The Who

Formed in London in 1964, The Who established themselves as one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century, emerging from the Mod movement with a reputation for high-energy live shows and destructive stage antics. The classic lineup, vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon, pioneered the rock opera with Tommy (1969), defined 1970s hard rock with albums like Who's Next (1971) and Quadrophenia (1973), and introduced, innovative techniques like the Marshall stack and power chords. Despite the tragic deaths of Moon in 1978 and Entwistle in 2002, Townshend and Daltrey continued to lead the band, cementing their legacy as rock icons recognized for their profound impact on punk and power pop, and maintaining a touring presence into the 2020s.