The Who Head Back on the Road to Perform ‘Quadrophenia’

The Who have announced plans to embark on their first North American tour in four years, where they will perform their iconic 1973 double album Quadrophenia in its entirety in a mix of arenas and smaller venues.

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The AEG-promoted 36-date tour kicks off Nov. 1 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla., with an initial six-week run. The Who then return with more dates beginning Jan. 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

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The critically acclaimed Quadrophenia, the British band’s sixth album, second rock opera (after 1969’s Tommy) and follow-up to 1971’s immortal Who’s Next, reached No. 1 on Billboard’s U.S. album chart. With guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend supplying the narrative of an English teenager at war with authority in the 1960s, Quadrophenia features such classic songs as “The Real Me,” “5:15” and “Love Reign o’er Me.”

The album also served as the basis of a 1979 feature film.

Townshend, 67, and fellow surviving Who member Roger Daltrey, 68, will be joined on the tour by frequent contributors Zak Starkey (drums), Pino Palladino (bass), Simon Townshend (guitar/backing vocals), Chris Stainton (keyboards) and Loren Gold (keyboards/backing vocals). Frank Simes will serve as musical director.

Asked during a conference call Wednesday to name his favorite songs from Quadrophenia to perform live, Townshend said, “I really love playing all of it. It's a unique piece for me in that.

“Some Who music is nightmarish to perform live. Roger has some very tough songs to sing, and he must have preferences. But for me on guitar, everything falls under the fingers. It flows naturally, and I always feel proud of my achievement as the writer, that I put it all together and gave the band a third wind.”

Other tour dates include Nov. 14 at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn; Dec. 2 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville; Dec. 5 at Madison Square Garden in New York; Dec. 9 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.; Jan. 30 at Staples Center in Los Angeles; Feb. 8 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas; and Feb. 22 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Tickets to the general public go on sale July 27 at 10 a.m. at www.aeglive.com (presales for members of The Who’s official fan club and American Express card holders start July 20).

In advance of the tour, a new documentary, The Who: Quadrophenia — Can You See The Real Me? The Story Behind the Album, will have a one-night showing in U.S. theaters on July 24.

E-mail: Mike.Barnes@thr.com