The Who to tour "Quadrophenia" this Fall

[James Bond]

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/the-who-tour-to-feature-quadrophenia-in-its-entirety-1.3846386

The Who will play their rock opera "Quadrophenia" in its entirety on a massive international tour, starting Nov. 1 in Sunrise, Fla., and including several stops in the area.

The tour will be The Who's first in four years and feature Pete Townshend and singer Roger Daltrey, as well as Townshend's brother Simon on guitar and Ringo Starr's son Zak Starkey on drums. Following the "Quadrophenia" performance, the band will close the show with a selection of its other hits.

The "Quadrophenia" tour will stop at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Nov. 14, Madison Square Garden on Dec. 5 and Nassau Coliseum on Feb. 21. Tickets go on sale July 27, though American Express cardholders have access to a pre-sale that starts on Monday.

Townshend said he's looking forward to playing "Quadrophenia's" dramatic finale "Love Reign O'er Me" on the tour. "Roger and I now stand almost alone together, representing not only the original band, but also its Mod audience, and, of course, all our other early fans."

Here are the dates:

Tue 11/1 Sunrise, FL BankAtlantic Center

Sat 11/3 Orlando, FL Amway Center

Mon 11/5 Duluth, GA The Arena at Gwinnett Center

Thu 11/8 Greenville, SC Bi-Lo Center

Fri 11/9 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum

Sun 11/11 Pittsburgh, PA CONSOL Energy Arena

Tue 11/13 Washington, DC Verizon Center

Wed 11/14 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center

Fri 11/16 Boston, MA TD Garden

Tue 11/20 Montreal, QC Bell Centre (on sale 7/28)

Wed 11/21 Ottawa, ON Scotiabank Place

Fri 11/23 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre

Sat 11/24 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena

Tue 11/27 Minneapolis, MN Target Center

Thu 11/29 Chicago, IL Allstate Arena

Sun 12/2 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena

Wed 12/5 New York, NY Madison Square Garden

Thu 12/6 Newark, NJ Prudential Center

Sat 12/8 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center

Sun 12/9 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena (on sale 8/3)

Mon 1/28 Anaheim, CA Honda Center

Wed 1/30 Los Angeles, CA STAPLES Center

Fri 2/1 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena

Sat 2/2 Reno, NV Reno Events Center

Tue 2/5 San Diego, CA Valley View Casino Center

Wed 2/6 Glendale, AZ Jobing.com Arena

Fri 2/8 Las Vegas, NV The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Tue 2/12 Denver, CO Pepsi Center

Thu 2/14 Tulsa, OK BOK Center

Sat 2/16 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Arena

Sun 2/17 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center

Tue 2/19 Hamilton, ON Copps Coliseum

Thu 2/21 Uniondale, NY Nassau Coliseum

Fri 2/22 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall

Sun 2/24 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena

Tue 2/26 Providence, RI Dunkin’ Donuts Center

I might do the Toronto show. The whole album plus some other cuts should make for a good show. Hopefully Roger's voice will hold up.

[ZoSoRose]

i would def want to go in detroit

saw the who in 08 and it was a fantastic show

[Zint]

Hopefully Roger's voice will hold up.

Well,to do Quadrophenia properly could very well tear his voice to shreds,as it stands now.

Quadrophenia might just be my fav album of all time.

Don't really want to tarnish my passion for it with a potential "meh" tour.

Not feeling this...I dunno...maybe...

[chevelle]

What's left of the Who, they mean.

[DirtyDeeds]

I haven't heard him in the last two or three years probably, but Roger has always impressed me greatly as one of those very rare singers that, even though his voice was powerful from the beginning, only somehow and miraculously got better with age. It always seemed to me that it got even deeper and more powerful.

No way I'm missing this tour. I haven't seen The Who in any form, and they are one of the big legendary bands you have to see at least once. Plus they are one of my favorites. Can't wait.

[dalsh327]

This is good news, wasn't sure if Pete was ever going to tour again. The Joint would be worth going to see it, and doing a date at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The ticket prices are $50-150, and they're doing "VIP experience" packages.

[James Bond]

$50 isn't bad at all to see the current incarnation. I hadn't even checked prices yet when I made the thread.

Zak Starkey is phenomenal on the drums. Since it can't be Keith up there, it might as well be Zak. He knows his way around the kit and is able to make the songs his own without copying Keith exact or taking away from the songs.

[Powerage5]

Meh, might go to Toronto. Seen The Who twice, not sure if I'll see them this time around...

[DirtyDeeds]

Yeah, there will never be anyone who can come close to replacing Keith Moon, but Zak Starkey, more than any other drummer living, sure makes those songs sound great. He's got the only style out there that I've heard that can really work with The Who.

[Bumble's Bridge Pickup]

Great album but I don't like nostalgia stuff like this really.

[DirtyDeeds]

Jeez, surprised by the ho-hum attitude here.

[Powerage5]

Jeez, surprised by the ho-hum attitude here.

I wouldn't be so ho-hum about it if I wasn't doing so many Maiden gigs this year!

[DirtyDeeds]

Jeez, surprised by the ho-hum attitude here.

I wouldn't be so ho-hum about it if I wasn't doing so many Maiden gigs this year!

How many Maiden gigs are you up to? It seems like every other time you post, you are mentioning another half dozen Maiden gigs you bought tickets for. And this pattern has been going on for like 5 years. I'm not a Maiden fan, and I'm glad I'm not because I would be so jealous.

[Guest Len B'stard]

I might go. To date i've been steadfast in my refusal to patronise any Moonless Who stuff...and then Entwhistle, thats it for me. But it occurs to me that, i love Townshend and Daltrey too, if not as much as The Great Moon but still hugely, immensely, greatly, i mean, they're not drum n bass albums y'know, i do dearly love Daltrey and Townshend, The Who are one of my favorite bands of all fucking time and i've never seen any of em live so, yeah, perhaps it's time, perhaps i should go...might not get another shot..

Although...i dunno...No Moon..must sound odd...No Entwhistle, must sound doubley odd. I imagine it'd sound quite garden variety and flat.

Edited July 20, 2012 by sugaraylen

[DirtyDeeds]

Len, I mean you have the right to refuse to go wherever and everything, but come on, they're dead. It's not like they were kicked out of the band and those assholes Pete and Roger refuse to let them back. Enjoy what's left man! It's just music, stop taking it so seriously and just enjoy.

[Guest Len B'stard]

Len, I mean you have the right to refuse to go wherever and everything, but come on, they're dead. It's not like they were kicked out of the band and those assholes Pete and Roger refuse to let them back. Enjoy what's left man! It's just music, stop taking it so seriously and just enjoy.

I know and you're right and in any normal circumstances i would go i mean i'd go see The Stooges without Ronnie Asheton and, y'know, all sorts but...this is a really really really special thing that i'm talking about, a really really fine balance that was firstly and most important is musical, it don't sound right, it isn't right, it isn't The Who...any other band on the planet it'd be something else but...i know i go on a bit but when i do about The Who i'm actually trying to explain something about the total total uniqueness of the sound of that band and how it had something to do with 4 totally unsubstituteable (no pun intended) people.

But you're right and end of the day I am being stupid and i don't wanna miss the chance to see this band live so, yeah, i probably will end up seeing em.

But i don't think i can get over that, visually, musically, in every sense it cannot approach what i hear on records and in live performances, it just can't. But fuck it, it's better than nothing. And as much as i love Mad Moon and Entwhistle i love Townshend and Daltrey too, the whole unit so on the strength of that alone i gotta go.

The affection for Moon specifically is very difficult to explain, it is literally a rush i get from hearing that kid play, a physically uplifting feeling.

But you're right overall, it's silliness to not go see em.

Edited July 20, 2012 by sugaraylen

[axlslash]

Not to see this band is only robbing yourself. Is it necessarily "The Who"? No. That being said, Zakk has been in the band for about 20 years or so at this point, and brings it down. He learned to play from the Animal himself, and is a fitting replacement (not to mention he puts old pappa Richard to shame). Pino Palladino is no Ox on the bass, but handles himself just fine. Pete and Rog...no words. They are tops at handling the stage. I have seen them twice in huge venues (the big amphitheater in Tinley Park IL and the United Center in Chicago) and am thoroughly stoked that they've selected the more intimate Allstate Arena this time. Seen Queen and James Taylor there, and it's marvelous. Add in Quadrophenia, my second favorite Who album in its entirety? I am quivering with excitement and can't wait for the AmEx presale to get here. If you can get to these shows, put aside your reservations abut the lineup and do it. You will hate yourself if you don't.

[Zint]

Len, I mean you have the right to refuse to go wherever and everything, but come on, they're dead. It's not like they were kicked out of the band and those assholes Pete and Roger refuse to let them back. Enjoy what's left man! It's just music, stop taking it so seriously and just enjoy.

I know and you're right and in any normal circumstances i would go i mean i'd go see The Stooges without Ronnie Asheton and, y'know, all sorts but...this is a really really really special thing that i'm talking about, a really really fine balance that was firstly and most important is musical, it don't sound right, it isn't right, it isn't The Who...any other band on the planet it'd be something else but...i know i go on a bit but when i do about The Who i'm actually trying to explain something about the total total uniqueness of the sound of that band and how it had something to do with 4 totally unsubstituteable (no pun intended) people.

But you're right and end of the day I am being stupid and i don't wanna miss the chance to see this band live so, yeah, i probably will end up seeing em.

But i don't think i can get over that, visually, musically, in every sense it cannot approach what i hear on records and in live performances, it just can't. But fuck it, it's better than nothing. And as much as i love Mad Moon and Entwhistle i love Townshend and Daltrey too, the whole unit so on the strength of that alone i gotta go.

The affection for Moon specifically is very difficult to explain, it is literally a rush i get from hearing that kid play, a physically uplifting feeling.

But you're right overall, it's silliness to not go see em.

The first time I saw The Who was shortly after the Cincinatti incident,there was still some urgency,some fire,some drive to continue.

I saw them a few more times up to The Tommy tour.

The Tommy tour was so bland,the whole thing felt like it was in neutral,I was bored to tears.

I checked out after that.

This ain't The Who you hold so dear len.

It's a retirement fund tour, (sorry to those about to respond to that...but they've already done this revisit-Quadrophenia-tour once before).

If you go,don't go in with great expectations of what attracts you to this band.

Go for the music as Dirtydeeds suggested,don't go expecting to experience "The Who".

[DirtyDeeds]

Half of them died, the other half got old, and they picked up two great musicians to fill in for the dead ones, but never to replace them. The Who of days past is just that -- of days past. It will never be here again. Ever. Now you can see what's left... two of the original who still sound great, or you can see nothing at all except youtube videos of days of old. I'm 24. All my favorite bands are in more or less this stage now. It's all I've ever known of a live show. I still have a good time. I'm sure I really did miss out by being born too late. But, I'm making due with what I got, as I always have and I enjoy it. Better to see what there is still left than to miss the boat completely... and in ten years, fifteen tops, none of the bands I like will still exist in any form. God, that's such a bummer just thinking about that.

[Dazey]

I might go. To date i've been steadfast in my refusal to patronise any Moonless Who stuff...and then Entwhistle, thats it for me. But it occurs to me that, i love Townshend and Daltrey too, if not as much as The Great Moon but still hugely, immensely, greatly, i mean, they're not drum n bass albums y'know, i do dearly love Daltrey and Townshend, The Who are one of my favorite bands of all fucking time and i've never seen any of em live so, yeah, perhaps it's time, perhaps i should go...might not get another shot..

Although...i dunno...No Moon..must sound odd...No Entwhistle, must sound doubley odd. I imagine it'd sound quite garden variety and flat.

You, me, and a bag full of Columbia's finest me old china! I've even got a spare parka you can borrow!

[Zint]

They picked up two great musicians to fill in for the dead ones, but never to replace them.

I don't have a problem with replacing members.I saw them with Kenny Jones,it was cool.

Great shows!

Now you can see what's left...

I have..

I'm making due with what I got

Me too.

Better to see what there is still left than to miss the boat completely...

That's why I might do what you suggested..go for the music.

Might be cool to hear some live Quadrophenia!

[axlslash]

Len, I mean you have the right to refuse to go wherever and everything, but come on, they're dead. It's not like they were kicked out of the band and those assholes Pete and Roger refuse to let them back. Enjoy what's left man! It's just music, stop taking it so seriously and just enjoy.

I know and you're right and in any normal circumstances i would go i mean i'd go see The Stooges without Ronnie Asheton and, y'know, all sorts but...this is a really really really special thing that i'm talking about, a really really fine balance that was firstly and most important is musical, it don't sound right, it isn't right, it isn't The Who...any other band on the planet it'd be something else but...i know i go on a bit but when i do about The Who i'm actually trying to explain something about the total total uniqueness of the sound of that band and how it had something to do with 4 totally unsubstituteable (no pun intended) people.

But you're right and end of the day I am being stupid and i don't wanna miss the chance to see this band live so, yeah, i probably will end up seeing em.

But i don't think i can get over that, visually, musically, in every sense it cannot approach what i hear on records and in live performances, it just can't. But fuck it, it's better than nothing. And as much as i love Mad Moon and Entwhistle i love Townshend and Daltrey too, the whole unit so on the strength of that alone i gotta go.

The affection for Moon specifically is very difficult to explain, it is literally a rush i get from hearing that kid play, a physically uplifting feeling.

But you're right overall, it's silliness to not go see em.

The first time I saw The Who was shortly after the Cincinatti incident,there was still some urgency,some fire,some drive to continue.

I saw them a few more times up to The Tommy tour.

The Tommy tour was so bland,the whole thing felt like it was in neutral,I was bored to tears.

I checked out after that.

This ain't The Who you hold so dear len.

It's a retirement fund tour, (sorry to those about to respond to that...but they've already done this revisit-Quadrophenia-tour once before).

If you go,don't go in with great expectations of what attracts you to this band.

Go for the music as Dirtydeeds suggested,don't go expecting to experience "The Who".

See them again. I can't speak for the Tommy tour, seeing as how I was still just a wee sperm at the time, but theyve got the fire back. Saw em in 02 and 06, and will happily be seeing them again.

If someone said "I last saw Guns N Roses on the 02 tour, and it was a disaster. Don't see em on this tour, it's a waste"? Time changes things.

[Zint]

I was addressing len in particular,I know what the Who means to him.

If people dig the current Who or want them as a notch on the have-seen list...go have a blast.

But I know len has tapped in to the very essence of the Who and this tour really has nothing to do with that essence.

Just suggesting he consider that.

If holding the Who in that high a regard,in its purity...this tour,will not reflect that for him.

But if he wants to see Pete and Roger and dig the music for what it's worth..have at it.

[DirtyDeeds]

I'm not trying to start an argument or anything, just asking because I don't know much about The Who. Did they ever have that "essence of The Who" since leaving the clubs, though?

[Guest Len B'stard]

I'm not trying to start an argument or anything, just asking because I don't know much about The Who. Did they ever have that "essence of The Who" since leaving the clubs, though?

No way man, thats way too neat, they say that about every band but thats rubbish, The Who had it, The Who had it cold, they had it for the longest period of fucking amazing productivity i've ever heard of cuz they got that fuckin' balance and they never let it go. Jesus, The Who were brilliant, they're just one of those bands that just hit you the first moment you hear em.

The essence of The Who is like...just pure fuckin' rhythm, to just make you shake. Their rhythm section were the fucking lead players, The Ox and Moonie, while the fucking guitar player is the one keeping time, it's just the most WONDERFUL concept and the chance of players SOOOO talented to come together like that, it's just like what the fuck are the chances? And on top of that, they instinctively played music that suited that kind of a set up, i don't think you can play ALL kinds of music with that kind of musical arrangement but it just somehow fuckin' fit blues and rock and motowney type stuff.

And they had that for fucking ages, it's in ALL of the albums that Moon was on. And i'm not trying to overstate him over the others cuz if Entwhistle had died first instead of Moonie they would've sounded just as flat as they did without Moon, his playing was 100 million percent unique unlike any i've ever heard, it is literally ridiculous, in terms of like, song structure and the things instruments are typically meant to do and what he was actually fucking doing.

Listen to say....My Wife, Behind Blue Eyes, However Much I Booze, pretend you're a drummer and you're given this song and you've got to come up with a beat for it, think of what a normal drummer would do on those songs and then listen to what Moonie is doing. The only band i've ever heard, or one of few, to ever take a bona fide Motown classic and cover it and actually make it better than it originally was and what makes it better is Moonie, the guy just like jet propelled a song, it's got one of them riffs as it is and Moonies drumming builds and builds and builds into the chorus and the sound is like awash with cymbals crashing and like....anybody else doing that would just ruin the fucking track, it'd be overkill, it'd smother the track but he just pulls it off, like the songs in his bones or something, he like quadruples the rhythm, like a cadence on steroids, it's...unorthodox to say the least.

The Who are the only rock band that i've ever come across that, without being some blistering fast punk rock band, when you watch them play and you watch the way people move to their music it's like when people used to do E's and listen to rave and it'd look like their necks were plugged into the mains somewhere, it's terrific.

Listen to a Who song...let it play, get into it, til your heads rocking or your toes tapping...then watch them play that song live and watch the players, it's fucking Moonie that you're moving to. Entwhistle was like the depth and the muscle, he made it beefy, he made them the titanic rock band that they were but again, not playing straight ahead bass, just weird little runs where it should be being kept steady, i have NO idea how it works, it shouldn't work, get 3 other musicians and orchestrate them playing like that, it'd be a fucking mess. Entwhistles playing was what gave them the depth of sound to create something like Tommy or Quadrophenia that, although it is basically just an album, it has the grandiosity of sound and the richness to make it come off as operatic in its own way, really grand, they were just rock operas cuz it was an album with a bunch of songs that tie together on it. And Townshend was all about that grandiosity too, simple heavy dense playing with what i can only identify as a uniquely English aplomb Thats the best explanation i can give to a guitarist that sort of...raises his strumming hand and does this grand drop onto the strings the way he does, its like Music Hall aplomb, it's just utterly unique. The operas though, like i was saying before were like...something in the tone and texture and the nature of the songs in them lend themselves very well to being performed onstage in a theatrical sense. They are journeys centred around these really emotionally direct pieces of music and emotional directness is sort of the soul of theatre itself. The whole notion is kinda considered a little corny now but i suspect it has something to do with artist no longer having the kind of nuts to sustain that kind of a vision. And then to somehow y'know, not turn it into the limp wrist brigade and bring all the attendant masculine posturing and power of The Who along with it, wow, what a fucking juxtaposition, it's delicious. High drama and emotion meets 4 yobbos from London kicking the shit out of their instruments, amazing

THATS the fuckin' Who...listen to him smack them drums at 22 seconds...imagine how that must've sounded to the people in the studio watching, they were just mind-fuckingly good.

And they never lost that essence for as long as Moon was alive. They floundered a bit there but even on like, The Who by Numbers, it's there, the essential Who sound is there, it's there on Who Are You, those albums can make you move, it might not've been as pure and as distilled as it was before but they could do it, it was there, the essential elements hadn't diminished.

Edited July 20, 2012 by sugaraylen