The Who have announced their farewell tour, setting a final South Florida performance of some of the most iconic and influential music in rock ’n’ roll history at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Aug. 16.
Tickets will be available with a series of presales that begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 13, in advance of the general on-sale at 10 a.m. Friday, May 16, at SeatGeek.com.
The first wave of presales on Tuesday will be for members of the Wholigan Fan Club (which you can join at Shop.thewho.com) and Citi cardholders (CitiEntertainment.com). These will run through 10 p.m. Thursday, May 15.
A venue presale will take place from 10 a.m. Wednesday to 10 p.m. Thursday at AmerantBankArena.com. The password is SUNRISE.
Founding members Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey announced the tour during a London news conference on Thursday. The trek across the United States and Canada, officially called The Who — The Song Is Over — North American Farewell Tour, takes its name from the underappreciated track on their 1971 album, “Who’s Next.”
Townshend, who turns 80 on May 19, called it “a poignant time” for himself and the 81-year-old Daltrey.
“Today, Roger and I still carry the banner for the late Keith Moon and John Entwistle and, of course, all of our longtime Who fans. I must say that although the road has not always been enjoyable for me, it is usually easy: the best job I could ever have had,” Townshend said.
“Roger and I are in a good place, despite our age, eager to throw our weight behind this fond farewell to all our faithful fans, and hopefully to new ones who might jump in to see what they have been missing for the last 57 years,” he said.
From the band’s angry debut with1965 album “My Generation,” through their astonishing rock operas “Tommy” and “Quadrophenia,” The Who’s influence continues to reach far and wide across rock and pop music.
Pearl Jam featured their frequent cover of “Baba O’Riley” on opening night of their recent tour stop at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood. “Pinball Wizard” has been one of Elton John’s live-show staples, and David Bowie, Oasis, Rush, Iron Maiden and Van Halen have all recorded covers of songs by The Who.
The band’s 2019 concert at the Sunrise arena then called BB&T Center offered powerful proof of their status as one of the great rock ‘n’ roll bands of their time.
Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at bcrandell@sunsentinel.com. Follow on Instagram @BenCrandell and X @BenCrandell.
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