Pete Townshend wrote The Who’s 1978 hit “Who Are You” after a night out with Sex Pistols members Steve Jones and Paul Cook, an encounter that revived his creativity amid tensions between established rock musicians and punk’s newer generation. The song became especially significant because it was The Who’s final major release to feature drummer Keith Moon, who died shortly after the album’s release.

Townshend said he had spent 13 difficult hours discussing royalties with music manager Allen Klein before going to London’s Speakeasy Club, where he met the Sex Pistols musicians. After drinking and later falling asleep in a Soho doorway, he was awakened by a policeman; the experience inspired the song’s opening lines. Moon’s worsening addiction had made recording increasingly difficult, and work on the album had reportedly stalled because of his inconsistent drumming.