Listen to The Who Perform in Oakland on This Day in 1982

Music Features The Who
Listen to The Who Perform in Oakland on This Day in 1982

After coming out of the British Invasion wave that swept across America, The Who proved to be more than just a fad. Throughout their distinguished career, they went from dapper British mods who played classic pop, rock and blues to long-haired bohemians with grand, cutting-edge concept records like 1969’s Tommy and 1973’s Quadrophenia. Now, with 11 studio albums and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, the band is still touring and selling out massive venues all over the world.

In 1982, the band had released their tenth studio album, It’s Hard. It was their last record to feature bassist John Entwistle and their final album until 2006’s Endless Wire. Their world tour that year was initially to promote their latest record, but they subsequently announced it would be their final tour—which obviously did not end up being the case as they reunited a few times before going back on tour in 1989. That 1982 world tour was their final tour with drummer Kenney Jones (Faces, Small Faces) who replaced the late, great Keith Moon in 1978.

On this day in 1982, the band played a sold-out show at Oakland Coliseum Arena where they played to 14,372 people—fairly intimate when compared to their show in Oakland two nights before at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum for 60,300 people. Listen to four live recordings from that night including performances of “I Can’t Explain,” “Dangerous,” “The Quiet One” and “Substitute.”

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