It’s hard to believe that it’s been over 50 years since rock legends The Who began their illustrious career together.

Four misfits from neighboring London suburbs miraculously came together to release some pent-up teen frustration, only to be dubbed as rock royalty in the years following. Separately they were talented. Together... magic.

Now, surviving members Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey have managed to keep that magic alive, touring as The Who relatively consistently since the turn of the century. And with brother Simon Townshend and longtime touring member and son of Ringo Starr, Zak Starkey along for the ride, the band has continued to live up to their iconic status.

Of course, following current guidelines, The Who have recently announced the postponement of their upcoming 2020 UK and U.S. tours.

However, we’ve chosen not to dwell on what we can’t control and instead have decided to embrace their incredible history. So let’s take a look back just over five decades ago to the rise of The Who.

April 2, 1969 - Bournemouth, England. As just over a thousand anxious fans gather inside the historic Pavilion Theatre, The Who prepare backstage for a performance in celebration of their upcoming record release of Tommy.

Deemed the 1969 Tommy Tour, The Who were just starting out on a long trek across the UK, North America and Europe.

Adrenaline rushing through their notably hyperactive demeanors, Roger Daltrey (vocals), Pete Townshend (guitar), John Entwistle (bass) and Keith Moon (drums) take the stage for what will amount to a 25-song set.

Opening the show with a few of their classics at the time including “Heaven and Hell,” “I Can’t Explain,” “Fortune Teller,” “Tattoo” and “Young Man Blues,” The Who immediately reminded every audience member why they had come to the theater in the first place.

Not a single band at the time could even compete with The Who’s live abilities. When fans flocked to shows, they expected more than just a concert. They expected a show.

While footage of the actual April 2 show isn't readily available, check out these clips of live performances from the same year!

In promotion of the unreleased rock opera Tommy, the band continued the set with numerous songs off of the upcoming LP. From “It’s a Boy,” “Amazing Journey” and “The Acid Queen” to “Do You Think It’s Alright?,” “I’m Free” and “We’re Not Gonna Take It” to name a few, The Who was sure to make a statement with unreleased content.

Not surprisingly, the crowd was unfamiliar with much of the material at the time since Tommy wouldn’t be released in full for another month and a half. However, one song The Who was sure the audience would embrace was “Pinball Wizard.”

Having been released as a single and debuting at number four in the UK just a couple of weeks before the show, The Who only got a glimpse at how popular the hit would become. Nevertheless, they used the show exactly 51 years ago to the day to live debut what would eventually be known as one of the band’s greatest hits in “Pinball Wizard.”

Reverting back to their roots to close out the show, the guys ended the night with “Substitute,” “Summertime Blues,” “Shakin’ All Over” and a stuttering “My Generation.”

With the audience in the palm of their hand, it can only be assumed that there was at least an inkling of destruction to sum up what would later be considered a momentous night. I mean, what would a The Who show be without a little demolition?

See the complete setlist from the Pavilion Theatre here!

Fast forward 51 years and we're back in the present — a time of uncertainty and anxiety. Fortunately, it's hard to complain when we are lucky enough to reminisce in the permanence of great music. For The Who, that may mean the live debut of “Pinball Wizard” or the hundreds of other distinguished shows that will forever cement them as one of the most accomplished live performers of all time.

With the rescheduled UK dates already announced and the promise of a full list of postponed U.S. dates to come, The Who show no signs of slowing down just yet. Check out the complete list of 2021 UK tour dates below and check out The Who’s official website for ticketing details and updates on the U.S. trek!

The Who Rescheduled 2021 UK Tour Dates:

03/05 — Dublin, Ireland @ 3 Arena (rescheduled from 3/16/20)
03/08 — Liverpool, UK @ M&S Bank (rescheduled from 4/6/20)
03/10 — Glasgow, UK @SSE Hydro (rescheduled from 3/23/20)
03/12 — Newcastle, UK @ Utilita Arena (rescheduled from 3/21/20)
03/15 — Leeds, UK @ First Direct Arena (rescheduled from 3/25/20)
03/17 — Birmingham, UK @ Resorts World Arena (rescheduled from 4/1/20)
03/22 — London, UK @ The SSE Arena, Wembley (rescheduled from 4/8/20)
03/24 — Nottingham, UK. @ Motorpoint Arena (rescheduled from 4/3/20)
03/27 — Cardiff, UK @ Motorpoint Arena (rescheduled from 3/30/20)
03/29 — Manchester, UK @ Manchester Arena (rescheduled from 3/16/20)