May

Townshend Wins BMI Award

The CSI TV franchise provided good exposure and a whole new outlet for Pete Townshend’s music, and all three shows used his compositions for their title tracks. As a result, from 2001, he was consistently awarded BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.) Awards in recognition of that body of work. The 2008 BMI Annual Film And Television Awards, held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, were no different, with Townshend picking up awards for all three variations. Also honoured was songwriter Mike Post, who Townshend himself had honoured with an eponymous song on the Endless Wire album.

July

Rock Honors Tribute Show

The VH1 Rock Honors show began in 2006 and has become an annual event, paying tribute to artists who have shaped and influenced modern music. On 12 July 2008 it was The Who’s turn in the spotlight, as the band became the first single band or artist to be honoured. The show took place at the Pauley Pavilion at UCLA, and an edited version was broadcast five days later. The Who themselves performed five songs and watched other bands, including Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Flaming Lips, Tenacious D and Incubus perform own versions of Who classics.

December

USA And Japan

The Who’s second visit to Japan took place in November. Having enjoyed the trip four years earlier, the band members were keen to return, playing four shows for the Japanese fans. Prior to this, they enjoyed a 10-date tour of the US, starting at the perennial favourite Detroit, before criss-crossing the country and finishing in LA. The shows received a fantastic welcome from both fans and critics alike. The year finished with three Christmas shows at Indigo, a small venue in London’s O2 arena complex.

Personalities | Introducing The Who
Personalities | The Who | Reunited & Revitalized (2009) | Key Events