Rock Is Dead—Long Live Rock!

Rock Is Dead—Long Live Rock!
Studio album (unreleased) by The Who
Recorded	May-June 1972
Genre	Rock

Rock Is Dead—Long Live Rock was the title of an unreleased 1972 autobiographical album by the British rock band The Who. In the liner notes for the Who's 1974 rarities collection Odds & Sods, guitarist and lead songwriter Pete Townshend said, "I had an idea once for a new album about the history of The Who called Rock Is Dead—Long Live Rock. That idea later blossomed into Quadrophenia." The sessions for the album spanned from 19 May to 6 June at Olympic Studios in London. Rock Is Dead—Long Live Rock was to be produced by The Who and Glyn Johns and scheduled for release in October 1972, but although the album was nearly completed (according to Townshend) the band felt as though it sounded too much like their 1971 LP Who's Next. Townshend later stated that Rock Is Dead—Long Live Rock was also going to be a TV special about The Who. Some of the songs recorded during the Rock Is Dead—Long Live Rock sessions were originally written for another unreleased Who album, 1971's failed Lifehouse.

Proposed track listings, created by the band during the 1972 sessions for the album, are in existence. In addition, a tape of Pete Townshend's demos for the album was compiled. The songs are (including recording and release dates for the Who recordings where applicable):

Also, "Ambition" was performed by Pete Townshend on an episode of In the Attic; he claimed The Who recorded a version during these sessions which was never released. It was originally intended to be released online in conjunction with the Quadrophenia box set, but was later omitted.

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