The Who Announce North American Tour

THE WHO, one of rock's legendary and defining bands, have announced a major North American arena tour where they'll perform their iconic 1973 double album QUADROPHENIA in its entirety, along with a selection of WHO classics. The critically acclaimed QUADROPHENIA marked the British band's second rock opera (after Tommy), raised the bar for rock albums as an art form and hit #2 on the U.S. Billboard album chart. Founding members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend will be joined by Zak Starkey (drums), Pino Palladino (bass), Simon Townshend (guitar/backing vocals), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Loren Gold (keyboards/backing vocals) and Frank Simes (musical director, keyboards/backing vocals). **See a Q&A with Pete Townshend near the end of the release.

In addition, subscribed members of The Who's official fan club will be given priority access to purchase tickets for the upcoming "Quadrophenia" tour. The offer begins at 10:00 AM on July 20 and expires July 22 at 10:00 PM. All current members of the official The Who Fan Club, as well as any new members who join, will be given an exclusive member's only code that will activate the offer. Membership is available at fanclub.TheWho.com.

The upcoming WHO tour will offer a number of exclusive VIP experiences and packages. These offers may include 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.

The American Express presale for the U.S. dates runs July 23-26 and July 23-25 in Canada before the general public on sales beginning on Friday, July 27 at 10:00 AM.

The AEG-promoted 36-date tour, the band's first North American tour in four years, kicks off November 1 in Sunrise, FL with an initial six-week run. THE WHO will return in late January with more dates commencing January 28 in Anaheim, CA. Tickets for the tour will be available at www.aeglive.com

In advance of the tour, a special one-night in-theater screening of "The Who: Quadrophenia-Can You See The Real Me?" The Story Behind The Album is set for Tuesday, July 24, at 8:00 P.M. local time nationwide (in Canada, this will take place Wednesday, August 1 at 7:30 PM). Beginning with a special welcome message from lead guitarist Pete Townshend, "The Who: Quadrophenia – Can You See the Real Me?" The Story Behind The Album event will give fans an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look into one of rock's most influential bands. The documentary takes fans on a riveting ride back to the 1970s when The Who's creative musical genius was taking the world music stage by storm. Packed with never-before-seen stories, including the well-known onstage collapse of drummer Keith Moon during the tour's first show, the evening will also feature additional performances of songs from "Quadrophenia" including the classic, "Love Reign O'er Me." More details can be found at www.FathomEvents.com (U.S.) and cineplex.com/events (Canada). For a complete list of presenting theater locations and prices, please visit the website (theaters and participants may be subject to change).

In a four-and-a-half star (out of five) review, Rolling Stone's David Fricke said: "Quadrophenia, released in 1973, was a superior tale with more-taut songwriting; it was grounded in [Pete] Townshend's memories of growing up angry, anguished and mod in the early Sixties, and produced with the panoramic tension of 'Who's Next.'"

The Who is an English rock band formed in 1964. Quadrophenia marked the band's sixth album. The album's title is a variation on the popular usage of the medical diagnostic term schizophrenia and exemplifies the four varying personalities of the band members who created the album. IGN placed Quadrophenia at No. 1 on its list of the greatest classic rock albums of all time and Q magazine placed Quadrophenia on its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever, It features such classic WHO songs as "The Real Me," "5:15" and "Love Reign o'er Me."