The Who announce farewell tour

After more than 60 years on the road, rock music icons The Who have announced their bittersweet final tour, with the North American leg of the trek serving as a truly grand finale of their illustrious six-decade career.

Widely regarded as one of the top three greatest rock legacies in music history, The Who have left an indelible mark on generations of fans. With 9 U.S. and 10 U.K. Top Ten albums, along with 14 U.K. Top Ten singles, their influence is both immense and enduring.

Over a career spanning more than 50 years, The Who have performed more than 2,000 concerts around the world. Their legendary live résumé includes landmark appearances at Woodstock, Monterey Pop, Glastonbury (twice), Hyde Park (four times), the Isle of Wight Festival (three times), Desert Trip, Shea Stadium, the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, the Super Bowl halftime show, and Live Aid—just to name a few.

Emerging in the mid-1960s as a brash, revolutionary force in rock and roll, The Who redefined what a band could be. With raw power, emotional storytelling, and boundary-pushing performances, they set the stage for punk, hard rock, and countless movements that followed. Their sound and attitude forged one of the most passionate fanbases in music history.

Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, The Who have racked up 27 Top 40 singles across the U.K. and U.S., and 17 Top Ten albums. Their groundbreaking releases include the 1969 rock opera Tommy, the blistering 1970 live album Live at Leeds, the 1973 epic Quadrophenia, and 1978’s Who Are You.

Since their explosive 1964 debut with "I Can’t Explain," "The Kids Are Alright," and "My Generation," The Who have delivered a powerful catalog of rock classics—from “Baba O’Riley” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again” to “Pinball Wizard,” “Who Are You,” and “You Better You Bet.”

Roger Daltrey has said “Every musician’s dream in the early 60’s 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.”

Pete Townshend has said “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 longtime 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.”