The Who slam Quadrophenia sequel as 'blatant attempt to cash in'

The Who have lambasted plans to make a sequel to their seminal 1979 film Quadrophenia calling it a “blatant attempt to cash in.”

News of a follow-up to the movie emerged last month with several members of the original cast including Phil Daniels and Toyah Wilcox reportedly on board.

Based on the book To Be Someone by Peter Meadows, the film’s director Ray Burdis even suggested it had the blessing of legendary Who axeman Pete Townshend as he had given Meadows' book the thumbs up.

Now, in a strongly worded statement, The Who and Bill Curbishley (the band’s manager who also produced Quadrophenia) have firmly distanced themselves from the “karaoke sequel”. 

“Quadrophenia has an enduring appeal and will forever be the definitive mod film,” Curbishley said in a public statement.

“Quadrophenia is a significant and influential film based on the Who’s music … 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.”

It continues: “The new film doesn’t feature Sting, Leslie Ash or Ray Winstone from the original, let alone any words or music from the Who.

“I find 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.”

Hammering the point home, the statement finishes: “For the avoidance of doubt this project isn’t endorsed by the Who, Who Films, Universal or any of the other rights owners of the original.”