An extremely rare 1964 Who handbill, which also served as a discount ticket to their twenty three week residency at London’s legendary Marquee Club.  This was a very important early series of shows for the band, who had not yet released a record under that name.

The Who finalized their classic lineup when Keith Moon joined in May 1964.  By June, they’d changed their name, releasing their first single ‘Zoot Suit/I’m the Face,’ as the High Numbers.  In November, they changed back to The Who, and on November 24 they began their residency at the Marquee.

As detailed in Andy Neill and Matt Kent’s Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere: The Complete Chronicles of The Who the November 24 show ‘was the commencement of the Who’s important Tuesday night residency at this Central London club, situated at 90 Wardour Street.  Despite the poor turn out, promoter Ziggy Jackson was impressed enough to book the group for a run of sixteen weeks–extended to a further seven when their popularity broke house attendance records.  The Who usually played two sets, from 8:45-9:15 and 10:00-11:00 pm.’

After this series of shows began, The Who released their debut single under that name, ‘I Can’t Explain/Bald Headed Woman’–issued in the U.S. in December 1964 and the U.K. in January 1965.

This handbill features a live photo with the not-yet-twenty Pete Townshend having just strummed his guitar, with John Entwistle on bass in the background.  Printed on cardstock, 8″ x 5 1/8″.   In excellent condition, with minor archival restoration to flatten a vertical crease down the middle and minimal touching up.

A rare artifact from the early days of this most important band.

In April 2014 a copy of this handbill sold at auction for $6082.