Townshend’s ‘Floss’ Agenda

Writing on his blog, Townshend described the musical as “in the style of Tommy and Quadrophenia,” and the songs “are interspersed with surround-sound ‘soundscapes’ featuring complex sound effects and musical montages.” Townshend says the piece is intended for “outdoor performances, or arenas” and that the musical will make its stage debut in 2011.

What’s “Floss” about? Life, aging and relationships are among the themes – subjects Townshend has explored many times through his illustrious career. The story is about Walter, whom Townshend says is a “straight-cut pub rock musician” who hits a big payday when amn automobile company uses one of his songs for commercials, enabling him to retire to the life of a house husband while his wife, Floss, immerses herself in “riding stables and stud (sic).”

“When he tries to return to music after a fifteen year hiatus, he finds that what he hears and what he composes evoke the ecologically rooted, apocalyptic mindset of his generation,” wrote Townshend. “Shaken by this and torn by personal difficulties, he and Floss become estranged. A series of dramatic events in a hospital emergency ward bring them both to their senses.”

Townshend says he’s already talking to New York producers about bringing “Floss” to the stage in 2011 – a la “Tommy” – and the “more conventional songs” will end up on a Who album scheduled for a 2010 release, thereby confirming band plans as well as his own Floss agenda.

“As a 19 year old – with My Generation – I wrote the most explicitly ageist song in rock. At 64, I now want to take on aging and mortality, using the powerfully angry context of rock ‘n’ roll.”

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