The members of the Who have played in several different bands over the years. Some were prototypes or extensions of the Who itself. Others were formed to allow Townshend, Entwistle, and Daltrey to express themselves as solo artists. Below, I list the different groups of musicians who have made a contribution to the Who legend from 1963 to 1997 (and hopefully beyond).

THE CONFEDERATES/ARISTOCRATS/SCORPIONS (1959-1962) The Confederates were formed by John Entwistle and were the first group to feature Pete Townshend. All the members were students at Acton Grammar School in West London who played Trad Jazz and skiffle in an effort to get attention, girls, and beer money. Next was the Aristocrats (which soon became known as the Scorpions), still lead by Pete and John, but now playing mostly early rock instrumentals (ala the Shadows, Booker T & the MGs, etc.)

Confederates line-up: John Entwistle (trumpet), Pete Townshend (banjo), Chris Sherwin (drums), and Phil Rhodes (clarinet).

Aristocrats/Scorpions line-up: John Entwistle (lead guitar), John Entwistle (bass guitar), Mick Brown, Pete Wilson (instruments unknown).

THE DETOURS (1962-1964) This was the group formed by Roger Daltrey and Colin Dawson after they fell in love with the music of Elvis Presley and Lonnie Donegan. Daltrey saw John Entwistle after a Scorpions rehearsal one day and invited him to join the Detours. Pete was invited to join by John (the Detours' access to Vox amps convinced him). The Detours, unlike the Scorpions, were already a semi-professional group who were earning money. They were driven by Daltrey's ambition and hard-nosed determination. The somewhat haughty and controlling attitude of original lead singer Colin Dawson led to his exit from the group. Bob Druce signed the Detours to a performance contract with his firm, and they recorded a demo for Pete's first song, "It Was You," at the studio of TV producer Barry Gray. As the Detours star began to rise, they saw another group called the Detours perform on "Thank Your Lucky Stars." After considering several corny, gimmicky names ("The Group," "No-One," "The Hair") they settled on the suggestion of Pete's art-school friend Richard Barnes: "The Who"

Detours line-up 1: Colin Dawson (vocals), Roger Daltrey (lead guitar), John Entwistle (bass guitar), Pete Townshend (rhythm guitar), and Doug Sandom (drums).

Detours line-up 2: Roger Daltrey (vocals), John Entwistle (bass guitar), Pete Townshend (lead guitar), and Doug Sandom (drums).

THE WHO/THE HIGH NUMBERS (1964) The Who eventually found a financial backer and manager in Helmut Gorden, a foundry owner who imagined himself as the next Brian Epstein. Meanwhile, publicist Pete Meaden, himself inspired by Stones promoter (and former Beatles publicist) Andrew Oldham, came in to give the group a unique look and style. Meaden was a hardcore Mod who cast the Who as a Mod group. As a result, they were renamed yet again--to "The High Numbers." A Number, in Mod terminology, was a Mod who wore T-shirts with pop-art symbols, like targets. "High" was a double-entendre referring both to the group's imagined status, and their state of mind. The Who's first recording sessions broke down amid musical differences with drummer Sandom, and the group went looking for a new drummer. As if by divine providence, Keith Moon appeared one night at the Royal Oldfield Hotel where the Who were performing with a session drummer. A mate of Moon's claimed that Keith could play much better than the fill-in drummer, and Keith proceeded to get up on the stage and prove the claim. Moonie was in. Soon afterward, the group recorded their first, heavily Mod-oriented single, "I'm The Face" b/w "Zoot Suit." The single didn't chart, but the band were gaining momentum, and the seeds of a legend were sown.

The Who line-up 1: Roger Daltrey (vocals), Pete Townshend (lead guitar), John Entwistle (bass guitar), and Doug Sandom (drums).

The Who line-up 2/The High Numbers line-up: Roger Daltrey (vocals), Pete Townshend (lead guitar), John Entwistle (bass guitar), and Keith Moon (drums).

THE WHO (1964-1978) Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp were two would-be entrepreneurs who were trying to find a pop-group to feature in a film they were planning to make. After auditioning the High Numbers, Kit was determined to become their new manager and take them to the top of the charts. He changed their name back to the Who, bought them classier threads, encouraged Townshend's newfound songwriting talent, and had the group record with hit producer Shel Talmy (who had masterminded the rise of the Kinks). Lambert and Stamp also managed to get the Who a recording contract with Decca (they were rejected by the Beatles' record company EMI, just as Decca had earlier passed on the Beatles) as well as many important TV bookings. Later, Robert Stigwood's Reaction label carried the Who in England, and Polydor records distributed Lambert's Who-centered record label, Track, throughout the late '60's and early '70's. By 1966, the Who were gaining a reputation as the world's best live rock and roll band, which claim they've held ever since. Monterey Pop and Woodstock appearances, along with the stunning success of "Tommy" made them stars in America. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Who line-up: Roger Daltrey (vocals), Pete Townshend (lead guitar, vocals, synthesizers, piano), John Entwistle (bass guitar, vocals, brass instruments), and Keith Moon (drums, occasional vocals). The Who sometimes supplemented their studio recordings with additional musicians, among them Nicky Hopkins, Jimmy Page, Dave Arbus, Rod Argent, Andy Fairweather-Low, and Leslie West.

JOHN ENTWISTLE'S OX (1975) The first band created to feature a Who member's solo activities, the Ox was primarily a result of the Who's decision to limit their touring in 1974 and '75. Entwistle was dying to get back on the road, and formed this group to play his solo material live. The group started as a 12-piece band, but quickly shrank along with Entwistle's bank account. John claims he lost £70, 000 on the project, proof of how much he loves to stay on the road.

The Ox line-up: John Entwistle (bass guitar and vocals), Robert Johnson (lead guitar and vocals), Mike Decan (keyboards), Graham Deakin (drums), and Jeff Daily (saxophone).

THE WHO (1979-1982) After Keith Moon's tragic untimely death at age 31, the Who decided to carry on. They brought in drummer Kenney Jones, alumnus of the classic Mod band, the Small Faces (known simply as "The Faces" in the '70s) and expanded to a five- piece with the addition of John "Rabbit" Bundrick on keyboards. A horn section appeared with the Who as well, allowing them to try more challenging material on stage ("Music Must Change," "I Can See For Miles," "5.15," "Dancing In The Street," and others). The Who was revitalized for a time, with their 1979 shows reaching heights only dreamt of before. Yet, drunkenness, in-fighting, and a poor selection of new material began to take its toll. The Who's stage show in 1980 and '81 began to sag. The famous tragedy at Cincinnati's Riverfront Coliseum on Dec. 3, 1979 probably marked the beginning of the end for the band. Townshend began to forge a separate career and identity for himself with the release of his first true solo album, "Empty Glass" in Winter 1980, while simultaneously falling into a dangerous lifestyle of rock excess. A heroin overdose in September 1980, followed by the critical failure of the Who's first album with Kenney Jones, "Face Dances," led Townshend to once again consider disbanding the Who. Roger Daltrey, disappointed in Jones' performance within the group and Pete's destructive behavior, finally agreed with Townshend that the group should be put to bed. The 1982 North American Tour was billed as the Who's "Farewell" to live performance, and although an album called "Siege" was promised to Warner Bros. for 1983, 1982's "It's Hard" became the Who's final studio album. Tim Gorman took "Rabbit" Bundrick's place on the "Farewell Tour."

The Who line-up 2: Roger Daltrey (vocals, occasional guitar), Pete Townshend (vocals, lead guitar, synthesizers, keyboards), John Entwistle (bass guitar, vocals, brass instruments), Kenney Jones (drums), and John "Rabbit" Bundrick (keyboards).

PETE TOWNSHEND'S DEEP END This band was assembled to produce the music for Pete's 1985 album/film project, "White City." The 16-piece group enabled Townshend to play the role of band-leader, which he did quite well at two charity show at London's Brixton Academy, and later at the Midem Music Festival in Cannes. Though disbanded in 1986, most of the group was absorbed into the Who's 1989 touring band (see below).

Deep End line-up: Pete Townshend (guitar, vocals), David Gilmour (lead guitar), Chucho Merchan (bass guitar), Simon Phillips (drums), Peter Hope-Evans (harmonica), John "Rabbit" Bundrick (keyboards), Jodie Linscott (percussion), Jackie Challenor, Mae McKenna, Lorenza Johnson, Emma Townshend (backing vocals), and the Kick Horns (Simon Clarke, Roddy Lorimer, Dave Sanders, Tim Sanders, and Peter Thoms). Also featured on the "White City" album (but not at the live appearances): Steve Barnacle, Mark Brzezicki, Tony Butler, Pino Palladino, Clem Burke, and Phil Chen.

THE WHO'S REUNION TOUR BAND (1989-1990) The 25th Anniversary "Kids Are Alright" Tour was a huge financial success for the band and their hangers-on, but didn't contribute much to their previously impeccable live reputation. While the band and many of their fans saw the tour as a fun, "easy-listening" remembrance of former glories, some saw the whole thing as a betrayal of the Who's old idealism, and a blatant attempt at "selling out." Certainly the old classic power-trio sound of the sixties and seventies was turned inside out by the glitzy, big-band treatment of the Who's greatest hits. The whole tour sometimes seemed like a massive publicity campaign for Townshend's latest solo records. Kenney Jones' replacement by Simon Phillips may have been necessary, but Steve Bolton taking Pete's place on lead guitar bordered on travesty. Yet, this tour was the first live outing of "Tommy" since 1970, and it was the closest thing to the Who that anyone had seen in seven years.

The Kids Are Alright Tour line-up: Roger Daltrey (vocals), Pete Townshend (acoustic guitar and vocals), John Entwistle (bass guitar and vocals), Simon Phillips (drums), Steve "Boltz" Bolton (lead guitar), John "Rabbit" Bundrick (keyboards), Jody Linscott (percussion), Chyna, Billy Nicholls, and Cleveland Watkiss (backing vocals), and the Kick Horns (Simon Clarke--alto & baritone sax, Tim Sanders--tenor sax, Roddy Lorimer--trumpet, Simon Gardner--trumpet, Neil Sidwell--trombone)

Pete Townshend's Psychoderelict Band To support his latest project, "Psychoderelict" in mid-1993, Townshend embarked on a solo tour of America with some old cohorts.

Pychoderelict lne-up: Pete Townshend (guitar and vocals), Simon Phillips (drums), John "Rabbit" Bundrick (keyboards), Peter Hope-Evans (harmonica), Billy Nicholls (backing vocals), Jody Linscott (percussion), the Kick Horns (see THE WHO'S REUNION TOUR BAND), Jan Ravens (actress, playing "Ruth Streeting") and John Labanowski (actor, playing "Ray High").

ROGER DALTREY'S 1994 BAND With a quickly cooling solo career and little hope of reuniting the Who anytime soon, Roger Daltrey embarked on a solo tour "celebrating the music of Pete Townshend and the Who." Certainly, no one could sing the Who's material better than Daltrey, and Daltrey never found another songwriter who could meet his own artistic needs as well as Townshend. But, the gesture seemed somehow empty. Even when John Entwistle became a permanent fixture of the "Daltrey Sings Townshend" tour, at their best, they only served as a reminder of the excitement that the real Who could produce. Again, a gesture to nostalgia. The project got its start as a star-studded Carnegie Hall production in February 1994.

"Daltrey Sings Townshend" Carnegie Hall line-up: Roger Daltrey (vocals), Pino Palladino (bass guitar and vocals), Phil Palmer (guitar), Simon Phillips (drums), John "Rabbit" Bundrick (keyboards), Jon Carin (guitar, keyboards), Jody Linscott (percussion), Billy Nicholls and Cleveland Watkiss (backing vocals) and the Juilliard Orchestra, arranged and conducted by Michael Kamen. Guest perfomers included: Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, Linda Perry, The Cheiftains, David Sanborn, Eddie Vedder, Lou Reed, The Spin Doctors, Alice Cooper, and Sinead O'Connor.

"Daltrey Sings Townshend" Tour line-up: Roger Daltrey (vocals), Phil Spalding (bass guitar--first half of tour), John Entwistle (bass guitar), Simon Townshend (lead guitar), Zak Starkey (drums), and Keith Levenson (orchestral conductor). Local orchestras were used during the tour.

QUADROPHENIA TOUR BAND (1996-1997) In 1996, Pete Townshend was inspired (perhaps by listening to the newly remixed album) to revive the Who's classic rock concept album "Quadrophenia" as a live extravaganza. For the first time, it was Townshend who had to cajole his old bandmates to return to the stage. Though initially billed as TED (Townshend Entwistle Daltrey), the project soon became known as another Who reunion tour, with all the baggage that entailed. Although the Quadrophenia tour required intense preparation and synchronization (including some pre-recorded music and film projection), the Who were "tight but loose" (to borrow a phrase used to describe Jimmy Page's style in the '70s). In between the tightly-controlled musical theatre sequences were moments of fine improvisation and sheer brilliance. On the European and second American leg of the Quad tour, Townshend seemed to step out of himself, enjoying his role in the Who more than any other time since the late '70s. He played more electric guitar than he had in all his appearances since 1982, and his playing was as soulful and sublime as it ever had been. Daltrey's voice, though limited by age and years of primal screaming, could still shine, and his body was fit and lean. Entwistle's role was, in a sense, diminished by a setlist which allowed no vocal roles for him, yet the Quadrophenia performance was a great showcase for his unique and innovative bass style, and his nightly solo in "5.15" was the tour's constant crowd pleaser. After years of half-measures and near-misses, the Who in late 1997 were primed to reestablish themselves at the forefront of the rock pantheon.

Quadrophenia Tour line-up 1: Roger Daltrey (vocals and some guitar), Pete Townshend (acoustic and electric lead and rhythm guitar, vocals), John Entwistle (bass guitar), Simon Townshend (electric guitar, vocals), Gary Glitter ("The Godfather"--vocals), Billy Idol ("The Ace Face/Bell Boy"--vocals), Zak Starkey (drums), John "Rabbit" Bundrick (keyboards), Jody Linscott (percussion), Jon Carin (keyboards, sound effects), Neil Sidwell (trombone), Simon Gardner (trumpets), Billy Nicholls (MIDI, backing vocals), Keith Murrell (backing vocals). In addition, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd assisted in the Quadrophenia debut at Hyde Park, London, June 29, 1996, and actor Phil Daniels, provided live narration on the early shows of the tour.

Quadrophenia Tour line-up 2: Roger Daltrey (vocals and some guitar), Pete Townshend (acoustic and electric lead and rhythm guitar, vocals), John Entwistle (bass guitar), Simon Townshend (electric guitar, vocals), Zak Starkey (drums), P.J. Proby ("The Godfather"--vocals), Ben Waters ("The Ace Face/Bell Boy"--vocals), John "Rabbit" Bundrick (keyboards), Jon Carin (keyboards, sound effects), Neil Sidwell (trombone), Simon Gardner (trumpets), Billy Nicholls (backing vocals), Keith Murrell (backing vocals).