Who Are You? Simon Says

Pete Townshend's little brother joins band for the other rock opera

■ Simon Townshend plays lead guitar, sings background and portrays the Bus Driver in the rock opera "Quadrophenia" on the current Who tour.

By Roger Catlin

Courant Rock Critic

Simon Townshend didn't listen much to "Quadrophenia" when his brother's band the Who released it in 1973.

"A few years later I started getting into it," he says, over the phone from Montreal.

Good thing, since he's spending much of the summer playing lead guitar, singing background and portraying the Bus Driver in the rock opera on the current Who tour, which plays the Meadows Music Theatre in Hartford tonight.

"Now I think it's my favorite Who album," Townshend says. "That and 'Who's Next.'"

This summer's presentation is slightly different than the extravaganza that opened in Madison Square Garden last summer and toured the country last fall.

Replacing Gary Glitter in the role of the Godfather is another name from Britain's pop past, P.J. Proby; Billy Idol no longer plays Ace Face (portrayed in the film version by Sting). On the current tour, it's Ben Waters.

Otherwise, it's the same big, stirring work, presented by a group led by its author Pete Townshend, along with fellow Who

WHO That's right WHAT? The Who WITH Drivin N Cryin WHEN Tonight at 8 WHERE The Meadows, Hartford TICKETS $48, $33, $22.50 INFO (860) 548-7370

Please see Simon, Page E2