British rock veterans The Who are planning to release a mini-opera online. The 11 minute release, entitled "The Glass Household," is based on Pete Townshend's Internet novella "The Boy Who Heard Music" and will be available from June.
According to the guitarist's Web site, www.petetownshend.co.uk, it will befollowed by a "conventional CD" in September.
The Who have not released an album of new material since 1982, but fans can expect an LP some time this year.
Townshend, with bandmate Roger Daltrey, has composed ten songs since thestart of the New Year and has promised fans going along to the band'sforthcoming live shows a sneak preview of their latest musical creations.
He said: "Two of the tracks are full-length and quite complex, the restshorter, punchier or simple and ballad-like. I played all the parts myself,as is my habit while I'm composing. I moved into Oceanic, my large studio,and began work with other musicians on February 28, three days after thelast posting of the novella on the internet."
The Who will be touring Europe this summer beginning with a concert inBrighton on June 18.
