By Peter Covino
Lifestyles Editor

It just might possibly be the best rock album ever made.

It certainly has been one of the most celebrated.

Coming to theaters for one night only is the story of that album:  “The Who: Quadrophenia- Can You See The Real Me?” The Story Behind The Album premieres as a one-night in-theater event on Tuesday, July 24, at 8 p.m. local time nationwide.

It kicks off with a special welcome message from lead guitarist Pete Townshend, “The Who: Quadrophenia – Can You See the Real Me?” The Story Behind The Album event will give fans an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look into one of rock’s most influential bands – Roger Daltrey (lead vocals, harmonica and guitar), Townshend (guitar, keyboards and vocals), John Entwistle (bass guitar, brass and vocals) and Keith Moon (drums and percussion) – and the creation of their celebrated album, “Quadrophenia,” originally released in October 1973.

This is probably the most-listened to album I have ever owned (and I have owned it in various CD/record album  forms including a slightly different soundtrack for the film version).

No matter the version, Quadrophenia is an amazing musical experience. The seldom seen screen adaptation, which takes on different spin then Townsend’s vision, is also a great ride.

Tickets for “The Who: Quadrophenia- Can You See The Real Me?” The Story Behind The Album are available at participating  theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the website.

From the press release:

The documentary takes fans on a riveting ride back to the 1970s when The Who’s creative musical genius was taking the world music stage by storm. Packed with never-before-seen stories, including the well-known onstage collapse of Moon during the tour’s first show, the evening will also feature additional performances of songs from “Quadrophenia” including chart topper, “Love Reign O’er Me.”

In a four-and-a-half star (out of five) review, Rolling Stone’s David Fricke said: “‘Quadrophenia,’ released in 1973, was a superior tale with more-taut songwriting; it was grounded in [Pete] Townshend’s memories of growing up angry, anguished and mod in the early Sixties, and produced with the panoramic tension of ‘Who’s Next.’”

Additionally, fans who attend the in-theater event may order the “Quadrophenia - Director’s Cut” box set with a free t-shirt at a special price of $99.98 for a limited time. The box features four CDs including two discs of original Pete Townshend demos, 5.1 audio DVD, a hardback book, 7” replica and much more. The special box set is available exclusively at http://canyousee.thewho.com.

Presented by NCM Fathom Events, AEG Live and UMe, this event will be broadcast to nearly 500 select movie theaters across the country through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network.

“Bringing the story behind The Who’s larger-than-life album ‘Quadrophenia’ to theater screens is an incredible way to share it with the band’s legion of fans, as well as a whole new generation,” said Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of NCM Fathom Events.

The Who is an English rock band formed in 1964. “Quadrophenia,” the band’s sixth studio album, reached No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard album chart. The album’s title is a variation on the popular usage of the medical diagnostic term schizophrenia and exemplifies the four varying personalities of the band members. IGN placed “Quadrophenia” at No. 1 on its list of the greatest classic rock albums of all time, Q Magazine placed “Quadrophenia” on its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever, while Rolling Stone included it on their 500 greatest albums of all time.