The Who will play an acoustic version of ‘Tommy’ in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust charity next year – the first time they will have performed it together for 28 years.
The band – which features original members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend – will take to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 30 March and 1 April to perform the new interpretation of the rock opera to raise money for the organisation, which aims to help care for young people with cancer.
Townshend, 71, wrote 1969’s ‘Tommy’ in a bid to reclaim The Who’s artistic integrity after they became more famous for their wild antics, especially late hellraising drummer Keith Moon, than their music and it tells the story of a deaf, dumb and blind boy who finds salvation in playing pinball. The record was also turned into a 1975 film which featured Oliver Reed, Sir Elton John, Tina Turner and Eric Clapton which is considered a cult classic.
As well as playing ‘Tommy’, the band will also play a selection of greatest hits.
To coincide with the TCT dates, the ‘My Generation’ rockers have also announced that the five UK dates scheduled for August /September 2016, originally billed as ‘Greatest Hits’ shows, will be moved to 2017.
For the rescheduled Greatest Hits shows Daltrey and Townshend will play the hits as well as some lesser known Who songs and also include a new focused presentation of Tommy drawn from the Royal Albert Hall concerts including a brand new video programme specially produced for these shows.
This UK set will emulate the historic period around ‘Live At Leeds’ and Woodstock when the central pivot of The Who’s show was always their performance of ‘Tommy’.
Teenage Cancer Trust Honorary Patron Daltrey, 72, has been supporting the charity for over 22 years and he has played a major role in bringing the organisation to the US.
The Who headlined the very first TCT show in 2000 and since then over 200 artists have performed at the Royal Albert Hall for the Teenage Cancer Trust, including icons such as Sir Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton and Robert Plant and regular supporters like Noel Gallagher, Kasabian, Liam Gallagher and Stereophonics.
Speaking about his work with the charity, Daltrey has said: "We’re had so many incredible musical moments at these shows over the years but these moments are made even more special by the wonderful young people I have met. They shouldn’t have to stop being teenagers just because they have cancer. They are young people first – cancer patients second. With their incredible vigour and positivity as inspiration, we aim to keep Teenage Cancer Trust leading the world in cancer care for this age group."
Tickets for the ‘Tommy’ acoustic gigs on sale at 9am on Friday 23 September at Gigsandtours.com, Ticketmaster.co.uk and Royalalberthall.com, while tickets for the shows originally scheduled for late August and September will be valid for the new shows. Any fans who cannot make the new dates are entitled to a full refund from their point of purchase. Deadline for refunds is 5pm August 12.
The Who to perform Tommy for first time in 28 years
