Arts & Culture
Total Who Show returns to Swindon

How many bands can claim to have not one, but two rock stars in their ranks?

But the Total Who Show has just that in front man, Johnny Warman, and guitarist, Phil Spalding. The show, which celebrates legendary British rock band, The Who, comes to Commonweal School, Swindon, on Friday 17 November.

The evening aims to raise money for new musical instruments and equipment for students.

Johnny was signed to Ringo Starr’s record label, and had a string of hits in the 1970s and 1980s, including ‘Screaming Jets’, which featured Peter Gabriel. Johnny’s love of The Who inspired him to form a band of top musicians, bringing classics like Pinball Wizard and Who Are You to a new generation. Phil Spalding has performed and recorded with The Who’s Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle, Mick Jagger, Mike Oldfield, and Seal.

“It’s an amazing show,” said Johnny who, like Phil, has worked with Elton John. “We perform all The Who classics and tell some fun stories about how the songs came about. It’s full on. The audience gets a two-hour show, and we pack in as much as we can. We make sure people get their money’s worth.”

For Johnny, it’s all about paying tribute, rather than mimicking the originals: “We don’t get carried away thinking this was our music. And we don’t dress up as The Who, smash up our guitars, or swing microphones around. It’s all about doing justice to songs that changed the face of popular music.”

The Total Who Show is performed by Johnny Warman’s Magic Bus. Between them, the band has worked with acts including Elton John, David Bowie, Ringo Starr, Peter Gabriel, Asia, Julian Lennon, ABC, Cheap Trick, Bruce Springsteen, and Foo Fighters.

“The first half of the evening features musical super stars of Commonweal and some of our large vocal groups. The event is to raise money to equip our new music block which is soon to be built,” said Ali Sutcliffe head of performing arts.”

Support from the cream of Commonweal students:-

Billy and Louie Hughes – duet

Stella Cobson

Louisa Wood

Kody Bowler

Erin Fletcher

Chloe Frost

Yr 13 band

Chamber Choir

Sweet Harmony

Commonweal Collective

The Total Who Show comes to Commonweal School on Friday 17 November. Tickets are £10 for adults, and £5 for students, and available on the door or from ticketing@commonweal.co.uk