Roger Daltrey is releasing an orchestral version of The Who's 'Tommy' musical
9 May 2019, 14:46 | Updated: 16 November 2023, 14:18
The Who's iconic Tommy album will be given an orchestral twist next month by frontman Roger Daltrey.
Daltrey and his band is releasing Tommy Orchestral on June 14, to mark the 50th anniversary of Pete Townshend’s classic rock musical.
The reworked Who album was recorded during Daltrey’s tour of the US in summer 2018, when he performed it with some of the finest symphony orchestras in the land.
Daltrey described his new version of Tommy as “magical.” The album features new orchestrations of the famous rock opera by American conductor David Campbell, who has previously worked with Adele, Radiohead, Bob Dylan, Metallica, Carole King and his son Beck.
The album features Simon Townshend on vocals and guitar, Frank Simes (guitar), Scott Devours (drums), Jon Button on bass and Loren Gold on keyboards, all of whom have played with The Who live in the past.
Listen to the new version of 'Pinball Wizard' below:
Pinball Wizard (Live)
Tommy debuted live at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London in May 1969, and it was later performed in full at both Woodstock and Isle Of Wight Festivals that year, and also formed a ballet in Canada in 1970 and an opera in Seattle in 1971.
In 1972, it was recorded as an orchestral piece by the London Symphony Orchestra, alongside Steve Winwood, Rod Stewart, Richie Havens, Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr.
A movie version followed in 1975 directed by Ken Russell, starring Elton John, Tina Turner, Ann Margaret, Oliver Reed, Jack Nicholson, Eric Clapton and Daltrey himself in the main role.
It was later turned into a stage musical in 1993, winning several top awards. The Who last performed it in 2017 for the Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall.
In case you weren't aware, Tommy follows the story about a "deaf, dumb and blind" boy, his experiences in life and relationships with his family.
