For the first time since 1969, the Who have played Tommy in its entirety in concert.
The concert was in celebration of The Teenage Cancer Trust’s 100th performance at Royal Albert Hall in London, an annual week long event that sees some of the biggest names in music come together for the charity. This year’s lineup also includes Olly Murs, Ed Sheeran, Paul Weller and the Pet Shop Boys with Johnny Marr.
The last time The Who performed Tommy in its (almost) entirety was on November 2, 1989, also at Royal Albert Hall except they left one track from the rock opera out during the tour, Underture, which was last in a Who show on September 29, 1969. Roger Daltrey did include Underture during his “Roger Daltrey Performs The Who’s Tommy” tour just four times in 2011.
The Thursday night show at Royal Albert Hall opened with two early Who songs, I Can’t Explain and Substitute before launching into the Overture from Tommy. After the Tommy performance, they returned to their catalog for four later hits.
The set list:
Main Set
I Can’t Explain
Substitute
Tommy
Overture
It’s a Boy
1921
Amazing Journey
Sparks
Eyesight to the Blind
Christmas
Cousin Kevin
The Acid Queen
Do You Think It’s Alright?
Fiddle About
Pinball Wizard
Go to the Mirror!
There’s a Doctor
Tommy Can You Hear Me?
Smash the Mirror -> It’s A Boy
I’m Free
Miracle Cure
Sensation
Underture
Sally Simpson
Welcome
Tommy’s Holiday Camp
We’re Not Gonna Take It
See Me, Feel Me
Encore
Won’t Get Fooled Again
Join Together
Baba O’Riley
Who Are You
