Pete Townshend rules out farewell tour with The Who
Despite previously giving the green light for a farewell tour by The Who tour, Pete Townshend has walked back his comments and claimed he was being “sarcastic”.
Over the course of recent months, both Townshend and frontman Roger Daltrey have spoken about The Who possibly coming to an end. Due to their age, with both men now being in their 80s, they know The Who’s days are numbered. However, it seemed the legendary band planned to bow out with a bang, which has now been thrown into jeopardy.
A matter of weeks ago, Townshend said of The Who’s future: “I do and I think I will. It feels to me like there’s one thing the Who can do, and that’s a final tour where we play every territory in the world and then crawl off to die.”
The guitarist continued: “I don’t get much of a buzz from performing with the Who. If I’m really honest, I’ve been touring for the money. My idea of an ordinary lifestyle is pretty elevated.”
The Who toured extensively last year, but in 2024, they have only played two shows which both took place in March at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The concerts were in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust as part of a run of gigs curated by Daltrey, who has now stepped down from the role.
The frontman also recently revealed The Who’s future looks uncertain, stating, “I don’t write the songs. I never did. We need to sit down and have a meeting, but at the moment, I’m happy saying that part of my life is over.”
A farewell tour seemed the perfect way for The Who to gracefully end their storied career, allowing the band to say goodbye on their own terms. Now, that looks like an unlikely conclusion, according to Townshend.
While appearing on the Sound Up! podcast, hosted by Mark Goodman and Alan Light, Townshend poured scorn on the idea, claiming, “I’m not doing a farewell tour. I think I was being sarcastic about it.”
Elsewhere in the podcast, Townshend discussed ageing and revealed he’s felt like an old man for many decades. While speaking about their track, ‘Slit Skirts’, from 1982’s All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes, the musician reflected. “When I was 34, I wrote the song ‘Slit Skirts,’ and I think the line is ‘I’m 34 years old and I’m still wandering in a haze. I felt old at 34.”
1982 was also when The Who undertook a farewell tour, before eventually reuniting seven years later. Perhaps, Townshend’s trepidation regarding another set of ‘final’ tour dates stems from The Who’s decision to walk back their retirement, or, alternatively their story has already reached its final page.
Whether The Who take to the stage again is unknown, but their legacy as one of Britain’s most important bands is indisputable.
Listen to Townshend on the Sound Up! podcast below.