For a few months in 1964, Helmut Gorden managed the Who, without any apparent staunch qualifications for the job. A doorknob manufacturer, Gorden was put in contact with the band through the sister-in-law of Doug Sandom, then the group's drummer. Gorden did manage to secure an audition for them with Chris Parmeinter, an A&R man with Fontana Records, in March 1964. This audition apparently didn't go to well, partially because Parmeinter didn't like Sandom's drumming. One of his negative comments about it precipitated Sandom's resignation, although he hung in with the band for another month, eventually replaced by Keith Moon.

In the following months (during some of which time the Who were renamed the High Numbers), mod Pete Meaden also got involved with the band's management, and was much more in tune with them personally and artistically than Gorden was. Gorden did get them onto shows via the Arthur Howes Agency as an opening act, which included supporting slots for Gerry the Pacemakers and, in Blackpool, the Beatles. The gig was up for both Gorden and Meaden later in the year, however, when Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp became interested in managing the Who. Gorden's contract with the band was invalidated as all of the members were under 21, and the document had not been countersigned by Pete Townshend's parents. ~ Richie Unterberger, Rovi