Who cool 50 years in.

The Who Hits 50 Collection

Over the past 50 years, The Who have given rock ‘n’ roll a lot. Feedback, instrument destruction, the most stoic of bassists and the rock opera. They can also be credited with having an eye for and popularising POP art. Which is why Who t-shirts have always been the shiat. The band’s POP art influences can be seen in their logo, one of the coolest in rock ‘n’ roll, and even more so in the use of the target. Before the cheap chic retailer got ahold of it, the target was made popular by the band, who had pinched it from POP artist Jasper Johns and Peter Blake. The MODs, fans of the Who, adopted it as well.

According to Townshend, the band started wearing the target and Union Jack to inject color into their stage presence. As if the wind mills, microphone twirling and kicking around of their instruments wasn’t colorful enough. It was also a reflection of the times, wearing the Union Jack as appareal was totalling in step with the POP art’s reinterpretation popular culture.

The Who are currently getting set to take a victory lap on their career. As to whether this’ll be their last only time will tell. The Who did their first farewell tour back in ’82, so forgive us for being skeptical. Whether it’s the end or not the coming tour does mean there is some cool new swag on the site including the featured T.

To check out the full collection click.