The Who release new material next year, Pete Townsend confirms he is writing new musical

Wed, 26 Aug 2009

The Who are going to release a new recording next year, as Pete Townsend continues work on his new musical entitled “Floss.”

Writing to his blog on Monday (24th August) Pete Townsend has revealed that while Roger Daltrey “exercises his ageing vocal chords” by going on a 2-month solo tour across the US from October, Townsend himself will be setting to work on his new musical endeavour.

“Floss” is to be in the styles of Quadrophenia and Tommy, and will feature “complex sound-effects and musical montages.”  As well as more “conventional songs… which will be featured on a forthcoming Who release in 2010.” The premise of the musical will be the relationship between Floss and Walter, and follows their relationship through turbulence and reconciliation.

1969 saw Townsend write the “Rock-Opera” Tommy which has since been hailed as a “landmark in modern music.” The last Studio album recorded by The Who came 3 years ago. “Endless Wire” was a top-ten hit album in both the US and UK, and was adapted in 2007 as a Rock Musical. 

The Who’s 12th studio offering will be a prelude the proposed 2011 debut of the “Floss” musical which is intended for open-air or arena performances.  Pete Townsend concludes his blog by writing, “As a 19 year old – with My Generation – I wrote the most explicitly ageist song in rock. At 64 I now want to take on ageing and mortality, using the powerfully angry context of rock ‘n roll.”

Roger Daltrey’s “Use it or Lose it” tour begins 10th Oct at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom, and finishes 30th Nov, in Clearwater, Florida.


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