There are at least two groups with this name. 1) The What is an Amsterdam pop band founded in September 2006. Inspired by bands from the sixties, the band has written songs varying from energetic rock to groovy melodious pop. Relying on Erik Seyferth’s energetic vocals and funky keyboard playing, Ivan Mettrop’s inspiring guitar handling, Jim Glerum’s groovy basslines and Floris Linnebank’s spot-on beats, the What makes their songs really come alive. Noted for the dynamism of their live performances, the band is now a popular, whipped up formation, that you definitely need to see! http://www.thewhat.nl/ 2) There was also a short lived group called The What consisting of Eddie Vedder (of Pearl Jam), Kurt Bloch and Mike Musburger (of Fastbacks). They played handful of times in 1996 during Pearl Jam's European tour. 3) ‘The What’ was the first South Humberside Punk-Rock band to form, play gigs, release a record and split up. Formed in July 1977 as ‘Exit’, their first gig, in November 1978, ended in a riot with the band attacked by the audience and their equipment smashed up. The riot made news headlines in the north of England and resulted in a trial at Lincoln Crown Court. The presiding judge (who must have been at the gig) said the band had given “a disgusting performance” and that “it was a disgusting incident which is all too prevalent”. The publicity resulted in a BBC Radio Humberside recording session in March 1979. They played 10 gigs, mainly in pubs & village halls around South Humberside & Lincolnshire but all very well attended due to the high profile media publicity sparked off by the riot and the BBC session. Their biggest gig was a major event. In February 1979, as Exit, they supported The Damned at Cleethorpes Winter Gardens before an audience of 500. The singer/guitarist Mick Taylor had his red beret ‘borrowed’ by Captain Sensible just before The Damned took to the stage and thus, the Captain’s famous ‘trademark’ image was born. The late summer of 1979 was the height of the ‘mod’ revival and the band - about to release their debut single - changed their image to reflect the mood of the moment. Suited & booted and re-named ‘The What’, their ‘East Coast Kids’ EP, was released in September 1979. 350 copies were bought by Lincoln’s Dead Good Records and distributed by Rough Trade & Small Wonder. Then, a very odd thing happened - 50 copies sold in Norway gained it a chart entry at Number 16 in their ‘Alternative’ charts! At their final gig, in Oct 1979, a ludicrous scenario unfolded - a lesson in how not to do things. Still appearing onstage billed as Exit they were, at the same time, promoting their ‘East Coast Kids’ EP under the name-change The What. Armed with such a career-killing strategy, it comes as no surprise therefore, that shortly afterwards, Exit/The What collapsed in disarray! The original trio re-formed in Dec 1981, soon afterwards becoming a 4-piece with a ‘poppier’ sound, including organ and 2nd guitar. They released a single, ‘Planetoid Passion’ in 1983 on the ‘Red Beret’ label, distributed by Pinnacle and The Cartel. This release is shown below. In 1984, Exit released another single ‘The Bite of Winter’ on the ‘Red Beret’ label.