The Who Debut New Song Live, Eddie Vedder Makes Surprise Appearance
After promising a new album was on the way, The Who have officially debuted the new song "Hero Ground Zero" at Wembley Stadium in London. Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder also made a guest appearance onstage later in the night.
The new track was performed alongside a live orchestra, which has been a fixture of The Who's "Moving On!" tour. "Hour Ground Zero" possesses all the hallmarks of the band's sounds — powerful sustained chords, prickly lead playing and Roger Daltrey's sweeping vocal melodies.
The Who also debuted "Guantanamo" live, a song which was included on Pete Townshend's 2015 solo collection Truancy, The Very Best of Pete Townshend. Just a couple songs later, the Wembley crowd was treated to another surprise as Eddie Vedder was welcomed onstage to help sing the Quadrophenia cut "The Punk and the Godfather."
Watch footage of "Hero Ground Zero" and Vedder's surprise appearance below.
The Who return to North American in September. Dates are listed below and ticketing info can be found here.
Details have yet to emerge regarding The Who's new album, which will be their first since 2006's Endless Wire.
"I said I was not going to sign any contracts unless we have new material,” Townshend told Rolling Stone about the forthcoming record. "This has nothing to do with wanting a hit album. It has nothing to do with the fact that the Who need a new album. It’s purely personal. It’s about my pride, my sense of self-worth and self-dignity as a writer."
The Who 2019 North American Tour Dates
Sept. 6 — St. Paul, Minn. @ Xcel Energy Center
Sept. 8 — Alpine Valley, Wis. @ Alpine Valley Music Theatre
Sept. 10 — Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio @ Blossom Music Center
Sept. 13 — Boston, Mass. @ Fenway Park
Sept. 15 — Wantagh, N.Y. @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Sept. 18 — Atlanta, Ga. @ State Farm Arena
Sept. 20 — Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. @ BB&T Center
Sept. 22 — Tampa, Fla. @ Amalie Arena
Sept. 25 — Houston, Texas @ Toyota Center
Sept. 27 — Dallas, Texas @ American Airlines Center
Sept. 29 — Denver, Colo. @ Pepsi Center
Oct. 11 — Los Angeles, Calif. @ Hollywood Bowl
Oct. 13 — Los Angeles, Calif. @ Hollywood Bowl
Oct. 16 — San Diego, Calif. @ Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl San Diego State University
Oct. 19 — Seattle, Wash. @ T-Mobile Park
Oct. 21 — Vancouver, British Columbia @ Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
Oct. 23 — Edmonton, Alberta @ Rogers Place
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