The Who announce farewell tour: How to get tickets for The Song is Over tour
LONDON – The Who famously sang “I hope I die before I get old” in “My Generation,” but the legendary British rockers aren’t allowing age to prevent them from one final lap around North America this summer.
The band fronted by singer Roger Daltrey, 81, and guitarist Pete Townshend, who turns 80 on May 19, will kick off the aptly named The Song is Over North American Farewell Tour – billed as a “truly grand finale” – Aug. 16 just outside of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and wrap in Las Vegas Sept. 28.
The 16-show run, named for a song on The Who’s classic 1971 album “Who’s Next,” will visit cities including Atlantic City, New Jersey; Boston, Toronto, Philadelphia and Seattle and showcase hits from the band’s six-decade career.
Tickets will be available during a Citi presale (citientertainment.com) and the Whooligan Fan Club starting from 10 a.m. local time May 13 through 10 p.m. local time May 15. The general on-sale begins at 10 a.m. local time on May 16 at thewho.com/tour.
Fans can join the Whooligan Fan Club at thewho.com/fanclub to receive exclusive merchandise, including the previously unreleased album “Live at the Oval 1971,” in addition to early access to tickets.
The band will be joined by a parade of special guests at various stops on the tour, including Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters, Billy Idol, Booker T. Jones, Candlebox, Feist, Joe Bonamassa, The Joe Perry Project (Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Buck Johnson, Chris Robinson, Robert DeLeo and Eric Kretz), Tom Cochrane and ZZ Ward.
On May 8, at a 35-minute press conference at the Iconic Images Gallery in London, Townshend was joined by Daltrey via video (the singer's wife is recovering from an injury) to talk about the proverbial end of the road and the importance of the United States to the band's career – an epic resume that boasts 58 singles with many such as “I Can’t Explain,” “I Can See for Miles,” “Pinball Wizard,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and “Baba O’Riley” ingrained in music history.
"It was every young musician's dream to make it in America," Daltrey said. "For America to take us into its hearts meant so much."
Townshend recalled how playing shows in New York in The Who's early years helped the band understand American audiences.
"We were indoctrinated into the way American music fans were different. This sense of, they have a good time, but they really, really, really listened," he said.
Townshend is also famously curmudgeonly about touring and acknowledged again that while he's "never been crazy" about road life, the "hypnotic" effect of being on stage was enough enticement.
While The Who hasn't announced the full backing band for the tour, Townshend took to social media May 18 to announce that longtime drummer Zak Starkey, who had been fired and reinstated in April, would not be behind the kit for the farewell tour. Scott Devours, who has played in Daltrey's solo band, will take over drumming for the band.
The band's connection to America was also recognized at the news conference with the football helmet featured on the sleeve of 1974's "Odds & Sods" album – recently returned from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – on display.
While the setlist is expected to spotlight catalog favorites – Daltrey mentioned "Baby O'Riley" and "Behind Blue Eyes" for certain – both musicians nixed any suggestion of fans picking songs for the band to perform.
“I’m not that good at remembering lyrics. I need to rehearse things," Townshend said.
Despite The Who's British roots, it appears their only road run will take place in North America.
When asked if the band will add a European leg to the tour, Daltrey joked, "Let's see if we survive this one."
The Who: The Song is Over 2025 Tour dates
◾Aug. 16 – Sunrise, Florida – Amerant Bank Arena=
◾Aug. 19 – Newark, New Jersey – Prudential Center=
◾Aug. 21 – Philadelphia – Wells Fargo Center^
◾Aug. 23 – Atlantic City, New Jersey – Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall+
◾Aug. 26 – Boston – Fenway Park~
◾Aug. 28 – Wantagh, New York – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater$
◾Aug. 30 – New York – Madison Square Garden$
◾Sept. 2 – Toronto – Budweiser Stage>
◾Sept. 4 – Toronto – Budweiser Stage>
◾Sept. 7 – Chicago – United Center<
◾Sept. 9 - Chicago - United Center<
◾Sept. 17 – Los Angeles – Hollywood Bowl~
◾Sept. 19 – Los Angeles – Hollywood Bowl~
◾Sept. 21 – Mountain View, California – Shoreline Amphitheatre#
◾Sept. 23 – Vancouver – Rogers Arena#
◾Sept. 25 – Seattle – Climate Pledge Arena#
◾Sept. 28 – Las Vegas – MGM Grand Garden Arena!
=with Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters
^with ZZ Ward
+with Booker T. Jones
~with The Joe Perry Project
$with Feist
>with Tom Cochrane
<with Joe Bonamassa
#with Candlebox
!with Billy Idol