Pete Townshend, Eddie Vedder to Perform a Who-Themed Benefit

Pete Townshend will be joined by Eddie Vedder for a benefit concert dubbed Celebrating the Who, to be held May 14 at the Rosemont Theatre in Chicago. Proceeds go to Teen Cancer America, a charity near and dear to Townshend and Who bandmate Roger Daltrey.

A trio of the Who's regular touring members will also appear at the Rosemont show, including guitarist Simon Townshend (Pete's brother), drummer Zak Starkey and bassist Pino Palladino. Teen Cancer America supports programs for young people with cancer through the University of Chicago Medicine.

For Vedder, celebrating the Who has become part of his life's narrative. The Pearl Jam frontman once told Rolling Stone that he heard the Who for the first time as a youth, and was changed forever. "Imagine, as a kid, stumbling upon the locomotive that is Live at Leeds," Vedder said in 2010. "'Hi, my name is Eddie. I'm 10 years old and I'm getting my f–ing mind blown!'"

In keeping, Pearl Jam has been covering Townshend songs since back in the their '90s hey day. Vedder eventually became friends with his idol, performing together with Townshend numerous times over the years. Vedder appeared on two songs, including a live take on "Magic Bus," from Pete Townshend Live: A Benefit for Maryville Academy and wrote the foreword to Townshend's biography, Who Are You. He also appeared as part of a 50th anniversary Who tribute in 2014.

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