The Who Kick Off Farewell Tour Amid Hits and History
As the curtain rises on what The Who insists is their absolute final tour—dubbed “The Song Is Over”—fans around the world are bracing for an emotional goodbye to one of rock’s most explosive acts. Kicking off in Padua, Italy, on July 21, 2025, the show blended nostalgia with raw energy, delivering a setlist packed with classics while navigating the band’s recent lineup drama. But before we dive into that electrifying opener, let’s rewind the tape on The Who’s storied journey, a saga of mods, mayhem, and musical innovation that’s defined classic rock for over six decades.
Formed in the gritty streets of London’s Shepherd’s Bush in 1964, The Who emerged from the British Invasion as something fiercer than their contemporaries. Roger Daltrey, the powerhouse vocalist with a working-class edge, teamed up with guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend, whose windmill strums and intellectual lyrics would become legendary.
Rounding out the original lineup were bassist John Entwistle, a stoic virtuoso known as “The Ox” for his thunderous lines, and drummer Keith Moon, the wild man whose chaotic energy and destructive antics made him rock’s ultimate showman. Initially called The Detours, they rebranded as The High Numbers before settling on The Who, capturing the mod scene’s rebellious spirit with sharp suits, scooters, and anthems of youthful frustration.
Their breakthrough came with 1965’s “My Generation,” a stuttering declaration of defiance that peaked at No. 2 in the UK and became a generational rallying cry. Townshend’s feedback-heavy guitar work and Moon’s explosive drumming set them apart, but it was their live shows—complete with smashed instruments and auto-destructive art—that cemented their reputation.
By 1967, albums like A Quick One introduced the mini-opera format, foreshadowing their groundbreaking rock opera Tommy in 1969. Tommy, the tale of a deaf, dumb, and blind pinball wizard, exploded onto the scene, spawning a film and Broadway show while propelling The Who to international stardom. Hits like “Pinball Wizard” and “See Me, Feel Me” showcased Townshend’s ambitious songwriting, blending psychedelia with hard rock.
The ’70s brought peaks and valleys. Who’s Next (1971), born from the ashes of the abandoned Lifehouse project, delivered timeless tracks like “Baba O’Riley,” “Behind Blue Eyes,” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” with synthesizers adding a futuristic edge. Then came Quadrophenia (1973), another rock opera exploring mod culture and identity crises, featuring “The Real Me” and “Love, Reign O’er Me.” But tragedy struck in 1978 when Keith Moon died of a drug overdose at 32, leaving a void in the band’s chaotic heartbeat. Kenney Jones of Faces stepped in, but the chemistry shifted, leading to albums like Face Dances (1981) and It’s Hard (1982), which received mixed reviews.
The Who disbanded in 1983 but reunited sporadically, with a major revival in 1989 for their 25th anniversary tour. John Entwistle’s death in 2002 from a heart attack further altered the lineup, but Daltrey and Townshend pressed on, recruiting Pino Palladino on bass and Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr’s son) on drums.
Their 2006 album Endless Wire showed they still had fire, and tours continued, blending hits with deep cuts. Over the years, The Who influenced everyone from punk to grunge, earning inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1990) and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards. Their live prowess, from Woodstock to Live Aid, remains unmatched, with over 100 million records sold worldwide.
Fast-forward to 2025, and The Who are calling it quits with “The Song Is Over,” a tour promising a barrage of hits and rarities. The announcement came amid drama: longtime drummer Zak Starkey was fired twice earlier this year, first in April after a tense Royal Albert Hall show where Daltrey halted a song mid-performance, citing Starkey’s overpowering play. Reinstated briefly, Starkey was out again in May, publicly blasting the band as “insane” and refusing to fake a voluntary exit. Scott Devours, from Daltrey’s solo band, stepped in, bringing a steady hand to the rhythm section.
On Saturday The Who’s North American leg of “The Song Is Over” tour exploded into action on at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, marking their first U.S. performance of this farewell run. With a crowd of over 18,000 packing the venue, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, backed by Pino Palladino on bass and drummer Scott Devours, delivered a high-octane set that leaned heavily on their golden era.
Opening with the punchy “I Can’t Explain,” the band powered through staples like “The Seeker,” “Baba O’Riley,” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” with Townshend’s windmill guitar strikes eliciting roars from the audience. A highlight was the rare inclusion of “Going Mobile” from Who’s Next, performed live for the first time in the band’s history, adding a fresh twist to the nostalgic vibe.
Reviews from the night praised the band’s enduring energy, despite the lineup changes and the members’ ages. Daltrey’s voice held strong on anthems like “Love, Reign O’er Me,” while Townshend bantered about the tour being “truly the end,” joking that they’d “fooled themselves enough times.” Devours fit seamlessly, handling Keith Moon’s chaotic legacy with precision during “Pinball Wizard” and “The Punk and the Godfather.”
Minor glitches, like a brief monitor issue during “Behind Blue Eyes,” didn’t dampen the spirit, and the encore of “Tea & Theatre” provided a poignant close. Fans exiting the arena shared stories of lifelong devotion, with one telling local media it felt like “saying goodbye to family.” As the tour rolls on to Newark and beyond, this opener set a triumphant tone for The Who’s U.S. swan song.
From their mod beginnings to this farewell, The Who have embodied rock’s rebellious heart. The Sunrise show proved they’re going out with a bang, not a whimper—history in motion, one windmill at a time.
