The Who Announces Farewell Tour Amidst a Season of Musical Retirements
The legendary British rock band, The Who, has announced their farewell tour after more than six decades of an illustrious career. Founding members Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey will put their guitars down for good, singing the iconic line “I hope to die before I get old” one last time. This announcement adds The Who to the list of musical greats stepping away from the stage, including Ozzy Osbourne and Jeff Lynne’s ELO.
The Who’s Final Tour: “The Song Is Over”
Titled “The Song Is Over,” the final tour takes its name from their 1971 hit off the album Who’s Next. The grueling schedule, with demanding performances for an 81-year-old vocalist like Daltrey, has prompted strict rest directives from his voice specialist. Townshend and Daltrey, the last surviving members of the band formed in 1964, have kept The Who’s legacy alive following the losses of Keith Moon and John Entwistle.
Ozzy Osbourne’s Farewell and Black Sabbath Reunion
Ozzy Osbourne, another iconic rocker, will also officially retire this summer. He will perform one last time, receiving an honor and reuniting with Black Sabbath’s original lineup – Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward – for a charity event in his hometown of Birmingham.
- Beneficiaries: The homenage will support Cure Parkinson’s, the Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and the Acorn Children’s Hospice, sponsored by Aston Villa football club.
- Metal Legends Gala: The event will feature a metal legends gala with performances by Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Pantera, Alice in Chains, Anthrax, Mastodon, Tool, members of Judas Priest, Limp Bizkit, Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Megadeth, Van Halen, Ghost, Faith No More, Aerosmith, and Soundgarden. Tom Morello will serve as the musical director for this celebration of heavy metal’s most influential figures.
Osbourne’s retirement tour and Black Sabbath reunion mark the end of his performing days due to various health issues, including a Parkinson’s diagnosis that kept him off the stage in recent years.
Rock Legends’ Farewell Tours: A Trend Driven by Health Concerns
As rock legends from the ’60s and ’70s embark on their final tours in the coming years, some are driven by health concerns that prevent them from maintaining their touring lifestyle. Despite this trend, as Spinal Tap humorously illustrated, bands of rock can always change their minds about retirement and announce new tours for eager fans.
