UNIVERSAL CITY, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Universal Studios Home Entertainment) - "Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who and Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones", two exhilarating feature-length films about one of the seminal and most influential rock bands in history, produced by Spitfire
Pictures in association with Trinifold Management, will be released by Universal Studios Home Entertainment on DVD on November 6, 2007.
Marking 40 years since The Who's first U.S. appearance in North America, "Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who" will make its worldwide debut at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2007.
Spanning over four decades, "Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who" reintroduces The Who now and to generations-to-come, as it tells one of the greatest stories of rock. The film tells the unfolding story of The Who and how they have straddled the rock world for forty years, in a tale as gripping in adventure, life and personality as the searing power of their music. The film features all-new, exclusive, never-before-seen interviews with Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and others, rare and recently discovered concert footage, artist profiles and much, much more, all in 5.1 Surround Sound.
"Amazing Journey transcends all generational barriers and offers a profoundly personal account of rock history," commented Craig Kornblau, President of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures Digital Platforms. "As an authorized piece, the film is the definitive anthology of one of the most important bands of our time. We are very pleased to be able to make this film available to those who already love the band, and perhaps more importantly, to showcase its legacy to those who may have not had the good fortune to have seen them perform live."
The companion feature film, "Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones", takes the viewer inside the mysteries that drive a rock band to the pinnacle of musical achievement.
Deliberately conceived as two complimentary pieces of work, one film for a wide audience and one for the die-hard rock fan, the two films present a complex and complete picture of the legendary musicians as they have never been seen before. Music greats including Sting, U2's The Edge, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and Oasis' Noel Gallagher, offer insightful commentaries on The Who's indelible influence. Alongside a companion booklet and additional DVD bonus content, this set comprises one of music's most collectible and comprehensive compilations ever assembled about one of rock's greatest bands.
"Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who" was produced by Spitfire Pictures' Nigel Sinclair, and Trinifold's Bill Curbishley and Robert Rosenberg. It is directed by Paul Crowder (ONCE IN A LIFETIME) and Academy Award winner Murray Lerner (FESTIVAL). The film is presented by Universal Pictures, and was produced by Spitfire Pictures in association with Trinifold, VH1 Rock Docs, MLF Productions and Pony Canyon.
"Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones" was produced by Spitfire Pictures' Nigel Sinclair, and Trinifold's Bill Curbishley and Robert Rosenberg. The film is presented by Universal Pictures, and was produced by Spitfire Pictures in association with Trinifold.
Added Nigel Sinclair: "If there are four legs to the table of the 60's rock movement that has inspired and defined popular music ever since, they are The Who - as well as, of course, The Beatles, The Stones and Dylan - and it was both daunting and thrilling to be charged with producing the authorized story for this work. As part of the foundation of rock n' roll, The Who's legacy is still evolving, of course, as they continue to fill houses and inspire artists all over the world. Part of the power of The Who's music is its honesty and authenticity and we have tried our hardest to remain true to that spirit while making these two films."
Beginning with their first hit single "I Can't Explain," The Who emerged from Mod-Era London to electrify the world with their unique sound. The music and live performances of Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and Keith Moon tore through the existing boundaries of rock. The band has recorded 11 remarkable albums, including the world's first rock opera Tommy, and the ensuing masterwork Quadrophenia. The British legends produced some of the most compelling and original music of the era, including the songs, "Won't Get Fooled Again," "Happy Jack," "Pictures of Lily" and the immortal "My Generation."
The two-disc set is priced at $29.98 SRP. Pre-Order close is October 2, 2007.
ACCOMPANYING FEATURE FILM
The band's monumental legacy is celebrated not only by flagship title "Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who" but also by a second feature film, "Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones". The films will be released side-by-side on two discs in 5.1 Surround Sound. The two features represent approximately four hours of must-see materials, much of which have never been seen before.
"Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones" takes us through, in four individual pieces, the virtuoso musical abilities of each band member: Roger Daltrey; Pete Townshend; John Entwistle; and Keith Moon.
Then, in "Who Art You," the fifth constituent part of this feature, the viewer is taken into The Who's trademark bullseye, and the Mod and Pop Art movements, as The Who's 1960s journey to become a band as visual as they were musical is explored.
Finally, in a coup de grace, during 2003, The Who allowed legendary filmmakers, the Pennebakers, into the studio to film them record the hit song "Real Good Looking Boy." Recorded for the album Then and Now, this work was the band's first new studio recording in over 20 years. "Who's Back" - the sixth "Quick One" - is the intimate portrait that emerged of these artists at work.
IN ADDITION, THE DVD SET CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ADDED BONUSES:
- The Scrapbook: Five Additional Insider Insights into the World of The Who:
- Dinner with Moon
- A Legal Matter
- Won't Get Fooled Again
- Cincinnati: The Whole Story
- Royal Albert Hall 2000
- The High Numbers at the Railway Hotel: The earliest footage of the band known to be in existence, seen in its entirety here for the first time.
SYNOPSIS
"Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who" is the definitive, authorized film of the iconic rockers. The filmmakers amassed a wealth of never-before-seen personal images, all-new interviews and rare and unreleased concert footage to tell the story of how four diverse Londoners - Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon - combined to create their own style of rock music, building a dedicated fan base the world over, and, as a result, surviving at the top for over 40 amazing years.
Whether they were The Detours, The High Numbers or The Who, their music and their story is the ultimate rock and roll tale. The film chronicles it all: from their roots as a 1960s pub cover band, through their meteoric rise, encompassing all the fascinating ups and downs, twists and turns, stops and starts, successes and failures that made this band one of the greatest in the world. Follow them as they evolve four decades of rock.
The narrative of "Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who" and sister-film "Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones" are both driven by compelling new interviews - with surviving members Daltrey and Townshend, and those close to the band - in which thoughts and memories of The Who, their music, and their history are shared with the viewer. These eyewitnesses include The Who's manager Bill Curbishley (the film's Executive Producer), and Chris Stamp (with Kit Lambert, one of The Who's original co-managers). Additional insight is provided by close friends, family and colleagues; and commenting on their musical legacy are Sting, U2's The Edge, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and Oasis' Noel Gallagher.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Street Date: November 6, 2007
Pre-Order Close: October 2, 2007
Selection Number: 61102505
AWS Running Time: 120 minutes Disc 1; 117 minutes Disc 2.
Layers: Dual Layers
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: Not Rated
Languages/Subtitles: English
SDH Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Spitfire is currently in post production on "Addicted", a sexy psychological thriller starring Sarah Michelle Gellar ("The Grudge", "Cruel Intentions"). Spitfire is also responsible for the Grammy Award-winning documentary of 2005, "No Direction Home: Bob Dylan", directed by acclaimed filmmaker Martin Scorsese. Spitfire's partners Nigel Sinclair and Guy East's acclaimed projects includes "Sliding Doors", "The Wedding Planner", "Iris", "The Life Of David Gale", "The Quiet American", and the box office smash hit "Terminator 3, The Rise Of The Machines". For more information, visit https://www.spitfirepix.com.
