The Who announce 50th Anniversary tour dates and plans for new album
by Daisay Johnson
The Who are launching a UK tour this autumn to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
Lead singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend announced the tour plans, before performing four songs live at a launch event on Monday held at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London.
At the event, the band revealed that plans were in the works to also start recording a new album this summer before the tour begins.
Pete Townshend said that he had already given Roger Daltrey three new songs. "I gave Roger three demos of three rough songs and happily he likes them," said Townshend. "I really liked the pub rock sound of the album [Daltrey] did with Wilko [Johnson] [2014's Going Back Home] and we may try to make the record in a slightly more basic way than we normally work, although a lot of my writing these days is pretty complicated. It’s more prog rock than pub rock!”
When announcing the tour, Daltrey explained that it would be “the beginning of a long goodbye”. Townshend described all the songs they’ll perform for the upcoming tour as a variety of “hits, picks, mixes and misses”.
The Who have sold over 100 million albums since their formation in 1964.
According to a press release, they will begin this November, with eleven dates across Britain and Ireland. Tickets go on sale on Friday, 4 July.
‘The Who Hits 50!’ Britain and Ireland tour dates:
by Daisay Johnson
The Who are launching a UK tour this autumn to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
Lead singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend announced the tour plans, before performing four songs live at a launch event on Monday held at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London.
At the event, the band revealed that plans were in the works to also start recording a new album this summer before the tour begins.
Pete Townshend said that he had already given Roger Daltrey three new songs. "I gave Roger three demos of three rough songs and happily he likes them," said Townshend. "I really liked the pub rock sound of the album [Daltrey] did with Wilko [Johnson] [2014's Going Back Home] and we may try to make the record in a slightly more basic way than we normally work, although a lot of my writing these days is pretty complicated. It’s more prog rock than pub rock!”
When announcing the tour, Daltrey explained that it would be “the beginning of a long goodbye”. Townshend described all the songs they’ll perform for the upcoming tour as a variety of “hits, picks, mixes and misses”.
The Who have sold over 100 million albums since their formation in 1964.
According to a press release, they will begin this November, with eleven dates across Britain and Ireland. Tickets go on sale on Friday, 4 July.
‘The Who Hits 50!’ Britain and Ireland tour dates:
- Nov 26 – Dublin, O2 Arena
- Nov 28 – Belfast, Odyssey Arena
- Nov 30 – Glasgow, SSE Hyrdo
- Dec 02 – Leeds, First Direct Arena
- Dec 05 – Nottingham, Capital FM Arena
- Dec 07 – Birmingham, NIA
- Dec 09 – Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
- Dec 11 – Liverpool, Echo Arena
- Dec 13 – Manchester, Phones 4U Arena
- Dec 15 – Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
- Dec 17 – London, O2 Arena