MUSIC

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).

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."