A very early set of Who autographs, signed on the back of a Who Fan Club photo card following a performance on April 14, 1965, at the Il Rondo Club, Leicester, England.

At that point, the Who had released just one single, their debut ‘I Can’t Explain.’ Their second single, “Anyway Anyhow Anywhere,” was five weeks off, while their first album, My Generation, wouldn’t be released for another eight months.

These autographs were signed just hours after The Who wrapped up a particularly productive two-day recording session at IBC Studios in London. Roger Daltrey recalled he and Pete Townshend were locked in a room at 3am the night before the first session and not allowed to emerge until a new single was written. The result is the one song they wrote together, “Anyway Anyhow Anywhere.” Also recorded during the next two days were the b-side, a cover of Otis Blackwell’s “Daddy Rolling Stone,” three James Brown covers, “Please Please Please,” “I Don’t Mind,” and “Shout and Shimmy,” two Martha and the Vandellas covers, “Heatwave” and “Motorin'”(as “Motorvatin'”),” plus covers of Garnet Mimms’ “Anytime You Need Me” (as “Anytime You Want Me”) and Paul Revere and The Raiders’ “Louie Go Home” (as “Lubie Come Back Home”) plus one Townshend original “You’re Gonna Know Me” later retitled “Out In The Street.”

The Who’s co-manager, Kit Lambert, later told the press that pressure from U.S. Decca for a Who album was the reason for the recording of all the non-single tracks.

An accompanying note from the fan who got the autographs notes “This was a relatively small venue so we were able to stand right at the front of the stage-the band were about one metre away.  After the concert the members of the band mingled with the audience and we got their autographs on the picture of the band.  They used their own pens and that is why the ink is different colors. [Pete Townshend signed in light blue ink, John Entwhistle and Roger Daltrey in darker blue, and Keith Moon in red]

In addition they autographed our arms so we got really close to all of the band!! It was very exciting as I was only 16 years old and this was my very first concert.”

The autographs have been authenticated by music autograph authority Roger Epperson, who’s Certificate of Authenticity is included, as is Recordmecca’s written lifetime guarantee of authenticity. (A high quality reproduction of the front of the card is also included, should the buyer wish to frame both with the autographs facing outward.)

3” x 5 ½”.  In very good condition, with some minor creasing and foxing (the foxing has been treated by a professional paper conservator to stop any further staining.)