The Who's Pete Townshend Confirms Farewell Tour Isn't Happening

The Who's Pete Townshend Says He's Being 'Sarcastic' On Farewell Tour Idea
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Pete Townshend had everyone's hopes up when he recently talked about a The Who farewell tour.

Sadly, Townshend had to rain on everyone's parade when he recently clarified that his statements were misunderstood.

Pete Townshend Teases The Who Farewell Tour

In March 2024, Townshend spoke to The New York Times about the possibility of a The Who farewell tour.

"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," he told the publication.

Townshend has since been candid about what the tour would mean to him.

"I don't get much of a buzz from performing with the Who," Townshend shared. "If I'm really honest, I've been touring for the money. My idea of an ordinary lifestyle is pretty elevated."

He previously suggested in 2023 that he should link up again with The Who vocalist Roger Daltry to determine the band's next steps and devise a game plan.

"I think it's time for Roger and I to go to lunch and have a chat about what happens next," Townshend told Record Collector magazine. "Because [the final 2023 tour stop] shouldn't feel like the end of anything, but it feels like the end of an era."

While the news excited the fans of the English rock band, Townshend recently clarified that his statement to The New York Times was a misunderstanding.

Pete Townshend Shuts Down The Who Farewell Tour Rumors

Speaking to the" Sound Up!" podcast, Townshend clarified what he meant by his statements to the publication.

"I'm not doing a farewell tour. I think I was being sarcastic about it," he confirmed. "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,'"

News about The Who's Farewell Tour has been especially confusing. The band had their Farewell Tour in 1982, but they still went on tour more times than they initially had before announcing their supposed swan song.

In 2022, he talked about the end of his touring life with Rolling Stone.

"I don't want to be like one of these guys that dies on tour," he explained to the publication. "Roger is of the opinion that he wants to sing until he drops. That's not my philosophy of life. There are other things that I want to do, still want to do, and will do, I hope. I hope I'll live long enough to do them."

Listen to Townshend's full "Sound Up" podcast interview below.

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The Who, Pete Townshend
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