix contains an alternate acoustic guitar solo to the album mix.

Who Are You was the Who’s final studio album to feature Keith Moon as their drummer. He died three weeks after it was released. The ironic nature of the text “Not to Be Taken Away” that was stencilled on Moon’s chair on the album cover was noted by some critics.

The Who
Roger Daltrey – lead vocals
Pete Townshend – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, synthesizer and backing vocals
John Entwistle – bass and backing vocals
Keith Moon – drums and handclaps