A genre of popular music that originated as ‘rock and roll’ in 1950s in America and soon gained popularity among many other nations around the world, Rock Music appeals tenth of millions of people with its charming sounds of guitar and has been represented by such famous bands as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Aerosmith, and Deep Purple to name but a few.
Another world-famous band, formed in 1964 in Hammersmith, Greater London, United Kingdom is The Who, the ‘cornerstone’ of today’s post, with more than 45 albums, among which Quadrophenia (1973) – the group’s second rock opera, which story involves social, musical and psychological happenings from an English teenage perspective. The band was formed by singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon and rose to fame in the UK with a series of top ten hit singles.
And now attention, attention! Good news for rock lovers and especially for ‘The Who’ fans – The Who will embark on the group’s first North American tour in four years this fall with an arena presentation of the 1973 rock opera ‘Quadrophenia.’ So if you are a rock enthusiast wishing to take part in this exclusive event, plan a visit to North America and have a wonderful experience of a lifetime along with exploring the natural and man-made wonders North America has on offer.
“The Who: Quadrophenia-Can You See the Real Me?” film was shown on July 24, 2012 in hundreds of theaters across the U.S. The single showing has rekindled interest in “Quadrophenia,” so the band is heading back out on the road on November 1. The Who tickets are currently on sale for the tour, which ends on February 26, 2013.
Original members Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey will be joined by six other musicians. Ringo Starr’s drummer son Zak Starkey and Simon Townshend, Pete’s brother, will be joined by Chris Stainton on keyboards and Pino Palladino on bass. Loren Gold and Frank Simes on keyboards complete the crew.
The Who have promised to play “Quadrophenia” in its entirety during the upcoming shows, along with other classics. The tour is timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the album. The double album went to second place on the charts in both the U.S and the U.K. The original tour supporting the album began with Keith Moon passing out twice during the performance. Scot Halpin, a member of the audience, finished out the show in Moon’s place.
The Who haven’t been on a full tour in four years, although they have played a few high-profile and charity events. The band performed during the halftime show of Super Bowl XLIV in 2010 and at the closing ceremonies for the recent London Olympics. They have also participated in several charity concerts for cancer research.
Their most recent album was 2010’s “Greatest Hits Live,” a collection of live performances of their top hits. The recordings are from every era of the band. Their most recent album of new material was “Endless Wire.” That album was released in 2006.
The Who haven’t played the whole rock opera about a boy struggling with mental illness since 1997. During the press conference announcing the tour, Daltrey and Townshend discussed their motivation for heading out on the road now. Townshend expressed his fondness for “Quadrophenia,” and said he wanted to get out and perform in concert again before the band members got too old. Daltrey also admitted he wanted to do the tour now while his voice was still capable of hitting the notes.
Few bands have been credited with influencing as many musicians as The Who. Rock bands like Led Zeppelin and Green Day have listed The Who as role models. Their ear-splitting volume and attack mode of playing has led them to be called the Godfathers of Punk. The Ramones have listed The Who as huge influences on their sound and style.
“Tommy” was the first rock opera ever released, and The Who is credited with inventing the genre. Although many artists attempted to write rock operas, “Tommy” and “Quadrophenia” are considered two of the best. With the new tour set to feature “Quadrophenia” once again, it’s clear that Townshend wishes to showcase his masterpiece one more time. With 36 stops on the tour, there are ample opportunities for fans to land The Who tickets and revisit one of their classic albums.
The upcoming Who tour will offer a number of exclusive VIP experiences and packages, including a number of exciting perks: great seats, a special invitation to The Who’s VIP preshow sound check, limited edition autographed memorabilia, preshow parties (including complimentary food & beverage), VIP preferred parking, exclusive VIP merchandise and more.
