The Who – Who Are You (Live 1989 LA Second Set)

A vibrant and energetic performance of one of the more recognizable songs by The Who.

“Who Are You” – Single by the Who from the album Who Are You
A-side: “Had Enough”
Released: 14 July 1978 (UK) and 5 August 1978 (US)
Recorded: 4 October 1977
Songwriters: Pete Townshend.

The Who’s “Who Are You” was inspired by a very real day in the life of Pete Townshend. It began with a grueling 11-hour meeting over royalty payments: “Eleven hours in the Tin Pan, God, there’s got to be another way.” Here, “Tin Pan” refers to London’s Denmark Street, the city’s version of Tin Pan Alley, where music publishers and songwriters gathered. After finally receiving a hefty royalty check, Townshend left the meeting, went to a bar, and drank heavily.

That night, he ran into Paul Cook and Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols, who admired him for paving the way for punk rock. The encounter left him uneasy, though—Townshend worried The Who had become too commercial, and seeing the punk icons only deepened his anxiety. Later, he passed out in a Soho doorway, where a policeman recognized him. Instead of arresting him, the officer offered mercy: “You can go sleep at home tonight, if you can get up and walk away.” Townshend’s infamous reply: “Who the f— are you?”

Released as a double A-side with John Entwistle’s “Had Enough,” the track was the clear favorite, reaching the Top 20 in both the U.S. and UK. The single version features an alternate acoustic guitar solo compared to the album mix, and the song has appeared on multiple Who compilations since.

Who Are You was also the last studio album to feature Keith Moon, who died just three weeks after its release. The album cover, showing Moon seated on a chair marked “Not to Be Taken Away,” carried an eerie irony that was noted by critics at the time.

The Who
Roger Daltrey – lead vocals
Pete Townshend – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, synthesizer and backing vocals
John Entwistle – bass and backing vocals
Keith Moon – drums and handclaps