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Roger Daltrey The pretty-boy Mod who sang with the power of an American original took Carnaby Street by storm in 1965. At 64, he's actually the oldest of the two surviving founders. Daltrey went to grammar school with Townshend and Entwistle. While Townshend was the intellectual, Daltrey was all style and swagger. He copied Elvis, dressing like a Teddy Boy until trading the duck tail for a mod cut. The blond page boy morphed into a lion's mane by 1970, and paisley was replaced by buckskin, denim and chest hair.

Daltrey was a rock star who seemed destined to succeed in movies. But he never really did. He starred in Ken Russell's bizarre adaptation of Tommy in 1975, and also worked with the director as Franz Liszt in Lisztomania. He was best in 1980's McVicar about a real-life bank robber. Daltrey produced it himself.

Besides his lasso-style microphone grip, Daltrey will forever be known for yelling the "we're all wasted" line in Baba O'Reilly and the blood-curdling scream near the end of Won't Get Fooled Again. Rock vocals don't get any better.

Past members

Keith Moon (Aug. 23, 1946 to Sept. 7, 1978) Some may side with Cream's Ginger Baker (the other guy with the double bass drums), but it was Moon who was the first rock drummer to play his kit like it was a lead instrument. Still probably the greatest of all, Moon personified the crazy rock 'n' roll drummer, driving a car into a Michigan hotel pool to celebrate his 20th birthday (he apparently told the host he was 21 so he could legally drink). He bettered Townshend's guitar smashing by actually detonating his drum kit with explosives on the stage of the Smothers Brothers' TV show. Some say this was the start of Townshend's tinnitus, but that probably had more to do with the ear-splitting volume of Who concerts (a 1976 concert was registered in the Guinness Book of World Records as the loudest ever at 126 decibels, measured 32 metres from the speakers). Moon was known for breakfasting on Champagne and Cognac, from the bottle. He died shortly after the release of Who Are You from an accidental overdose of sedatives prescribed to combat alcohol abuse.

John Entwistle (Oct. 9, 1944 to June 27, 2002) We knew he was a cut above the rest as soon as he ripped that thundering bass solo in My Generation. Entwistle personified his musical role with the band, never seeming to flinch despite all the madness going on around him. Also known as Thunderfingers and The Ox, Entwistle also played French horn. He wrote and sang lead vocals on several Who songs, including Boris The Spider. Entwistle died of a heart attack – induced by cocaine – in a room in the Hard Rock Hotel-Las Vegas shortly before The Who was to start a 2002 tour.

Current backing players

Zak Starkey Son of Moon's good pal, Ringo Starr, Starkey is the current man behind The Who's drum kit. The fit seems right, as Starkey was originally taught how to play drums as a child by Moon. Starkey has also performed for Oasis.

Pino Palladino A top-notch British session bassist who has worked with Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Elton John and many more. It was his work on Townshend's solo projects that made him a natural to take over after Entwistle's death. He performs on The Who's latest album, Endless Wire.

Simon Townshend The 48-year-old younger brother of Pete Townshend plays second guitar and sings backup vocals. He's been with The Who on and off since the Quadrophenia tour of 1996. Simon is also a member of the band Casbah Club, which toured with The Who in 2006.

John (Rabbit) Bundrick This Texas-born session player performed much of the music in the '70s cult film Rocky Horror Picture Show. Bundrick, who also worked extensively with Johnny Nash (I Can See Clearly Now), began playing keyboards with The Who during the 1979-81 tour. He goes back further with Townshend's solo career, performing on the 1977 album Rough Mix. He appears on The Who's 2006 album, Endless Wire.

grockingham@thespec.com 905-526-3331

[Photo caption:] HAMILTON SPECTATOR FILE PHOTOS Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon of The Who. They're in Detroit on Tuesday, at Copps on Wednesday and in Boston on Friday.