The Who's Pete Townshend hints band may split after final tour announcement
The Who founder Pete Townshend suggested that the band may split up for good in the near future
The Who's guitarist Pete Townshend has suggested that the band might be disbanding after their farewell tour.
The Song Is Over tour, which is set to take place this summer in the US, will see the band perform 16 shows more than 60 years after they first rose to fame in the 60s.
They are also hoping to extend the tour to Europe as a "thank you to fans" for their support over the years.
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In an interview with This Cultural Life on Radio 4, Pete, who recently turned 80, made cryptic comment that signalled this tour could potentially be the final act for the band. He said: "Whether it's the end for The Who...it's certainly the end of touring America. We'll have to see (about Europe).
"I feel like a diamond with a flaw," he added, 'I'm a dangerous f--k. I was a proponent of rock and roll as a philosophy.
"But when I started exploring my inner darkness on stage, my stage persona – smashing guitars and turning it all up – I was very detached and I didn't enjoy doing it.''
His comments come just weeks after drummer Zak Starkey was dismissed from the band for the second time by him and lead singer Roger Daltrey, the Mirror US reports.
Zak, the son of The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, was let go just one month after his initial dismissal, only to be quickly reinstated.
Last week, Pete announced on Instagram that Zak was no longer part of the band, and he has a great future with his new band and other exciting projects.
Zak later posted that his departure was not a mutual decision and that he was fired from the band.
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Zak later reshared this post, and claimed he was actually fired from the band, saying: "I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit the who to pursue my other musical endevours this would be a lie.
"I love the who and would never had quit. So I didn't make the statement ....quitting The Who would also have let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me (thank you all a million times over and more) thru the weeks of mayhem of me going 'in an out an in an out an in an out like a bleedin squeezebox x."
Zak also went on to list his previous projects, before adding: "Releasing singles but not touring cos members are so busy. None of this has ever interfered with The Who and was never a problem for them. The lie is or would have been that I quit The Who- I didn't. I love the who and everyone in it."
Zak later made a follow-up Instagram post, stating he'd received a phone call from Roger that left him feeling baffled.
He said Roger had retracted him being fired, saying the band had decided to let him go so he could "work on his own projects."
Zak wrote: "NOISEandCONFUSION! ! ! ! I had a great phone chat with Roger at the end of last week which truly confused both of us! ! !" He shared, "Rog said I hadn't been 'fired'...I had been 'retired' to work on my own projects. I explained to Rog that I have just spent nearly 8 weeks at my studio in Jamaica completing these projects, that my group Mantra Of The Cosmos was releasing one single at the beginning of June and after that had run its course ( usually 5/6 weeks ) I was completely available for the foreseeable future."
He added: "Rog said 'Oh!' and we kind of left it there- On good terms and great friends as we have always been. Gotta love these guys. As my mum used to say The mind boggles! ! ! XXX."
The band announced their decision to stop touring during a press conference in London on May 8 after 61-years performing.
Discussing their move, Roger said: "The warmth of the American audiences over the years have been inspirational to me, and reflects the feeling I remember getting after hearing the first rock records coming across the radio."
"Musical freedom! Rock gave us a feeling of generational rebellion. To me, America has always been great. The cultural differences had a huge impact on me, this was the land of the possible. It’s not easy to end the big part of my life that touring with The Who has been. Thanks for being there for us and look forward to seeing you one last time."
