The Who have announced a North American Farewell Tour taking place later this year, however, lead vocalist Roger Daltrey has been issued a warning from doctors.
During a London press conference attended by Metro, frontman Roger (attending virtually while his wife recovers from an injury) and guitarist Pete Townshend confirmed their upcoming tour dates are marking the end of their six-decade rock career.
The Song Is Over tour, named after the band’s 1971 hit, will consist of a total of 16 performances.
Roger, 81, said: ‘Every musician’s dream in the early 60s was to make it big in the US charts. For the Who, that dream came true in 1967 and our lives were changed forever.
‘The warmth of the American audiences over the years have been inspirational to me and reflect the feeling I remember getting after hearing the first rock records coming across the radio. Musical freedom!
‘Rock gave us a feeling of generational rebellion. To me, America has always been great. The cultural differences had a huge impact on me, this was the land of the possible.
‘It’s not easy to end the big part of my life that touring with The Who has been. Thanks for being there for us and look forward to seeing you one last time.’
Talking about playing for the fans, he added: ‘I don’t feel whole unless I’m singing. That’s where I’m most comfortable in my life, because I’m almost on another planet, that’s what it feels like.’
Roger also revealed that he had been told by doctors to take a day’s break between every gig.
‘My voice specialist said you have to have a day off after every gig, and then after every three gigs, you have to have 10 days off, because otherwise you will wreck your voice.’
His comments come after he revealed earlier this year that he was suffering from deteriorating eyesight and hearing.
Speaking about the tour, Pete, 79, added: ‘Well, all good things must come to an end. It is a poignant time. For me, playing to American audiences and those in Canada has always been incredible.
‘The warmth and engagement of those audiences began back in 1967 with hippies smoking dope, sitting on their blankets and listening deeply and intensely. Music was everywhere. We all felt equal.
‘Today, Roger and I still carry the banner for the late Keith Moon and John Entwistle, and, of course, all of our long-time Who fans. I must say that although the road has not always been enjoyable for me, it is usually easy: the best job I could ever have had. I keep coming back.
‘Every time I do, I meet new fans and feel new energy. Roger and I are in a good place, despite our age, eager to throw our weight behind this fond farewell to all our faithful fans, and hopefully to new ones who might jump in to see what they have been missing for the last 57 years.
‘This tour will be about fond memories, love and laughter. Make sure you join in.’
‘This wasn’t the career I chose, it chose me,’ he added. ‘It’s been about the relationship between the audience and us… and what’s so interesting is that the fans have patiently waited.’
He went on to admit he’s ‘not very good at remembering lyrics’, and so they’ll only be playing songs they know.
‘I’m not very good at remembering the songs that I’ve written, you know, if somebody said – and often this happens to be a gathering where I might have a guitar- “Will you play such and such?”
‘I need to rehearse things… so the answer is, no, we wouldn’t be able to.’
He said that some lengthier songs have been cut, and they need to ‘at least rehearse the materials we do’.
Roger and Pete formed The Who in 1964 alongside the late John Entwistle.
Shortly after forming, the My Generation hitmakers recruited drummer Keith Moon, who died in 1978 from an accidental overdose.
He was replaced by Kenney Jones – who had previously played with the Small Faces and Faces – before Simon Phillips took over from him for The Who’s 1989 reunion tour.
Zak Starkey, former Oasis drummer and the son of Ringo Starr, joined in 1996, and has played with the band until recently.
It was announced just last month he’d been sacked from the band, sharing in a statement: ‘‘I’m very proud of my near thirty years with The Who.’
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He continued: ‘Filling the shoes of my Godfather, “uncle Keith” has been the biggest honour and I remain their biggest fan.
‘They’ve been like family to me. In January, I suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf. This is now completely healed and does not affect my drumming or running.’
He added: ‘After playing those songs with the band for so many decades, I’m surprised and saddened anyone would have an issue with my performance that night, but what can you do?
‘I plan to take some much needed time off with my family, and focus on the release of [single] Domino Bones by Mantra Of The Cosmos with Noel Gallagher in May and finishing my autobiography written solely by me.
‘Twenty-nine years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best.’
The Who, formed in 1964, are best known for the albums Who’s Next, Tommy and Quadrophenia, with the latter two adapted into films in 1975 and 1979 respectively.
The band went from performing club shows to headlining the Woodstock festival in the US and becoming the biggest box-office draw in the world.
Throughout their career the band has had 14 UK Top 10 singles and they were inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall Of Fame in 1990.
In 2019 they released the album Who, marking Daltrey and Townshend’s first collection of new material since their 2006 album Endless Wire.
The tour starts in Florida on August 16 2025, with further dates in cities including New York, Toronto, Los Angeles and Vancouver, before a final date in Las Vegas on September 28.
Pre-sales will run from May 13 ahead of the general sale beginning on Friday May 16 at 10am.
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