2000 Austin AU786WR, signed by The Who
Musician
The Who
(English, founded 1964)
Maker
Austin Guitars
Date2000
ClassificationsMusic
Description2000 Austin AU786WR Les Paul style sunburst guitar. The guitar is signed by members of The Who. In blue market, Pete Townshend signed on the pickguard and Roger Daltrey added "Be Lucky / Long Live Rock." In silver marker, John Entwistle signed and added a drawing of Boris the spider. In a hardshell case.Austin Guitars was founded in the late 1990s with the goal of creating affordable guitars that resembled classic designs and shapes. Austin produces both acoustic and electric instruments, recreating iconic guitars designs used by Fender, Gibson, Martin, and others.
The Who are a British band founded in London in 1964. They are considered one of the most influential bands of the 20th century, combining mod, rock, and power pop into a new output of popular music. The Who were born from an earlier band, The Detours, which featured then guitarist and vocalist Roger Daltrey. Daltrey recruited bassist John Entwistle and guitarist Pete Townshend to join his band. After a name change to The Who, the band brought on drummer Keith Moon, filling out the band's lineup.
In December 1964, the The Who released their first single "I Can't Explain," which helped secure a record contract. After touring during much of 1965, the band's next single came in October of that year. "My Generation" was a rebellious song, penned by Townshend, about Britain's new youth culture of the 1960s. It became one of The Who's signature songs, and has been ranked as one of the most influential rock and roll songs by Rolling Stone and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Who's debut studio album My Generation, was released in late 1965 (April 1966 in the US) and although the band discounted it as a "rush job," it's heavy guitar sounds helped inspire the future hard rock genre of the 1970s. A Quick One (1966) and The Who Sell Out (1967) followed, as the band continued to hone their sound. Tommy (1969) was The Who's fourth album, a concept album that was billed as one of the first rock operas. The album tells the story of Tommy Walker, a fictional character, and his journey to becoming a spiritual leader. The Who performed portions of Tommy at their 1969 Woodstock concert.
Who's Next (1971) continued the band's experimental output, including the use of synthesizers, and was an instant success. Songs like "Won't Get Fooled Again," "Baba O'Riley," and "Behind Blue Eyes" topped the single charts. Quadrophenia (1973), their second rock opera album, The Who By Numbers (1975), and Who Are You (1978) rounded out the decade - with Who Are You reaching #2 in the US and #6 in the UK behind the eponymously titled single. Drummer Keith Moon died three weeks after the album's release.
The Who carried on without Moon, hiring drummer Kenney Jones of the Small Faces and Faces. They recorded two albums with Jones, Face Dances (1981) and and It's Hard (1982). Townshend left The Who in 1983, effectively ending the band. They have reunited several times since, although bassist John Entwistle passed away in 2002. Zak Starkey, son of Ringo Starr, has played drums for the band since 1996.
Daltrey's piercing scream, along with Townshend's windmill guitar playing are signature elements of The Who's sound. Their destructive onstage behavior - smashing instruments in many performances - was in line with the heavily distorted "Marshall stack" amplifiers the band utilized. Their songwriting and style inspired countless future artists, and the band was honored with an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
