‘We don’t know how well we’re going to be’: The Who hint at retirement after six decades – as surviving bandmates claim they’re ‘old’
Rock band The Who have hinted at retirement after almost 60 years together.
Guitarist Pete Townshend, 77, claimed he and lead singer Roger Daltrey, 79, who are the only remaining bandmembers, are considering calling it a day due to their ‘old’ ages.
He revealed the pair may take inspiration from Sir Elton John, who will hang up his microphone after his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which comprises of 333 shows and will end in July 2023, having begun in September 2018.
Pete told The Sun: ‘It’s difficult to make a decision going forward, to say we’re going to do this or that, because we don’t know how well we’re going to be or how fit we’re going to be.
‘We’re both old. That in itself has a downside because, apart from what you can or can’t do on the stage, when you finish touring you come back to normal life – whatever it is that you decide to do to fill your time away from the road – and it’s harder and takes longer.
‘We don’t know how well we’re going to be’: The Who have hinted at retirement after six decades (left: Roger Daltrey, right: Pete Townshend, pictured in 2019)
‘So life slows down because it’s so much harder getting up and down the stairs, but it also speeds up.’
Roger previously told Record Collector magazine: ‘We’re at that stage where it’s obviously getting closer to retirement.
‘But all the time we’re doing well I’m never going to say we’re not going to do something more in the future.
‘I’ve always said that you don’t give this business up, it gives you up.’
John Entwistle, Keith Moon, Doug Sandom were all members of The Who before their deaths, while Kenney Jones last performed with the band in 2014.
Back in January, The Who announced their first UK tour in almost six years.
The band will be accompanied by a full orchestra when it gets underway later this year.
The mod icons, who headlined their first tour in 1962, will travel the UK from 6 to 23 of July release tickets for the forthcoming series of shows from February 3.
The new roster of gigs include a return to Edinburgh – 40 years after their last performance in the Scottish capital – and a show in Derby, where they last performed in 1966.
Oh no! Guitarist Pete, 77, claimed he and lead singer Roger, 79, are considering calling it a day due to their ‘old’ ages (pictured with John Entwistle and Keith Moon in 1966)
Iconic: (L-R) The band’s original line-up, John, Keith, Pete and Roger in 1978
Hull, Edinburgh, London, Derby, Badminton, Durham, St Helens and Brighton will also welcome the band, who will be backed by a full orchestra as they perform their back catalogue of hits.
Confirming the tour, singer Roger said: ‘Having not toured the UK for six years it’s great that at this time of our careers we have the chance to go to places that are not on the usual touring map Edinburgh Castle and Derby as well as the other cities across the country that we haven’t been to for decades will make this very special for me.
‘This opportunity will give our UK Who fans the chance to hear our current show which with the addition of an orchestra takes our music to new heights.’
As well a full orchestra, the rock veterans will be joined by special guests UB40 featuring Ali Campbell for a handful of their scheduled shows.
Pete added: ‘Roger initially christened this tour with an orchestra “Moving On!” I love it. It is what both of us want to do. Move on with new music classic Who music all performed in new and exciting ways.
‘Taking risks nothing to lose. I’m really looking forward to bringing this show to the UK.’
The set will touch on every milestone from their 60-year career, including the rock opera Tommy and the music from riotous 1973 album Quadrophenia, which was subsequently turned into a hit film.
In 2022 the band toured the United States with The Who Hits Back tour, during which they shared a stage some of the country’ biggest orchestra groups.
They will release The Who With Orchestra Live At Wembley on March 24.
Showman: He revealed the pair may take inspiration from Sir Elton John (pictured on Sunday), who will hang up his microphone after his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour
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