I Want That Magic Bus!

Now this is a cool contest! For $10 you can win The Who's Magic Bus (pictured above) in a raffle. Go here for more information. Proceeds from the raffle go to Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT), a charity that Roger Daltrey spearheads.

Speaking of which, Roger and Pete Townshend closed out the TCT Concert Series at the Royal Albert Hall in London last night with an acoustic set. Pete's brother Simon played mandolin for "2000 Years." Here is the entire setlist:

Let's See Action
Behind Blue Eyes
2000 Years
Mike Post Theme
Won't Get Fooled Again
Tea and Theatre

I'm not sure who else played, but the annual event usually has some good performers such as Noel Gallagher, Brian Adams, Paul Weller, etc.

The Who Play Acoustic Set

The Who will close out the eighth annual Teenage Cancer Trust concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall on April 13 with an acoustic set. This recent announcement allows me to walk down memory lane! I remember the night like it was yesterday, a hot summer evening in New York City and I was on my way with some friends to see The Who perform Quadrophenia... It was a great show with a bunch of special guests. But one of the highlights was after the Quadrophenia part was over, they belted out some of their heavyweight songs like “Won’t Get Fooled Again" as part of an acoustic set! Oh if only I could find my flux capacitor and go back in time…

Sean Kilkelly Hears The Who!

and maybe you will too! From the Associated Press:

NEW YORK (AP) — VH1 holds The Who in such high regard that the rock group is the only act being honored at its upcoming Rock Honors.

Now in its third year, the Rock Honors typically celebrate a handful of momentous rock groups and artists: previous honorees have included ZZ Top, Genesis, Kiss and Queen.

But this year, only the Who will be celebrated during the two-hour broadcast, to be taped July 12 in Los Angeles and aired on the network July 17. The group, which now consists surviving members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, is due to perform along with other acts who will pay tribute to the legendary band.

"The Who defined the rock era. Their music truly pushed boundaries, connected with millions of rock fans and inspired countless bands to fulfill their own musical destinies," said Tom Calderone, VH1's executive vice president and general manager.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers came to prominence in the 1960s with hits like "The Kids Are Alright," "My Generation," and created the groundbreaking rock opera "Tommy."

Drummer Keith Moon died of an overdose of prescription drugs in 1978, and bass guitarist John Entwistle was found dead of a heart attack in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2002.

The rest is from me...

Meanwhile, a biography on Pete Townshend is slated to be released in America this fall. Click this for more.

Thomas Scot Halpin, The Man That Filled In For Keith Moon Back In 1973, Dies

It was 1973 at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California, and an inebriated Keith Moon had passed out. Pete Townshend asked if there was anyone in the audience who could play drums. Scot Halpin stepped up and filled in for Moon. He would go on to win Rolling Stone Magazine’s “Pick-up Player of the Year Award.” Halpin died on February 9 at 54. For more on the story, click here.

That's the only time that Moon was unable to perform at a concert, which is strange because his drinking really picked up around 1976-77, when The Who were not touring as much.

Keith Moon died in 1978 after attending a film preview with Paul and Linda McCartney of The Buddy Holly Story. He had overdosed on a drug intended to curb his drinking.

Derek Jeter and The Who

The only person as cool as Denzel Washington and myself (haha); Derek Jeter in a new commercial for Gatorade with The Who's "Sparks" playing in the background.

Rockestra Theme

Paul McCartney got together with a bunch of artists to record Rockestra in late 1978. The above video is a performance in London of the "Rockestra Theme" at the Concerts for the People of Kampuchea. The intent of the concerts was to raise money for war-torn Cambodia.

The Who's Keith Moon died a month before the original recording of the song, otherwise he would have been involved. I'm so glad Pete Townshend didn't wear one of those ridiculous looking silver suits that all the others are wearing.

Nonetheless, it's quite an impressive lineup of rockers.

"Lucille" From Rockestra

This is a performance of Little Richard's "Lucille" from the same Rockestra concert which I write about in the above post. I've read that Pete Townshend was particularly thrilled to finally get to perform alongside one of his idols, Hank Marvin of The Shadows.