Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey talk about Quadrophenia (BBC News 2013)

David Willis reports for BBC News as The Who toured Quadrophenia.

[@derekspitz9225]

Quadrophenia is The Who's master work. Under appreciated at the time, it has become one of the most iconic rock albums ever made. And how it was made is an incredible story.

[@LaughingStock_]

The tragedy of Quadrophenia is far, far too many focus on the "Mod" element, which really was immaterial. The film is simply about a kid - any kid, any decade - struggling to fit in and work out what life is all about. The directing was really superb as was the script and acting performance. And on to the music, the other ingredient that adds up to a cinematic masterpiece.

[@11000038]

Quadrophenia is my desert island disc.

[@michelboinet261]

What a great interview ! You can feel the untold and indestructible synchronicity between those two guys. They have had together such a long and incredible way. They deserve full respect. I had the pleasure to see them in June 2023 in Paris for probably the last time and they were amazing. Long live Pete and Roger, my heroes since I was 13 yo.

[@stevejohnston8254]

That 2013 Quadrophenia show was one of the best live gigs ever. A masterpiece 🎸

[@martyhopkirk6826]

Totally agree. I saw it in Manchester, and it was hands-down the best gig I’ve ever seen.

[@Dani-sm8jp]

I’ll second that👍🎸

[@Goldsteinphoto]

I like what Roger said about listening to albums over and over can make you appreciate a song that at first you didn't like very much. That's how I felt about Emenence Front. It took me a while to love it.

[@Licenciadopedro]

Best friends for ever Peter and Roger. You clash, you hang out, you fight and eventually a punch, yes truly best friends

[@samissomar]

A Masterpiece of Rock...Timeless Soundscapings !...

[@JohnSpringateMusic]

Saw it in London-I did shed a tear when John appeared on the screen.

[@duchampsrook]

A friend of mine turned me onto Quadrophenia on a trip to the beaches of the Carolinas in the USA when I was 13 in 1983. Discovering the album along the ocean, sneaking cigarettes, talking to girls in bikinis on the beach, sneaking out at night, was transformative. I felt like the character in the narrative. The album and its songs reverberate with me to this day. My fried eggs make sick first thing in the morning…

[@gordonlandreth9550]

" Here by the sea and sand , nothing ever goes as planned " . Great story and a time you will never forget . At 13 I remember California girls on the beach were intimidating to me because they were fully developed women , just a little smaller . I needed a love coach at that time . When Quadrophenia came out , it was snapped up by all us Who fans right away . As soon as I got the album I remember listening to it straight through , then saw the movie right when it came out as well .

[@skinner5334]

World class.⚡️

[@johnnymossville]

It's Pete's greatest work, and Roger's greatest vocal performance. I think it could have been surpassed by Lifehouse if Pete ever got that finished as a singular piece.

[@larrypower8659]

Growing up in a beach town and playing in my first bands in the mid ‘60s, I could relate to Quadrophenia. As massive as Tommy was (and still is), Quadrophenia meant more for me. It dropped just before I met my longtime girlfriend, who was English. She knew the complete story-from Brighton Beach to the Mods and Rockers battles. Townshend says he thinks it’s a quintessentially English album, and he may be right. But to this American living and working the beach towns of the East Coast, it sure seemed like what I grew up with. I believe Quadrophenia is The Who’s greatest work.

[@snapfinger1]

Released concurrently 50 years ago with Dark Side of the Moon & Houses of the Holy. You just had to have been there.

[@whofan1967]

Never happen again.

[@santiagoreynoso3223]

uploaded on the day they played at the O2.

[@Martos59]

Brilliant!

[@user-wo9fb4dy5e]

Saw the Who live Glasgow Apollo 1980 my Older cousin Saw them a decade earlier at the Apollo then called Greens Playhouse which is now a multiplex cinema on Renfield street Glasgow life is fleeting.

[@fosbury68]

"I hope I die before I get old" LOL.

[@stp1649]

Nah Tommy to me is better but Who's Next is a peek The OX was one hell of a bass player most definitely he was like a lead guitar CAN YOU SEE THE REAL ME

[@stp1649]

Use to like it more when I was younger really identified with the mod rocker thing so I'm a mocker

[@kevinmcc3147]

Nah it wasn't

[@hvymettle]

Caught the show at Madison Square Garden in 1996 where they played Quadrophenia with a full orchestra. Entwistle let you know why they called him Thunderfingers that night.

[@paulcaney5936]

I've always had the utmost respect for Townshend's song writing, Daltry was a lucky sheet metal worked that happened by, a total nob.

[@gordonlandreth9550]

That may be true , but he had one of the best voices in all rock music .

[@pleasepermitmetospeakohgre1504]

@@gordonlandreth9550 He's a pub singer at best.

[@Dani-sm8jp]

The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

[@2112earl]

Imho so much better than tommy

[@Chief_Brody]

Still waiting for Townsend's book to come out. You know the one. The one that he said he was researching when he was caught with child images on his PC

[@mike37mini]

Books been out for years

[@mcbean5843]

I guess it would've gone to court and he would've been convicted if there was a reason. It didn't.

[@thecolourrose9022]

he stopped because there is a book already out which he read that covered what he was going to. keep trying to slag him you dont have anything he was cleared because there isnt anything

[@martyhopkirk6826]

Oh not again! The book came out in 2012. Eleven years ago. Perhaps you should do your homework before simply recycling an ancient ‘quip’ as if it were your own. The answer to “Where’s the book?” is “In the f***ing bookshop if you’d only be bothered to look”. Incidentally, he wasn’t “caught with child images on his PC”. Don’t you think you ought to check the facts before laying such a charge at the feet of a fellow human being?

[@hdjorf]

The investigation showed that there were no childporn downloads on any of Townshend’s computers. The funny thing (or rather, perhaps, the sad thing) with lynchers is that not only are they often wrong, but it’s also often the case that they are themselves guilty of that of which they accuse others. It’s a variant of what in psychology is called projection..

[@patrickmohan2220]

Pete should talk about that other pesky topic. The one that almost rhymes with Quadrophenia. Slithered off amid a blur of cash.

[@MikeHunt90731]

You can't be that dense 😅read the book troll