As predicted, the Who have announced dates for The Song Is Over North American Farewell Tour, which they’re billing as their last-ever runs through the United States and Canada before calling it quits. It kicks off August 16 at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, and wraps up September 28 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Ticket sales begin May 13.
“Well, all good things must come to an end,” Pete Townshend said in a statement. “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,” he adds. “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.”
No other legs of the tour have been announced, but it will likely head overseas at some point. For now, the focus is on North America. “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,” Roger Daltrey says in a statement. “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.”
Tickets will be available starting with a Citi presale and through the Who Fan Club beginning on Tuesday, May 13. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning on Friday, May 16 at 10 a.m. local time at the band’s website.
As longtime Who fans remember, this is not their first farewell tour. The first one took place back in 1982. “It wasn’t me that said, ‘This is the last tour,’” Townshend told Rolling Stone earlier this year. “It was the Who’s manager. And he did it because it was a ‘ka-ching’ moment. We sold out an arena tour. It wasn’t a very smart thing to do. I should have really protested, but I didn’t. But I felt we could go, ‘I don’t care what the manager says, I don’t care what the record company or the promoter says. If we want to get back together on a tour again, we fuckin’ will.’ It just took a long time.”
They were all in their mid-thirties back then. Townshend and Daltrey will both be in their eighties when this tour starts, significantly upping the likelihood that this one will stick. That said, Dead and Co. recently proved that bands can live on after farewell tours with special residencies at places like Sphere.
The Song Is Over North American Farewell Tour
Aug 16 – Sunrise, FL @ Amerant Bank Arena
Aug 19 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
Aug 21 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
Aug 23 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
Aug 26 – Boston, MA @ Fenway Park
Aug 28 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
Aug 30 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
Sep 2 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
Sep 4 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
Sep 7 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
Sep 17 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
Sep 19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
Sep 21 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sep 23 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
Sep 25 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
Sep 28 – Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena