1980's

1980s

[ ] Decline and breakup
The band released two more studio albums with Jones as drummer, Face Dances (1981) and It's Hard (1982). Face Dances produced a Top 20 hit with the single "You Better You Bet" and a string of MTV and AOR hits like "Another Tricky Day". Three videos from the album played on MTV the day it took to the air in August 1981. While both albums sold fairly well, and It's Hard receiving a five-star review in Rolling Stone, fans were not receptive to the new sound. "Athena" was a US Top 30 hit and "Eminence Front" charted as well and became a favorite. Shortly after It's Hard, The Who embarked on a farewell tour after Townshend said he wanted one more tour with The Who before turning it into a studio band. It was the highest grossing tour of the year, with sellout crowds throughout North America.  [22]

Townshend spent part of 1983 trying to write material for the studio album still owed to from a contract in 1980. By the end of 1983, however, Townshend declared himself unable to generate material appropriate for The Who and left in December 1983. Townshend focused on solo projects such as White City: A Novel, The Iron Man (which featured Daltrey and Entwistle and two songs on the album credited to "The Who"), and Psychoderelict, a forerunner to the radio work Lifehouse.

[ ] Reunions
On 13 July 1985, The Who, including Kenney Jones, reformed for a one-off at 's concert at Wembley. The band performed "My Generation", "Pinball Wizard", "Love Reign O'er Me", and "Won't Get Fooled Again" (the band had also intended to play a new Townshend composition, "After The Fire", but was unable to learn it well enough; it became a solo hit for Daltrey that year). Although the BBC's equipment blew a fuse at the beginning of "My Generation", the band kept playing, so most of "My Generation" and all "Pinball Wizard" was missed by the rest of the world.

In 1988 the band was honoured with the 's Lifetime Achievement Award. The Who played a short set at the ceremony (the last time Jones worked with The Who ). In 1989 they embarked on a 25th anniversary "The Kids Are Alright" reunion tour which emphasised Tommy. played drums with Steve "Boltz" Bolton playing lead guitar, as Townshend had massive hearing problems and would be relegated to strumming acoustic guitar. A horn section and backing singers were added. Newsweek said, "The Who tour is special because, after the Beatles and the Stones, they're IT." There were sellouts throughout North America, including a four-night stand at Giants Stadium.  [23] In all, over two million tickets were sold. The tour included Tommy in New York and at the in Los Angeles, with Elton John, Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Patti LaBelle, and Steve Winwood.

A 2-CD live album Join Together had to poor sales in 1990, limping to #188 in the US. Townshend injured himself in Tacoma, WA on when he gashed his hand during one of his windmill moves (he was playing more electric guitar in the latter half of shows). His hand hit the tremolo bar and he started bleeding and went to hospital.