"The Who" are an British rock group that was first founded in 1964. The core lineup of members included was guitarist Pete Townshend, vocalist Roger Daltrey, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. "The Who" became known for their energetic live performances and unbridled and sometimes destructive behavior on stage.
According to the New York Times, "The Who" have sold 100 million records. The group found fame in the United Kingdom with a pioneering instrument destruction stage show and a series of top ten hit singles, which included "My Generation." They managed to reach the top ten in the U.S. in 1967 with "I Can See for Miles".
The 1969 release of Tommy was the first in a series of top five albums in the United States, followed by Live at Leeds, Who's Next, Quadrophenia, and Who Are You.
Drummer Keith Moon died in 1978, and the band released two studio albums following his untimely passing, Face Dances in 1981 and the top ten It's Hard in 1982, with replacement drummer Kenney Jones, before disbanding in 1983. They re-formed for events such as "Live Aid" and for reunion tours like their 25th anniversary tour in 1989 and the Quadrophenia tours of 1996 and 1997.
In 2000, the three surviving original group members considered recording an album of new material. Their plans were delayed by the death of bass player John Entwistle in 2002. Townshend and Daltrey continue to perform as "The Who." During 2006, they released the studio album Endless Wire, which reached the top ten in the U.K. and U.S. markets.