Fans of the legendary rock band The Who say they have been “outpriced” of attending the upcoming farewell tour in the United States.
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend will play what is believed to be their last run of shows as The Who later this year. The Song is Over tour, set to begin on August 16, comes after Daltrey’s brief run of solo shows in the UK, with seats still available to his gig at The Piece Hall in Halifax. Users of r/TheWho, however, say the run of US dates is far too pricey to warrant attending. A post to the Reddit page where fans share their thoughts on the band saw a screenshot of the Seattle show, which appeared to be barely sold so far. Tickets for the tour have been on sale for some time, though fans feel they are too pricey to warrant attending. A post reads: “Wow, lots of empty seats (Seattle, 2025).
One fan fumed: “They’ve certainly outpriced us, with other big dogs also touring.” Another claimed: “Charging two to four times more than The Rolling Stones is batshit crazy. It really makes you scratch you’re head and wonder what the hell they were ever thinking with these prices.”
A third added: “I joined the fan club and was ready to buy a ticket at the presale. Saw the prices for a lower bowl seat and couldn’t bring myself to buy a seat. Will keep my eye out for a cheaper seat.” The cheapest tickets to The Who’s upcoming show would run a fan $87, or £65. It appears to be too steep for the most dedicated of listeners, who have suggested they will pick up tickets if the prices drop.
One user wrote: “Looks like you will get into that one for about a buck and change by show time. Here in LA they always charge a lot when they go on sale and then they hit a second sale site like Goldstar, and people can buy seats for half the cost, and by showtime there’s always people there. My friends take their kids, or just go themselves for the first time since the 80s.”
Another wrote: “If this means I’ll be able to afford tickets, I’m okay with it.” Though some may be hopeful of cheaper ticket prices, there is a chance the tour is cancelled. The Black Keys faced similarly miserable ticket sales numbers and pulled out of their planned stadium tour last year.
One fan suggested The Who will “cancel”, while another wrote: “That would be likely. Kinda like the Black Keys cancelling their stadium tour for smaller venues.” A third wrote: “It’s been like this for ages. The tickets are so much money, they’re never hard to get. That’s a Black Keys seat map.”
Some fans have even suggested The Who has outlived the audience they are saying farewell too, with many saying life, bills, and kids are just some of the responsibilities getting in the way of paying for tickets. One user wrote: “I am on the younger end of the Who’s fan demographic and I am far from young. I’m not spending that kind of money when I have kids and bills.”
Another added: “That’s just it for me as well, I’ve seen them three times. I can’t imagine a fourth time a decade later, for even more money is gonna do anything for me. Now if I could have a time machine to 1970, sure I’d pay for that concert. But for 80-year-old men, I don’t know.”
A third wrote: “I saw them 20 years ago on Entwistle’s last tour. I haven’t bothered since. I love them, but between ticket prices, the fact it’s only Pete and Roger, and how unenthusiastic they both seem about it, there’s really not a lot of reason to spend that much money to see them.”
It comes as Townshend suggested he and Daltrey were “flogging a dead horse” with yet another tour for The Who. Daltrey did not take kindly to the comment, replying: “If Pete doesn’t want to tour, I don’t want to be back with The Who on the road, at 81, with someone who doesn’t want (to) be there – if that’s what he’s saying.
“I won’t do it with someone who is half-hearted about it. But, you know, every dog has its day and it was a wonderful ride.” The Who hit headlines earlier this month too after firing, rehiring, and again firing drummer Zak Starkey.
Then do another US solo tour, Boo.