The Who play Quadrophenia with Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Alanis Morissette Hyde Park 29th June 1996
This was a great gig, with a very strong line-up. The concert was in support of the Princes Trust and was the first time that The Who had played in the UK for some years. I went with Marie, largely to see The Who; however the presence of Dylan and Clapton on the bill made the event all the more attractive, and the price of £8 seemed a bargain. We spent the weekend in London, staying at a Hotel close to Hyde Park Corner. Around 150,000 people were at this concert, and the weather wasn’t great; it was quite a cold day. I don’t remember much about Alanis Morissette, but do recall seeing Dylan who played a short set. His normal band was augmented by Ron Wood and Al Kooper; we were sitting on the grass somewhere in the middle of the park, and the sound was murky, blowing around in the breeze.
Bob Dylan’s setlist was: Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat; All Along the Watchtower; Positively 4th Street; Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues; Tangled Up in Blue; Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right; Silvio; Seven Days; Highway 61 Revisited 
Quadrophenia has grown on me over the years, and I’ve seen The Who perform it three times; once on the original tour, this show in Hyde Park, and more recently at the Albert Hall Teenage Cancer Trust gig. The Hyde Park show featured a cast of special guests playing the various parts of the rock opera: Phil Daniels (Narration), Trevor McDonald (Newscaster), Ade Edmundson (Bell Boy), Gary Glitter (Rocker), Stephen Fry (Hotel Manager), and Dave Gilmour (Guitar on Dirty Jobs, Love Reign O’er Me). The band was introduced by Jools Holland. It was a fun show, although I was a little disappointed that they didn’t pay any Who classics; I thought we might get one or two as an encore, instead we got a reprise of 5.15. The Who setlist was: I Am the Sea; The Real Me; Quadrophenia; Cut My Hair; The Punk and the Godfather; I’m One; The Dirty Jobs (with David Gilmour); Helpless Dancer; Is It in My Head?; I’ve Had Enough; 5:15; Sea And Sand; Drowned; Bell Boy; Doctor Jimmy; The Rock; Love, Reign O’er Me (with David Gilmour). Encore: 5:15. After The Who, we watched some of Clapton’s set, but left before the end. At the time I’d lost a little faith in Eric and was somewhat tired of seeing him play live. However my interest in him has become renewed in recent years, and I also feel that he has returned to form.
15 Oct
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by Steve Barger on January 30, 2013 at 11:39 pm
I was there. Visiting London, mostly on business, and decided to stroll over to the park on Saturday without a clear understanding of what I was about to experience. Bought a ticket from a scalper outside the gate for 20 quid. Even at 250% of face value, it was worth it MANY times over!
Posted by Steve Barger on January 30, 2013 at 11:41 pm
Oh, and you forgot about Squeeze– they played just before Alanis.
Posted by Martin Kelly on September 12, 2022 at 7:24 pm
It wasnt squeeze it was Jooles Holland and his rythem and blues orchestra Ste. I was so surpised how much i loved their set tbh! One of my favourite ever gigs. Loved everything up to Clapton which was when we left as it turned into a couples hug fest! Lol He was never going to top the Who anyway and i wanted them to be my lasting memory so off we went into the night! With me forever that one!
Posted by vintagerock on September 13, 2022 at 12:09 pm
Thanks for sharing Martin.I agree that the day belonged to The Who although I am a big Clapton fan also. Happy days Peter
Posted by vintagerock on June 22, 2013 at 2:48 pm
Thanks Steve I had no recollection of Squeeze playing. I think we must have arrived after they had played. Best wishes Peter
Posted by Find Cheap Best Budget Hotels / Low Everyday on July 3, 2013 at 10:40 am
Have you ever considered about adding a little bit more than just your articles?
I mean, what you say is valuable and everything. Nevertheless
think about if you added some great pictures or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”!
Your content is excellent but with images and video
clips, this website could certainly be one of the very best in its niche.
Good blog!
Posted by vintagerock on July 3, 2013 at 2:37 pm
Good idea, but whenever I take photos they are always poor 🙂 Peter
Posted by David Clarke on March 14, 2014 at 11:39 pm
I was there in 1996 with Rick my mate and his friend a nanny to Trevor Nunn. I remember the weather being typically British summer dull and cold. I remember all the artist named in the article and it was the only time I have seen Eric Clapton.The whole show will stay in my memory for ever and to cap the day off we even got to sleep on Trevor Nunn’s floor.
Posted by vintagerock on March 15, 2014 at 4:50 pm
Great story David Many thanks Peter
Posted by DRM on May 18, 2014 at 11:27 am
I enjoyed this show immensely, as an impressionable 20 year old. The Who, with whom I was not really familiar, blew me away to the point that I have been a major fan since. I had mostly gone to see Dylan and saw him twice that day: The first & the last time. Terrible. Morisette was storming the charts at the time, but she was terrible live too. I caught her again later in the year at the Phoenix Festival (going to see Neil Young). She was no better second time around. Great on record, poor live.
Eric Clapton put me off to sleep and l left midway through his set. Could not argue with the admission price and the Who were worth the time and money alone. Little did I know that I was seeing Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd as well at the time, another band I love.
Posted by vintagerock on May 18, 2014 at 12:55 pm
Hi great memories many thanks
Dylan can be unpredictable these days, but still worth going to see in my view
Cheers Peter
Posted by David Shields. on January 27, 2015 at 11:58 pm
I wasn’t there in 1996 but having watched the footage on you tube, I wish i was, it looks truly incredible, i am going to see them this Summer @ the iconic venue, and if it plays out half as good, then i’m in for a treat.
i would love it if Dave Gilmour appeared again but i think pigs will fly.for those who attended the 1996 gig i salute you, I’ve loved reading the comments and regret that I wasn’t there not just for the Who but for the whole thing, i missed the 2006 hyde park calling event as welll, because my wife was giving birth on the day, barring death i will
Be there on the 26th June,
Posted by vintagerock on January 28, 2015 at 6:38 am
Many thanks David I hope you enjoy the concert in June Best wishes Peter
Posted by Mick Bam on February 22, 2015 at 8:52 pm
Hate to disappoint you but Squeeze didn’t play it was Jules Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Band
Posted by vintagerock on February 23, 2015 at 7:15 am
Thanks Mick I’ll correct the post Best wishes Peter
Posted by Lucio Haeser on September 25, 2015 at 8:32 pm
The best show I attended in my life. I’m from Brazil and spent the year 1996 in London. I feel privileged to have witnessed my favorite band . Thanks for the post.
Posted by vintagerock on September 26, 2015 at 6:31 am
Many thanks Lucio Cheers Peter
Posted by Brian Murray on October 6, 2016 at 5:41 pm
I went to this gig, enjoyed the whole thing, even Gary Glitter! The thing I most remember is seeing Imogen Heap for the first time.
In between the main acts they had performances from young artists who had been helped by the Princes Trust. Imogen was on just before Clapton, not on her own but fronting a band as lead singer, I thought she was magnificent and have been a fan ever since, in fact I’m going to see her tonight at Band on the Wall, Manchester.
Posted by baz hale on January 28, 2017 at 1:13 am
I went . Couldn’t find my mate at marble arch ,overcast , no booze and on my own . it was great .
Posted by Egmond on June 16, 2018 at 11:14 pm
I went to this one. I’d only decided to go that morning (living in London). The missus wasn’t interested in going so I thought I’d pop over on my own and try for a ticket, which I got for about a tenner iirc. it seemed an easy (and cheap) way of chalking off Dylan, the Who, and Clapton, none of whom I’d seen before. Dylan was underwhelming but the Who were surprisingly good. You could still see/hear the sheer power of their heyday. Clapton was good but workmanlike – a good proportion of those attending (it seemed a surprisingly wide age range) probably weren’t exactly his core audience. Otherwise I only remember seeing the end of Alanis Morisette’s set but she seemed to go down well.
Posted by david johnson on December 25, 2018 at 11:45 pm
apparently Clapton over-ran so the Who couldn’t finish the show due to the Hyde Park curfew
Posted by Tim on October 1, 2019 at 2:53 pm
This isn’t right because The Who were on before Clapton. I know as I was there (and I left about 30 mins into the Clapton set.
Posted by James Spencer on February 9, 2019 at 10:09 pm
I have the ticket stub and programme to this event. U was only 18! great day out. However if i remember rightly, Gary glitter performed with a eye patch due to roger daltry’s swinging the microphone around and caught him sweet in rehearsals! also Clapton opened up with layla but acoustic set after bob dylan which pretty much set the mood which like the weather was dull!!
Posted by Kate Elliott on September 14, 2019 at 10:57 pm
This is the standout in my memory too…the fancy eye patch which he flipped up at some dramatic point to reveal an amazing shiner! Left before Clapton was done due to an early train to catch the next morning, kinda fun to wander away from the Park with him rocking out on White Room bouncing off the houses as we went.
Posted by Alan Mutter on December 8, 2019 at 9:51 pm
Glitter caught roger in the eye with a mike in rehearsals and so it was Roger who wore a Union Jack eyepatch NOT Gary
Posted by Tim on October 1, 2019 at 2:54 pm
It was Roger who wore the eye patch.
Posted by James forrester on December 28, 2019 at 2:38 am
Travelled from Glasgow for this gig and wasn’t disappointed
Posted by Thom on March 8, 2020 at 6:17 pm
I was there too; one of my first gigs, and definitely one of the best I’ve seen at Hyde Park (which have ranged from great to absolutely dire since).
One thing that I remember was that my friend I went with had told me he’d heard a rumour about The Beatles reuniting to play an acoustic set after Eric Clapton was finished; this was in the days of them releasing the Anthology series, and given the lineup, it seemed plausible to my 16 year-old self! We nonetheless left early when it became apparent how boring Eric Clapton was, so I’d have kicked myself if that rumour had been true!
Posted by Jim Barlow on March 13, 2020 at 10:52 pm
I saw the concert on HBO but can’t find it available. Any clues?
Posted by James on March 15, 2020 at 10:01 am
Theres loads of footage on You tube mate. Although for my own memories I would love to find a dvd or something!
Posted by SLM1975 on June 17, 2021 at 3:34 pm
I was deeply hurt from not being allowed to attend the US tour in 1996/1997. My family was super protective, and didn’t like me fangirling over cute English rock stars. https://slm1975.wordpress.com/2020/07/10/the-trials-rewards-of-being-a-roger-daltrey-fan-girl/
Posted by James on June 17, 2021 at 8:21 pm
What a shame pal
Posted by Dave Thomas on March 29, 2022 at 8:41 am
Great day, probably not see the likes of again. Still watch the EC DVD from this show. Good mix of blues and rock from Slowhand with a great band. Dylan was just underway with his never ending tour and got mixed reviews from all around us. Just starting to get in the groove before finding form with the time out of mind era, which was just around the corner. The Who portion was great as it gave Quadrophenia a workout which hadn’t been heard since 20 years earlier. Not up there with Charlton or the Vetch Field shows but still a belter. The weather was poor for late June, longest day and all that but some line up.
Posted by vintagerock on March 29, 2022 at 11:37 am
Hi Dave yes a great day. And you are right, a line up the likes of which we are unlikely to see again. Thanks for sharing your memories. Happy days Peter
Posted by Lucio Haeser on March 29, 2022 at 8:34 pm
I have pictures. Not great photos, but I have them. I bought a disposable machine before the show. And a cassette tape with part of Quadrophenia.
Posted by James Spencer on March 30, 2022 at 8:57 pm
Wow… if u could upload the pics that would be amazing… ill have to look into this dvd that is available
Posted by Clive on July 8, 2022 at 9:24 am
I remember going to this show on a national bus with a mate from Stockton on Tees I won a T-shirt in a raffle on the bus and was well chuffed
I cant remember Jules Holland playing (must have arrived late) remember Charles and Di being there in the stand left of stage, but fondly remember half way through the Who set I looked to my left and who was stood next to me no other than Roger Lloyd Park (Trigger from OFAH) I turned to him and just said “Now Dave” he just grinned
It was a good show, but was disappointed with Dylan he had no rappor with the audience and looked as though he couldn,t be bothered
Not seen any of the acts before that day apart from the Who at Live Aid which I have a good story of that day (for another time)
Posted by vintagerock on July 8, 2022 at 11:25 am
Thanks for sharing your memories Clive. It was a great day happy days Peter
Posted by JAMIE on October 3, 2022 at 4:09 pm
WOW GUYS I WAS ALSO THERE & WHAT A GREAT DAY, I STAYED IN A HOTEL THST NIGHT WITH MY EX WIFE (MAD MEL & MAD WAS RIGHT ) I HAD THE TIME OF MY LIFE ,TO SEE THE WHO LIVE AGAIN WOW & I ALWAYS LOVED ALANIS M GREAT FAN.
I FEEL THAT IT WOULD NEVER EVER BE THE SAME NOW IE BOY BANDS (NOT FOR ME) WHICH IS A SAD SHAME INDEED.
WHAT & WHERE NEXT LADS ?
Posted by JAMIE on October 3, 2022 at 4:11 pm
EVENING CLIVE BUDDY IM SO GLAD YOU MET THE LATE TRIGGER WOW WHAT A GREAT BLOKE MAY HE FOREVER R.I.P.