The Isle Of Wight

The Isle of Wight lies just a 45 minute ferry journey from the Southern coast of England. It measures approximately 23 miles by 14 miles, and as a holiday destination attracts almost 3 million visitors per year.

The Who first played here on 10th of July 1965. The venue was the Ventnor Winter Gardens, pictured below. It's likely the band's set included Anyway Anyhow Anywhere, Daddy Rolling Stone, Heatwave, Green Onions and Motorin'.














However, their connection with the island is more well known through their performances at the Isle Of Wight Festival.











Their first festival appearance came at the Second Isle Of Wight Festival. This was held in Wooton on August 30th and 31st, 1969. The Who played on the first day.


















The festival site was located in an area bordered by Upper and Lower Woodside Road. Attendance is estimated at having been around 150,000. Bob Dylan was the headliner, and the audience included members of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.









The P.A. system was the largest The Who had used up that point. Their setlist consisted of Tommy plus Substitute, Summertime Blues, Shaking All Over, My Generation and Naked Eye.















The Who's next appearance on the island, was at the following year's festival, held over August 26th - 31st. The Who played on the 29th, using a sound system even louder than the previous year. Other performers on the bill were The Doors, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix and Sly And The Family Stone. The attendance was a record breaking - and still unequalled - 600,000.













The Who played a Tommy set, bolstered by Heaven and Hell, I Can't Explain, Young Man Blues, Water, Summertimes Blues, Twist And Shout, Substitute, Shaking All Over, Spoonful, Magic Bus and My Generation. The event was recorded and released almost 30 years later on DVD and CD.






















Despite the success of the previous year's festival, the local council and residents had this year protested the event. The Isle of Wight's image of the time was that of a sedate retirement destination, or a place for the older person to holiday. Everything about the festival went against that.








As a result many harsh conditions were imposed upon the organisers by the island's Council, one of which included relocating the festival to an unsuitable area on East Afton Down. The land was on a slope, and overlooked by a hill, which meant whoever wanted could watch for free. As a result of all the fuss and complications caused this was the last Isle Of Wight Festival for 32 years.














The Festival returned to the island as an annual event in 2002. In 2004 The Who returned to the Festival. Taking place between June 11th and 13th, The Who headlined on the night of the 12th. Other performers on the bill includedthe Manic Street Preachers, The Charlatans, The Stereophonics and David Bowie.












Audience attendance was 35,000, and for the first time in it's history the event was sponsored. The Festival was recorded for TV broadcast and DVD release, though strangely The Who didn't make an appearance on the latter.

















The band's setlist was their by now usual live selection of 'greatest hits', I Can't Explain, Substitute, Anyway Anyhow Anywhere, Who Are You, Behind Blue Eyes, Bargain, Baba O'Riley, The Punk And The Godfather, 5.15, Love Reign O'er Me, Eminence Front, Drowned, Naked Eye, Real Good Looking Boy, You Better You Bet, My Generation, Old Red Wine, Won't Get Fooled Again, Pinball Wizard, Amazing Journey, Sparks, See Me Feel Me and Magic Bus








The festival was located on the edge of Newport, in Seaclose Park.


To be continued...