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Artist News
The Who hit out at Quadrophenia sequel
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 9 June 2016
The Who have hit out at a planned sequel to their 1979 rock opera ‘Quadrophenia’, calling it “a blatant attempt to cash in” on the original film’s popularity.
The Mirror reported last month that the film, set in the present day and based on Peter Meadows’ book ‘To Be Someone’, which was inspired by the original movie, will star original cast members Phil Daniels, Toyah Willcox, Trevor Laird and Mark Wingett.
But Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and their manager Bill Curbishley (also the producer of the original film) have now expressed their anger at the new production.
“‘Quadrophenia’ has an enduring appeal and will forever be THE definitive mod film”, said Curbishley. “‘Quadrophenia’ is a significant and influential film based on The Who’s music not some Carry on Franchise. Any follow up to this film could only be made by the authors of the original and would need to be worthy of the name. This karaoke sequel announced recently in the press would be totally ridiculous”.
He adds that he “found it hard to understand why any of the original cast would lend themselves to this crass attempt to cash in on the excellence of the original when this quite clearly isn’t a sequel”. The statement also notes that “contrary to reports that The Who had endorsed the supposed sequel, nothing could be further from the truth”.
As well as being worried that the planned follow-up will be a “totally ridiculous karaoke sequel”, the band and management may also be annoyed that someone got their before them, Curbishley having told Time Out in 2013 that he was working on his own script for a ‘Quadrophenia’ sequel.
Elsewhere in ‘Quadrophenia’ inspired film news, a short film called ‘Being’ recently raised £20,000 on Kickstarter to fund its production. That film will also star Mark Wingett. Directed by Devlin Crow, it tells the story of a young boy who is caring for his mother, who has multiple sclerosis. He finds escape in the music of the 1960s, before befriending an out of work actor whose claim to fame is that he was in ‘Quadrophenia’.
