“It feels to me like there’s one thing the Who can do, and that’s a final tour where we play every territory in the world and then crawl off to die.”
He also said their last tour would be more for money than for their history:
“I don’t get much of a buzz from performing with the Who. If I’m really honest, I’ve been touring for the money. My idea of an ordinary lifestyle is pretty elevated.”
In December 2023, Townshend spoke similarly during a conversation with the Record Collector. He commented he wanted to talk about what’s next for the band with his bandmate, Roger Daltrey. Townshend shared:
“I think it’s time for Roger and I to go to lunch and have a chat about what happens next. Because Sandringham shouldn’t feel like the end of anything, but it feels like the end of an era.”
The Who finished their 2023 orchestra tour with a last concert at Sandringham Estate last summer. Roger Daltrey also opened up about the uncertain future of the Who in an interview with The Times in January 2024. Daltrey stated:
“I don’t write the songs. I never did. We need to sit down and have a meeting, but at the moment, I’m happy saying that part of my life is over.”
Even with rumors of a farewell, Townshend keeps working on personal projects. In October 2023, he told the Sun about creating a rock opera based on his first book, ‘The Age Of Anxiety,’ from 2019. Right now, he’s making the music and recording songs for the opera.