Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend have opened up about if The Who may play more live shows after their current farewell tour comes to an end.
The legendary British rockers are on the road in the U.S., as part of The Song Is Over tour – named after their song of the same name released in 1971. Having recently performed in Europe, the band have 16 stateside shows lined up, including a night at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday (Aug. 30).
Across an illustrious six-decade career, The Who have announced several farewell tours dating back to 1982. In May, however, frontman Daltrey and guitarist Townshend said that The Song Is Over will mark their last tour as The Who, describing it as a “truly grand finale” in a press release.
In a new interview with The New York Times, the pair were asked if these 2025 U.S. dates actually do mark the definitive end of The Who. Townshend responded: “Are you suggesting we’re swindling the public? The fact is, we are willing to swindle them. That’s what we’ve done our entire life. Why stop?” The Who’s 1982 tour was also billed as their final dates, and was captured in a live album titled Who’s Last.
Townshend continued, “It’s in Roger’s hands. If we don’t extend, would we be in breach of contract? Would we be in swindle-land if we came back and played all those important venues we’ve left off the list, like Duluth,” he added.
“I’m 80, I don’t like being away from my family, my studios, my dogs and my friends. I’m not looking to spend the next five years of my life waiting to drop dead on the stage… The end of the tour could give Roger and I permission never to call each other again. I hope that doesn’t happen.”
Daltrey continued, saying that there will likely be some upcoming shows added in the future, but perhaps not a full tour. “We’re not giving up as a band. We might do a couple of residencies. Hopefully, Pete and I won’t stop making music.”
Elsewhere, Daltrey also reflected about his health issues putting a dampener on hopes of continuing to play live, and said that he was “nervous” about making it to the end of current tour, as he has “the potential to get really ill.”
In a candid interview with The Times earlier this month, the singer disclosed that complications from viral meningitis he contracted nine years ago continue to affect his ability to perform. Daltrey’s health struggles became more public during The Who’s shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall earlier this year, where he revealed to the audience that he was not only losing his hearing but his sight as well. Longtime drummer Zak Starkey was sacked from the group following the show, leading to months of confusion and sniping through the press.
