The Who Inks With Universal For 'Endless Wire'

25 August 2006
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The Who has inked a new deal with Universal Republic for the Oct. 31 release of "Endless Wire," its first album since 1982's "It's Hard." The set will feature the complete mini-opera "Wire & Glass," a shortened version of which was released internationally last month.

Other tracks expected to appear include "Mike Post Theme" and "Man in a Purple Dress," which guitarist Pete Townshend has previously likened to "a Bob Dylan song from the early days." "Pete's music, for me, is still a driving force in my life," vocalist Roger Daltrey said last month, adding that the new songs have "the Townshend magic."

Townshend has a pre-existing relationship with Universal, whose Hip-O imprint is reissuing his entire solo catalog next Tuesday (Aug. 29). Universal also issued the Who's 2004 retrospective "Then & Now," which featured the band's first new songs in two decades.

The Who are gearing up for a fall North American tour, during which songs from "Endless Wire" are expected to debut. The outing opens Sept. in Philadelphia.
Source: billboard.com