The Who's Pete Townshend & Roger Daltrey Discuss the Band's Upcoming "Quadrophenia" Tour

TheWho.comThis November, The Who will launch its first North American tour in four years. As the band's surviving memebrs, singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist/songwriter Pete Townshend, revealed on Wednesday, the trek will feature the British rock legends performing their classic 1973 concept album, Quadrophenia, in its entirety. At an online Q&A held in conjunction with the tour announcement, Daltrey and Townshend talked at length about their decision to revisit Quadrophenia, which also was the focus of a major trek The Who mounted in 1996 and '97.

Asked why he and Daltrey decided to return to Quadrophenia for The Who's new trek, Townshend admitted that he and his longtime band mate "really struggled to find something to do this time," adding that Quadrophenia "was something that we both felt that we could get together on and look at again."

He added, cheekily, that he and Daltrey had just "been anxious to work together before we drop dead."

For his part, Daltrey says he's hoping the new tour will bring a fresh perspective to the piece.

"What's great about doing it now is it's still a work in progress," he maintains. "And, hopefully, it will keep developing and we might even get it into some really, kind of up-to-date ***ern show."

Daltrey also points out that, while that the songs are particularly challenging for him to perform, his voice currently is in great shape, so there may never be a better time for him to tackle the material live.

Quadrophenia tells the story of an angst-ridden adolescent named Jimmy struggling to fit in during London's *** era of the mid 1960s. Daltrey says that in spite of the dated setting, he feels the album's themes still resonate with people.

"What I find really interesting…is that how much of the historical significance of it and the events going on at the time are apropos completely to today," he declares. "Not exactly the same events but the same situations. Enormous change."

The Who also will be playing a handful of their other memorable songs at the tail end of their Quadrophenia performances.

"To kiss [fans] goodnight, what better than 'Baba O'Riley' and "Won't Get Fooled Again,'" suggests Daltrey. "Those fabulous songs that Pete's written. I'm very proud to have been involved in singing them in the first place and, touch wood, still can."

The Who's North American tour kicks off November 1 in Sunrise, Florida. Visit TheWho.com to check out all of the confirmed dates.