13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Fans just discovering how the The Who came up with their iconic name
The Who are one of the most iconic bands in rock history, but they were originally called something very different - and the story of how they came up with their name is a classic rock 'n' roll tale
Before they were smashing guitars, filling stadiums, and pioneering the rock opera, The Who were simply four London lads with a completely different name.
Their journey to becoming one of the most recognisable names in rock history wasn't just by chance - it involved sketchy club gigs, a name conflict, and a brainstorming session that could have had a very different outcome. As fans continue to discover how they came to be known by their iconic name - and what they were initially called - here's a little about how the band was formed.
The tale starts in Acton, West London, where a young Roger Daltrey already felt like an outsider. He didn't quite fit in at Acton County Grammar School, and after being expelled at 15, he found himself working on a construction site.
In 1959, Daltrey established The Detours, a functioning band that performed at weddings and corporate events, with Daltrey handling both the music and finances.
He then noticed a local lad named John Entwistle strolling down the street with a bass guitar slung over his shoulder, and invited him to join the band. Entwistle, in turn, introduced a guitarist he knew from school: Pete Townshend, reports the Express.
The band's early sound was influenced by instrumental covers from The Shadows and The Ventures, with a touch of traditional jazz thrown in, and the line-up evolved over time.
The group was still known as The Detours when they discovered in early 1964 that another band, namely Johnny Devlin and the Detours, already had dibs on the name.
Pete Townshend recounted how he and his flatmate Richard Barnes spent an entire night brainstorming new monikers, aiming for a theme of comedic stage introductions; suggestions like No One and The Group were considered.
Townshend was quite taken with The Hair, but it was Barnes who had a preference for The Who.
The band unveiled their new identity with their 1965 release 'I Can't Explain'. The single broke into the UK top ten and marked the beginning of a succession of hits that would come to characterise the era: 'Substitute', 'My Generation', 'Pictures of Lily', leading up to the landmark concept album Tommy in 1969.
In 1965, none other than Paul McCartney deemed them "the most exciting thing around," while John Lennon expressed his admiration for 'Pinball Wizard' by incorporating its acoustic guitar style into 'Polythene Pam'. When Jimi Hendrix landed in London in '66, he specifically requested Pete Townshend's amplifier setup, whilst bands like Pink Floyd, Queen, and The Ramones have acknowledged The Who as an influential force in their early days.
