Zak Starkey with: The Who - UK Winter 2002 Gigs

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UK Warm-Up Gigs

The strong rumor following the announcement of the February Royal Albert Hall shows was that the band was going to perform Tommy. This rumor became stronger with the announcement of three warm-up, small venue gigs prior to the Albert Hall event. Speculation being that they could simply rehearse as in the past if it was to be a "greatest hits set", not needing the warm-up gigs. The existence of these gigs had led many to believe they were trying out a new format and or set list.

Indeed, the three shows featured quite a large chunk of Tommy, but a presentation in its entirety at the RAH did not materialize.

Jan 27, 2002 - Portsmouth Guildhall

Guidhall holds about 2000, and is a seated venue. Tickets were £32.50 and were only available in person at the box office!
Initial reports are of a band in top form, even though this was stated to be their "third" rehearsal. Set was NOT the complete Tommy, as originally rumored, but did include new additions Amazing Journey, Sparks, I'm Free, Summertime Blues, and Baby Don't cha Do It .

Pete even busted up a black Strat at the end and handed out pieces to the audience, while keeping a number of pieces for Roger, who is going to auction it for the Teenage Cancer Trust!

Instant update thanks again to Kim+Lester!

Set List: I Can't Explain, Substitute, Anyway Anyhow Anywhere, Amazing Journey / Sparks, My Wife, Baba O'Riley, Drowned (Pete solo), Behind Blue Eyes, I'm Free, Pinball Wizard, You Better You Bet, Who Are You, 5.15, Won't Get Fooled Again, The Kids Are Alright, Summertime Blues, Baby Don't Ya Do It, My Generation

This photos of Zak in action by Deb Wakeford - Thanks Deb!

Jan 28, 2002 - Portsmouth Guildhall

Second date at this venue, was on sale same time as above.
Early reports are of another good show, this time with a few more Tommy songs thrown in: Overture and It's a Boy. Tonight also brought Relay, Boris the Spider and Magic Bus, I'm One (morphed with Drowned).

Set list: I Can't Explain, Substitute, Anyway Anyhow Anywhere, Boris the Spider, Relay, Baba O'Riley, Overture, It's a Boy, Amazing Journey/Sparks, Pinball Wizard, I'm Free, I'm One, Drowned, Behind Blue Eyes, You Better You Bet, Who Are You, 5:15, Won't Get Fooled Again. encore: The Kids Are Alright, Summertime Blues, Magic Bus, My Generation

Jan 31, 2002 - Watford Colosseum

This theatre (also assigned seating) holds about 1400. Tickets were £32.50 and were only available in the box office in person or by phone.
Lucky patrons are RAVING about this gig, many saying it was the best ever!

Set List: I Can't Explain, Substitute, Anyway Anyhow Anywhere, I Don't Even Know Myself, Amazing Journey, Sparks, Pinball Wizard, I'm Free, My Wife, Who Are You, Getting In Tune, Behind Blue Eyes, Drowned (solo), Baba O'Riley, The Real Me, You Better You Bet, 5:15, Won't Get Fooled Again (with extended jam) Encore: The Kids Are Alright, Baby Don't You Do It, My Generation, Summertime Blues, Young Man Blues

Pete had mentioned the idea of pre-RAH gigs in a diary entry he posted Dec 23rd, 2001. That entry also mentioned a US SUMMER 2002 TOUR as well as a UK FALL 2002 tour!! A few days later his diary entry was removed from his site without comment. On Jan 10th, an official announcement for the warm-up gigs was posted and tickets for the three shows went on sale Jan 11th, and sold out very quickly!

Teenage Cancer Trust - Teen Spirit Concert Week

A week long series of concerts will take place Feb 2 - 9th to benefit The Teenage Cancer Trust - which is dedicated to improving the environment of the teenage cancer sufferer, and their families - through building teen cancer wings and other support systems. The Who raised quite a bit of cash for the trust in 2000 and are back again this year for two shows during the week long series.

Royal Albert Hall - Feb 7 and 8th, 2002

Tickets went on sale with little-to-no advanced warning on the morning of DEC 7, 2001 and quickly sold out!

Feb 7th -

Set list: I Can't Explain, Substitute, Anyway Anyhow Anywhere, I Don't Even Know Myself, Amazing Journey / Sparks, Pinball Wizard, I'm Free, My Wife, Who Are You, Getting In Tune, Behind Blue Eyes, Drowned/I'm One (morphed improve version -solo), Baba O'Riley, You Better You Bet, 5:15, Won't Get Fooled Again (with extended jam) encore: The Kids Are Alright, Summertime Blues, Young Man Blues, My Generation

Feb 8th -

Set list: I Can't Explain, Substitute, Anyway Anyhow Anywhere, I Don't Even Know Myself, Amazing Journey / Sparks, Pinball Wizard, I'm Free, My Wife, Who Are You, Getting In Tune, Behind Blue Eyes, I'm One/Drowned (combo version - solo) , Baba O'Riley, Relay, 5:15, Won't Get Fooled Again, encore: TKAA, Summertime Blues, Young Man Blues, My Generation

Related Links:

• ** Note that the original incarnation of Pete's Official Website (launched Oct 1999) was shut down by Pete on Jan 28, 2002.His retail site - Eelpie.com remained up and running and assumed some of the announcement duties.
  www.petetownshend.co.uk (.com) was re-launched on June 10, 2002, with a WHO section in his "projects" area of the site, and once again became the official outlet for Who Tour and Release info, stories, pictures, sounds and video. At this time, most all of the "Pete's official site" content referenced on my pages for 2000 through early 2002, cannot be viewed at eelpie.com or the new petetownshend/who site , although an archive of former pt.com materials was said to have been in the works.

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Last Updated: Saturday, February 4, 2006
Created: Jan 11, 2002 
Copyright © Kathy VanTassell

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