Join Together: Townshend Reveals The Who's Super Bowl Play List

The Who Will Play A Medley Of Their Classic Songs During Super Bowl Halftime Performance

The Who's Pete Townshend revealed the band's upcoming Super Bowl XLIV halftime performance "will feature a 'compact medley' of their signature classic-rock anthems," according to Waddell & Prince of BILLBOARD.com. Townshend said, "We're kinda doing a mashup of stuff. A bit of 'Baba O'Riley,' a bit of 'Pinball Wizard,' a bit of the close of 'Tommy,' a bit of 'Who Are You,' and a bit of 'Won't Get Fooled Again.' It works -- it's quite a saga. A lot of the stuff that we do has that kind of celebratory vibe about it -- we've always tried to make music that allows the audience to go a bit wild if they want to." Waddell & Prince noted the set was conceived by lead singer Roger Daltrey, Townshend's brother Simon, halftime show exec producer Ricky Kirschner and director Hamish Hamilton. The medley concept "is not unusual for artists with such a deep catalogue," as recent Super Bowl halftime performers Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and Prince "took a similar approach" (BILLBOARD.com, 1/25). USA TODAY's Cherner & Weir note the set list is "going to be split on generational lines." Older fans "will be treated to some of the most iconic music of their youth," while younger fans "will think they have stumbled into the opening of a 'CSI' episode" (USATODAY.com, 1/26). ROLLING STONE's Daniel Kreps noted last year's set list from Springsteen "was subject to so much speculation gambling Websites were offering up bets on what the E Street Band would play" (ROLLINGSTONE.com, 1/25).

HIS GENERATION: NBC's Jay Leno last night noted The Who will perform during the Super Bowl and said, "NFL officials are concerned now that Brett Favre is out of the Super Bowl because he's the only player old enough to know who The Who are" ("The Jay Leno Show," NBC, 1/25).