Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend announce The Who 'goodbye' UK tour

'We are what we are, and extremely good at it, but we're lucky to be alive and still touring,' Pete Townsend said

Jenn Selby
Friday 04 July 2014 10:28 BST
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Following stellar comeback shows from fellow Godfathers of rock the Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, and The Kinks are The Who, who have announced a UK tour to celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary.

The string of dates, described by frontman Roger Daltry as “the beginning of a long goodbye”, will see himself and guitarist Pete Townshend play nine arena shows in November and December.

Fans can expect to hear a series of “Hits, Picks and Misses”, as the tour is being billed, and witness the band take on rebel-rousing mod anthems like “Pinball Wizard” and “My Generation” as well as lesser known material.

Townsend, looking back at the band’s career thus far, gave an insight into his sartorial choices for the winter on the road ahead.

“Trying to stay young,” he said. “Not wearing socks. Growing a great big woodcutter's beard. Might even wear a check shirt on stage and get a tattoo of a Union Jack. Always a fashion victim. But under no illusions.

“We are what we are, and extremely good at it, but we're lucky to be alive and still touring,” he added. “If I had enough hairs to split I would say that for 13 years since 1964 the Who didn't really exist, so we are really only 37.”

Tickets will go on sale on Friday (4 July) at 9am. Presale tickets are available from their website.

The Who last toured in 2012, during which they played the whole of classic album Quadrophenia in its entirety. The performed during the Olympic Closing Ceremony, and played during The Concert For Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden on 12 December 2012, which raised money for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Independent Partners: tickets for The Who tour are available through Viagogo

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