Posted on: Wednesday, June 16, 2004

The Who to perform in Honolulu on Aug. 3

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

British rock legends The Who will perform Aug. 3 at Blaisdell Arena. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show — priced at $65 and $95 each — will go on sale at 9 a.m. Saturday. Purchases may be made at the Blaisdell box office and all Ticketmaster outlets including Times Supermarkets. Tickets will be available by phone at (877) 750-4400, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Its membership now down to Roger Daltrey, 60, and Pete Townshend, 59, The Who is touring behind its March CD release "Then & Now, 1964-2004." The disc is perhaps most notable for containing the first new songs from the band in more than two decades — "Real Good Looking Boy" and "Old Red Wine."

Backing Daltrey and Townshend are drummer Zak Starkey (son of Ringo Starr), bassist Pino Palladino, rhythm guitarist Simon Townshend (Pete's brother) and keyboardist John "Rabbit" Bundrick.

The Who is perhaps best known for being among the most begrudgingly revered rock bands. After losing founding drummer Keith Moon, 31, to an overdose of prescription pills in 1978, the band called it quits in 1982. They've reunited at least nine times since then.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees remain a strong concert draw. Tickets to a May 22 Madison Square Garden show sold out in 16 minutes.

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8005.