The Who Tour 1973

History

Prior to recording the Quadrophenia album, the band played a one-off performance in Voorburg, Netherlands for a Dutch TV special in March. They then did one tour each in England and North America supporting the new rock opera, released in October; four additional dates in London were added after their November dates at the Lyceum failed to meet the large demand for tickets. The set list for these tours was altered considerably from their 1971 and 1972 tours, with a large part of the act devoted to Quadrophenia, while "Won't Get Fooled Again" was the only Who's Next track retained until "My Wife" was reintroduced during the North American dates. Unlike performances of the rock opera Tommy, the group opted to introduce and explain the context of most of the new numbers rather than play them one after the other without breaks. They often struggled with some of the new material, choosing to play to a number of pre-recorded backing tracks featuring the album's original piano and synthesizer parts, as well as various sound effects. "The Dirty Jobs", "Is It in My Head", and "I've Had Enough" were only played in the first concert in Stoke-on-Trent before proving unworkable, and both "Helpless Dancer" and "The Rock" (also played to backing tracks) were eventually dropped. Drummer Keith Moon received a solo vocal spot during "Bell Boy", with Pete Townshend often teasing him over his singing abilities.

Memorable (and infamous) performances during these tours included the group's 5 November show in Newcastle, when troubles with the Quadrophenia backing tracks caused Townshend to suffer a meltdown that resulted in sound engineer Bob Pridden being dragged onstage and suffering an assault in front of the bemused audience. Additionally, Moon passed out about 70 minutes into the opening night of the North American tour at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California, resulting in audience member Scot Halpin sitting in with the band to help them finish the concert. The show at the Spectrum in Philadelphia on 4 December was recorded and occasionally broadcast in incomplete form on the King Biscuit Flower Hour radio show starting in 1974; the following show at the Capital Center in Landover, Maryland was also recorded, but was not aired (the King Biscuit recordings were rumored to be from both dates, but eventually proved to all be from the Philadelphia performance). The King Biscuit Flower Hour Shows were recorded on the Record Plant NY Remote Truck with David Hewitt and Crew.

Live releases

Live material from 1973 (excluding TV appearances where the band mimed to pre-recorded material) has appeared on the following:

Tour band

with

Grand Gala du Pop

This was a one-off concert at the Sporthal de Vliegermolen in Voorburg on 10 March 1973 as part of the Grand Gala du Pop, organised by the Dutch Broadcasting Association VARA. This concert was not part of the succeeding Quadrophenia tours, and no material from the album was included in the set despite some songs having been written by Townshend already. All songs written by Pete Townshend unless specified otherwise.

1. "Baba O'Riley"
2. "Summertime Blues" (Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart)
3. "Won't Get Fooled Again"
4. "My Generation"
5. "See Me, Feel Me"
6. "My Wife" (John Entwistle)
7. "Pinball Wizard"

First UK Leg

This leg lasted from 28 October 1973 at the Trentham Gardens in Stoke-on-Trent and ended on 13 November 1973 at the Lyceum in London. The premiere concert was disastrous for the band, and resulted in a number of Quadrophenia songs being dropped from the set. Later on, "The Rock" would also be dropped from the set, although it was played for this whole leg. All songs written by Pete Townshend unless specified otherwise.

1. "I Can't Explain"
2. "Summertime Blues" (Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart)
3. "My Generation"
4. "I Am the Sea"
5. "The Real Me"
6. "The Punk and the Godfather"
7. "I'm One"
8. "The Dirty Jobs" (played on 28 October only)
9. "Helpless Dancer"
10. "Is It in My Head?" (played on 28 October only)
11. "I've Had Enough" (played on 28 October only)
12. "5.15"
13. "Sea and Sand"
14. "Drowned"
15. "Bell Boy"
16. "Doctor Jimmy"
17. "The Rock"
18. "Love, Reign o'er Me"
19. "My Generation" (not on 2 November)
20. "Pinball Wizard" (not on 12 and 13 November)
21. "See Me, Feel Me"
22. "Won't Get Fooled Again"

Encores (variations of the following list):

There were some set list substitutions, variations, and order switches during the tour. Sometimes, "Pinball Wizard" would be dropped from the set. Over time, the orders of the Tommy medley and "Won't Get Fooled Again" would be switched.

"Fallout Shelter Tour" US/Canada Leg

This leg lasted from 20 November 1973 at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California and ended on 6 December 1973 at the Capital Center in Landover, Maryland. All songs written by Pete Townshend unless specified otherwise.

1. "I Can't Explain"
2. "Summertime Blues" (Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart)
3. "My Wife" (John Entwistle) (played every night starting 22 November)
4. "My Generation"
5. "I Am the Sea"
6. "The Real Me"
7. "The Punk and the Godfather"
8. "I'm One"
9. "Helpless Dancer" (dropped after 2 December)
10. "5.15"
11. "Sea and Sand"
12. "Drowned"
13. "Bell Boy"
14. "Doctor Jimmy"
15. "Love, Reign o'er Me"
16. "Won't Get Fooled Again"
17. "My Generation" (on 22 and 28 November only)
18. "Pinball Wizard" (not on 20 November)
19. "See Me, Feel Me"

Encores (variations of the following list):

There were some set list substitutions, variations, and order switches during the tour.

Second UK Leg

This leg lasted from 18 December 1973 at the Sundown Theatre in Edmonton, London and ended on 23 December 1973 at the same venue. This series of four Christmas concerts featured the reintroduction of classic crowd favourite "Substitute" to the set. All songs written by Pete Townshend unless specified otherwise.

1. "I Can't Explain"
2. "Summertime Blues" (Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart)
3. "My Wife" (John Entwistle)
4. "My Generation"
5. "I Am the Sea"
6. "The Real Me"
7. "The Punk and the Godfather"
8. "I'm One"
9. "5.15"
10. "Sea and Sand"
11. "Drowned"
12. "Bell Boy"
13. "Doctor Jimmy"
14. "Love, Reign o'er Me"
15. "Won't Get Fooled Again"
16. "Pinball Wizard"
17. "See Me, Feel Me"

Encores (variations of the following list):