The Who confirm tour and first studio album in 13 years

From Planet Rock.

The Who will release their first album in 13 years in 2019 and head out on a symphonic tour.

Guitarist Pete Townshend says he has laid down 15 demos for the follow-up to 2006’s ‘Endless Wire’ at five different studios around the UK and will release the album this year once Roger Daltrey has laid down his vocals.

After Daltrey performed ‘Tommy’ with an orchestra last summer, Townshend also revealed to Rolling Stone that The Who will embark on a sprawling 29-date symphonic tour across North America.

The tour dates are yet to be announced, however Townshend says The Who will perform with a different local symphony orchestra on each night of the trek.

“I’ll be 75 years old in March and this feels like a dignified way to go and do music,” he explained. “That’s all we’re really left with. We’re old men now. We’ve lost the looks. We’ve lost the glamour. What we’re left with is the music and we’re going to present it in a way which is as fresh and powerful as ever.”

Although hesitant to call it a swansong tour, Roger Daltrey admits it could be his last, saying:  “I think it is always a mistake to ever say ‘farewell’ but this will possibly be my last tour.

“I’m just being realistic about going through the 75th year of my life. I have to be realistic that this is the age I am and voices start to go after a while. I don’t want to be not as good as I was two years ago.”

For Townshend, he only agreed to the tour with concert giants Live Nation once The Who had new material to perform.

“I said I was not going to sign any contracts unless we have new material,” Townshend said. “This has nothing to do with wanting a hit album. It has nothing to do with the fact that the Who need a new album. It’s purely personal. It’s about my pride, my sense of self-worth and self-dignity as a writer.”

The Who: Moving On! North American tour

First Leg
May 07: Grand Rapids Van Andel Arena, MI
May 09: Buffalo KeyBank Center, NY
May 11: Bristow Jiffy Lube Live, VA
May 13: New York Madison Square Garden, NY
May 16: Nashville Bridgestone Arena, TN
May 18: Noblesville Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center, IN
May 21: Chicago Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, IL
May 23: Maryland Heights Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre St. Louis, MO
May 25: Philadelphia Citizens Bank Park, PA
May 28: Detroit Little Caesars Arena, MI
May 30: Pittsburgh PPG Paints Arena, PA
Jun 01: Toronto Scotiabank Arena, ON

Second Leg
Sep 06: St Paul Xcel Energy Center, MN
Sep 08: Alpine Valley Music Theatre , WI
Sep 10: Cuyahoga Falls Blossom Music Center, OH
Sep 13: Boston Fenway Park, MA
Sep 15: Wantagh Northwell Health At Jones Beach, NY
Sep 18: Atlanta State Farm Arena, GA
Sep 20: Ft. Lauderdale BB&T Center, FL
Sep 22: Tampa Amalie Arena, FL
Sep 25: Houston Toyota Center, TX
Sep 27: Dallas American Airlines Center, TX
Sep 29: Denver Pepsi Center, CO
Oct 11: Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl, CA
Oct 13: Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl, CA
Oct 16: San Diego Viejas Arena At Aztec Bowl San Diego State University, CA
Oct 19: Seattle T-Mobile Park, WA
Oct 21: Vancouver Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena, BC
Oct 23: Edmonton Rogers Place, AB

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