Who Are You is the eighth studio album by the Who, which was released in August 1978. The album was a commercial success, peaking at number 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart, where it achieved 2 x platinum status and number 6 on the UK Albums Chart, achieving Gold status. Only the soundtrack to the movie Grease prevented it from hitting the top spot in the USA.
Who Are You was the Who’s final studio album to feature Keith Moon as their drummer. He died three weeks after it was released. The album showcased some of Pete Townshend’s most complicated arrangements, with multiple layers of synthesizer and strings, including songs envisaged for his Townshend’s never realized Lifehouse project.
The first single from the album, the eponymous Who Are You, has become over the years a staple in the band’s setlist and sits proudly alongside the band’s other stadium friendly anthemic tunes.
The success of Who Are You generated excitement at the prospect of a new Who tour for the album. The songs on the album were later performed on tour in 1979, when the Who were joined by new drummer Kenney Jones and keyboardist John Bundrick.
