The Who's Pete Townshend announces plans for new rock opera

By editorial board on October 25, 2023

The Who guitarist Pete Townshend has confirmed plans to adapt his 2019 novel The Age of Anxiety into a rock opera.

“We’re pushing the age envelope as far as it can possibly go. Roger and I know what we’re doing”

The Age of Anxiety: A Novel

Townshend is  set to return to the art form with the forthcoming adaptation of The Age of Anxiety, which centres around a reclusive rock star named Walter and his mentor, who is later accused of a historic sex attack against one of Water’s close friends.

Speaking with The Sun, Townshend revealed he’s now revisited The Age of Anxiety for two upcoming projects and provided a timeline of a possible release date. “I am still developing the score and recording the music. I am also working on a documentary about the project, from its inception in 2007 until today,” he noted.

“Ten years ago I decided to create a magnum opus that would combine opera, art installation and novel,” he said. “Suddenly here I am with a completed novel ready to publish. I am an avid reader and have really enjoyed writing it. I am also happy to say the majority of the music is composed, ready to be polished up for release and performance. It’s tremendously exciting.”

“I’m probably two years off completing it, at which time I hope to perform it with a full opera and a cast of guest singers.”

Meanwhile, earlier this year, The Who singer Roger Daltrey provided an update on the long-awaited Keith Moon biopic. He explained: “I’m at a draft that’s ready to go to directors. I’m waiting on a reply from a director that I was talking to prior to starting writing the script. I’m very pleased with the script, it will be made.”

Daltrey continued: “As soon as soon as he’s finished the film that he’s on, he will read it and I’ll get a reply from him. Hopefully we’ll get it made ASAP.”

Pete Townshend has also given his thoughts on the future of iconic rock band, The Who.

 

The band formed back in 1964, and they recently releasead a huge box set, Who’s Next | Life House, featuring 155 tracks  on September 15 . As the band approach such a huge release, Townshend has been asked how they plan to continue, if at all.

Townshend has discussed the future of the band when asked if it was just a recording project, or just a live thing going forward: “Well, recording is tough. We just about managed to get the last record done [2019’s WHO]. It nearly didn’t get made,” he reveals.

 

“We have no plan. I don’t have a unique vision for The Who going forward. I don’t know whether Roger does. Roger and I probably need to get together to chat about what we want to do. I brought it up a little bit on the recent UK tour.

“Roger seemed most concerned about the fact he’s got a dodgy knee that might need surgery. But he’s singing great and I’m playing as well – and better – than I ever have before. I feel comfortable doing what I’m doing with the band. The interesting thing about our business now is, like the Stones and McCartney, we’re pushing the age envelope as far as it can possibly go.”

Roger says "We have completely different lives, but you know, who knows where it will go…? I don't know where it will go in the future. All I know is we won't see each other now probably until Spring. I haven't seen him for two years. Do I miss seeing him? No. I know what he looks like...

"I'll see him when I see him, that space between us doesn't exist because our brains are somewhere else.And when we get together, it's that creative thing that will still be there, I'm confident that it will be."

Daltrey said: "People don't quite understand our relationship. There's creative friction, which is healthy, you’ve got to have that.

“Like an artist who's performing on stage, if they never get criticized, they can die from sycophancy because how can they know where they're going unless they hit a wall and get a reflection of what they're doing? You know? So, friction is necessary, it's good."

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


 

 

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