2 Nov 2012
The Who kick off ‘Quadrophenia and More’ tour
photo: property of the who.com
The Who kicked off their ‘Quadrophenia and More’ tour at a packed out BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida last night in true Who style.
They gave a stunning performance of Quadrophenia, with some great musical moments, including blistering guitar solos by Pete Townshend, and visuals and staging directed by Roger Daltrey. The central idea behind Roger’s concept was to go back to its original idea. Jimmy, the central character’ was a character with four personalities, each loosely based on the four original band members of The Who – Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend (the surviving members) and Keith Moon and John Entwistle (sadly departed).
The visuals reflected the history of the band and the context of that history. It was as if the Roger and Pete of now are looking back, with the audience, at The Who of yesteryear.
At two key points, famous performances by John Entwistle and Keith Moon were worked into the visuals, to the delight of the audience.
The audience were less delighted, however, when Pete Townshend walked offstage towards the end of the second half of the performance and didn’t come back. This was due to sound problems, which rendered the volume levels too high, but which will be sorted out for the next shows.
(It wouldn’t be a Who tour if there wasn’t some drama. And hats off to support act Vintage Trouble. What a warm up set. Don’t miss them! – Ed. the who.com)
The tour hits Orlando, Florida on Saturday, November 3rd. To buy tickets for this and/or other gigs on the tour, click HERE.
For pics from the Sunrise show and to post your own pics and comments, if you were there, click HERE.
Hey Pete: Once again we need you in NY. Many people are going through a tough time, some folks have lost their homes and belongings, some are struggling without heat and electricity and we all are having a difficult time getting to work which increases the burden on those who are having a tough time supporting their families financially. I am a lucky guy but I care for those who have less. Our request is a simple one, when you come to Brooklyn in a couple of weeks you do what you have always done the many times I’ve been privileged to see the Who, simply put your heart and soul into it. I thing that will at least temporarily ease some of the difficulty and pain. New York has a great affinity for the Who and you are one of us. I look forward to the show, their is nothing live a Who show, nothing. Thanks
Steve
saw the who when i was 17 in nov.1971 in charlotte n.c.it was opening nightin the states for the tour promoting ‘WHO’S NEXT’!41 yrs to the day to be exact.the guys were in their mid 20’s then and it was my first concert.i sat kind of at a side angle close to the stage.could’t keep my eyes off of moonie the whole nite.WHAT A SHOW .A LOT OF TOMMY AND WHO’S NEXT SONGS WITH THEIR OTHER HITS.THIS WAS BEFORE QUAD.DROVE 300 MILES IN A 70 MACH ONE MUSTANG WITH MY BROTHER WHO HAD JUST COME HOME FROM NAM!A BLEW THE OLD CHARLOTTE COLOSIUM APART THAT NITE.I’M SEEN MOST ALL THE GREAT BANDS IN THE FOLLOWING YRS BUT THEY ARE AT THE TOP.SEEN THEM 3 TIMES IN FACT’ONCE IN 89 IN RALEIGH’GREAT BUT KNOW MOONIE AND IN LATE 90’S IN RALEIGH AGAIN.71 WAS MAGIC!I’VE SEEN STONES FRONT ROW TWICE’MCCARTNEY REAL CLOSE EAGLES 4 TIMES CLOSE NEIL YOUNG CSNY TEN YRS AFTER FRONT ROW IN 74ELTON’ROD’J GIELS’GRAND FUNK’ALL IN THE 70’S’HEART WAS GREAT’JOHN FOGERTY TWICE UP FRONT’ALWSOME.71 WHO TOPPED THEM ALL!!!!!AND MY SEATS WERN’T THAT GOOD COMPARED TO MOST OTHER GIGS I HAVE BEEN TO.WILLING TO PAY THE EXTRA MONEY FOR GREAT SEATS.ITS DEFINITELY WORTH IT.
Can’t wait til dec 8, when the show hits Philly, I saw The Who about 30 times and Im taking my 25 year old girlfriend (I’m 49) who never heard anything but Baba O’Rielly(she calls it teenage wasteland). She wants me to go see Pink, No chance
My wife and I attended the Sunrise opening last night and looked forward to it for months. We’ve both been huge fans since we were kids and were thrilled that they were playing Quadrophenia. Also we had yet to see the group live.
The performance was not particularly strong, but we knew it was the first show and the TWO are not spring chickens. We still had a great time and were moved by the experience until the end.
That unprofessional crap that Pete Townsend pulled was inexcusable. To walk off and leave your band mates and (high priced) ticket holders in dismay ruined the end of an otherwise great night. He could have come out and thanked the audience and explained is troubles but instead decided to be a diva and sulk like a toddler. We still love his talent and contribution to music, but he put a scar on his legacy.
I was there and I consider it an insult for Pete to sissy out and not come back. I paid in full to see a show in which half of the two people I wanted to see pussed out on us. Not cool Pete. And then for Roger to just say goodnight and walk off was ridiculous. I hope they don’t have another tour because if they do I won’t be there. A Who fan for forty years and I’m a bit pissed at their lack of respect for paying fans. Far as I’m concerned they owe me back the purchase price of my tickets which were over $300!
At the concert last night in Sunrise. Great except for Pete’s sudden dissapearance and leaving the band looking like the had no idea what was going on. Luckily most of the audience had no idea until the show ended without the guys taking a bow. Perhaps something should have been told to the fans who I am sure feel ripped off, I kow I do!!
Show was great until Pete stormed off stage, never to be seen again because his guitar wasn’t tuned right,Roger carried on for two more songs before looking pissed about Pete and walking off. No oncore! It’s funny, 41 yrs. ago at the start of quad tour, Keith passed out and couldn’t finish the show and now this.LONG LIVE ROCK!
The show was fantastic ! the Who tore through a blistering version of Quadrophenia, better than the 96 & 97 Tour ( I saw both ) But when Pete exited, it left everyone scratching their heads, the concert clearly wasn’t close to ending,even Roger seemed confused as to what happend to Pete. But there was no booing, the crowd quietly filed out of the arena, I think they were rung out pretty good, I know I was !
Thirty nine years ago on the first night of the Quadrophenia tour Keith moon collapses and has to be carried off stage. 2012 on the first night of the Quadrophenia tour another chapter in Who history is written. Boy that Quadrophenia is a tough show ain’t it?
Hey, Orlando, do me a favor. After Pinball Wizard/Behind Blue Eyes/Who Are You/Baba O’Riley, which songs will they play tonight? This way, I’ll know which songe I didn’t see in Sunrise. Thanks.
They didn’t do Pinball Wizard in Orlando but they did Won’t Get Fooled Again, Anyway Anyhow Anywhere, The Kids are Alright and Tea and Theatre.
My wife and I flew from Venezuela to fulfill a dream of seeing our beloved Who live for the first time in our 40 years of following our favority band we were very pleased and grateful with the performance but we believe Pete attitude is out of touch anyhow Long live the Who
I was at the show sitting @ section 134. Yeah, it was a bit of a bummer that we left home without a dose of some “Won’t get fooled again”, but it was still an exceptional show. Truly truly memorable. I last saw the The Who in ’89 and I’ve been a fan for 30 years. I hope I get to see them again.
I did see THE WHO, the 1st night in Sunrise/Ft Lauderdale. As a die hard WHO fan, about all i can say about the show was 13 out of 14 times seeing them is nothing to complain about… And the one time I walked away saying the show was nothing to write home about was the other night. Pete should have taken his brothers spot and stayed on the stage. Had row 10, and watched as he walked off, was not thrilled about this, but like i said 13 out or 14 is alot better than 0 for 3 with Aerosmith…
But I expect better from THE WHO, as they were the best live band that will ever live…
Come back Pete, to Ft Lauderdale, tickets half price than what they were, and I will be there. Pompano Beach Amphitheatre is a great spot…
To be honest, I am just glad to see them, poor show or not…
Love you guys and always will. Have seen you a few times including in Philadelphia with Santana, The Clash, etc. in the late 80’s/early 90s.
Can’t wait for Monday where we will be taking our 17 year old for his first live WHO experience. He was raised n the music and will live to teach it to generations to come. IMPRESS US AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sad to hear about what happened with Pete. But hey, the man’s 67 years old and he needs to take care of whatever hearing he’s got left. I’m sure if he could’ve sat through the whole set he would have. Hopefully the all of the problems have been sorted out since I have tickets for the Nov. 5th show. CAN’T WAIT!!!!
I Came all the way from México to see Quadrophenia.
Pete Townsend is a genius so is Roger.
You can be whoever You want or be the genius You want but You cannot just walk out of a show just because your guitar isn’t tunned, c’mon, people paid a lot of money to see the show.
Pete should have shown some respect towards the audience and be greateful that at this point people still want to listen to his music and attend his shows…
Great concert and Thanks to the rest of the band. Thank God their instruments were tunned…
It was an amazing show. I had goosebumps with the finale. I was disappointed that Pete Townsend walked off the stage. I paid good money to see a full concert. I so much want toed to hear Wont Get Fooled Again.
I Came all the way from México to liste to the who’s Quadrophenia. It is a shame tha Mr. Townsend walked out just because his guitar wan’t tunned. I mean we are NOT dealing with a 18 year old brat, we are talking about a ‘profesional’ musician. He should be thankful that after all this years his music is still been heard! It’s a gift what he has, he should cherish it and be thankful for it.
Thanks to the rest of the band and thank God their instruments were tunned.
ME TOO
I had the great fortune of being right up front 10-15 feet from Pete and it was dissapointing that he played lead for just a few minutes during the show (whoever wrote the review on the Who home page and said Pete ripped it, was not at the same show. I did see him cut his hand very early in the show (blood on his guitar was very evident), but he still should have been a professional and worked through it. It was a great show that could have been even better. Wish I could see a show that Pete is in a good state. Oh well, you can’t win them all
I need to to thank you for this very good read!!
I absolutely enjoyed every little bit of it. I have you book-marked to check out new things you post…