The Who reveal plans to release first new album in 13 years

It's been 13 years since The Who treated the world to some new music, in the form of 2006's Endless Wire.

Having returned to the studio, Pete Townshend explained their new sounds are, "Dark ballads, heavy rock stuff, experimental electronica, sampled stuff and Who-ish tunes that began with a guitar that goes yanga-dang."

Townshend adds, "This has nothing to do with wanting a hit album. It has nothing to do with the fact that the Who need a new album. It’s purely personal. It’s about my pride, my sense of self-worth and self-dignity as a writer."

According to Rolling Stone, the album is currently a skeleton of 15 demos that Townshend put together last year in five different UK studios.

The group just passed the 55th anniversary of their first recordings, and will embark on a huge US tour, playing the likes of NYC's Madison Square Garden, and LA's Hollywood Bowl.

Roger Daltrey, who recently released his book Thanks a Lot Mr Kibblewhite: My Story, explains of their tour, "Be aware Who fans! That just because it's The Who with an Orchestra, in no way will it compromise the way Pete and I deliver our music. This will be full throttle Who with horns and bells on."

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Daltrey adds, "I think it is always a mistake to ever say ‘farewell. But this will possibly be my last tour. I’m just being realistic about going through the 75th year of my life. I have to be realistic that this is the age I am and voices start to go after a while. I don’t want to be not as good as I was two years ago.”

Delivering an update for fans on their site, Townshend detailed some events from the past months, listing Thundercat, Sia, The Internet, Kendrick Lamar, Jaakko Kuusisto, and The Hillbenders as some of his favourite musicians of last year