I just saw that The Who is going on tour, and they’ll be in my area. I liked them a lot when I was younger, so I’m tempted.
However:
Two of the four members won’t be there because they’re dead.
The other two are 79 and 81 years old, and half deaf.
So I don’t know.
If I had the chance I wouldn’t hesitate.
Hell, they’re half deaf for the best of reasons.
I’ve seen The Who several times over the past six decades, and they’ve never disappointed. The last time was in 2017 in Vegas, and they were as good as always. I obviously don’t know how they sound now, though.
Given that this is their final tour, I’d go if I were you.
I saw the Rolling Stones last year and they still delivered. So much so I came to the opinion that Mick Jagger had made a deal with the devil when he was staring out. He still looked pretty good (compared to Keith Richards) and Jagger was bouncing around at age 80.
Of course, these are much more tame concerts with a much older crowd so the vibe is nothing like in their youth (not even close). But the music was good. (I had much the same experience seeing The Eagles a few years ago.)
If you like the music and have the chance to go I’d say yes…do it.
You should probably wait a while before you go on tour. You might compete for the same customers.
I went to their final tour in 1982
I also saw them six or seven years ago. It was a hoot.
I’d go. For the same reason I went to John Lee Hooker. Wanted to see him before he was dead. Of course, it would depend on ticket prices. I’m a Cheap Bastard!
You Rock, Lady!
My daughter and I saw them in Columbus, Ohio in 2015.
If you’re really into them, you’ll probably be disappointed. Because it’s not really a “band” anymore: it is basically just Pete & Roger front-and-center, along with a dozen or so nameless musicians doing their thing in the shadows.
But if you enjoy concerts, I vote you should go. Just don’t take it too seriously and enjoy the overall ambience.
I last saw them in 2016 (and just Roger in 2019). They still sound great. Starkey’s drumming is up to Moon standards but there is no attempt to recreate Entwhisle’s bass runs. You’ll still see a few windmills and mic twirling, but no sliding across the stage on the knees.
Jagger decided early on that if he was to have longevity in the biz he better get / stay in shape, and started jogging and getting regular exercise. He’s never been too much into the drinkin’, druggin’ side of the rock lifestyle. He’s more of an example of clean living (for a rockstar, anyway).
Now Keith Richards, on the other hand-- yes, he looks like a walking corpse, but if anybody made a deal with the devil for long life…
Value is in the eye of the beholder, so it is impossible for me to answer your question. I wouldn’t, but I never even knew who (no pun intended) they were. If you grew up with them and loved them and would be excited to see the two remaining remnants of that band, then I say go.
I read somewhere that he gave up hard drugs a long time ago. Just a WAG, but I am guessing he is in better shape than he looks, and maintains the “look” due to fan expectations.
He even stopped smoking a few years ago. Don’t know if he still drinks from time to time, but definitely not as much as in the old days.
As for seeing the Who: they’re one of my favorite bands, but I was too young to have seen them with Keith and never have been interested in seeing them live without him. I’d love to see Pete solo, though.
Yes, but when he did do hard drugs, he did them hard. And was hard on his body. I read Richard’s autobiography, and he claimed that he never used drugs recreationally, he used them as ‘gears’ to help him do what he wanted to do-- uppers to ‘gear up’ and downers to slow him back down.
He had an anecdote about when he was mixing one of their albums-- I think ‘Exile on Main Street’: he spent 9 days straight awake at a rented house in France working on the album while people all around him woke up, partied, crashed, and woke up again. Then finally on the 9th day he just passed out flat on his face. He was not a big fan of sleep–he’s probably had more time conscious than any other man even several years younger.
I’ve seen the band probably 20 times since the first time at Oakland with The Grateful Dead in 1978. The last show I saw them was in Oakland too, in 2016 (on Pete’s birthday,). Since then I’ve been content to watch youtube videos of their shows, mostly due to high ticket prices. To be honest I think I’d seen them enough and wanted to keep the memory of the 2016 as sort of a final hurrah. (I’ve been tempted since, but really just because I wanted to experience Katie Jacoby’s star turn playing the violin solo on Baba O’Riley)
Going to see them on this tour I think you have to set your expectations accordingly. You’re not going to experience the fire and brimstone version of the band that last hit the stage many years ago. (They were really good on the 2000 tour). Go see them to share a couple of hours with a pair of rock’s greatest performers in their twilight years…if you’re lucky Pete will be in a talkative mood, which always made the best shows for me.
You guys have convinced me: I’m buying a ticket. If nothing else, I’d like to be able to say I saw them live once in my life.
Yay! We will expect a full report.
Long live rock!
The show’s not until September so it’ll be a while.
Did they have a violinist for Baba O’Riley? I saw a video of them performing the song, and they used a harmonica instead of a violin.
Yeah, I’d make sure the tickets are refundable. 
I saw the Who* in concert in 1975 (guitar-crashing days) and it was a good show. No desire to see them (their stars, anyway) as senior citizens.
*The thread title about “the WHO (in caps) going on tour” had me first thinking that the World Health Organization had formed a band and was going to perform hits like “Stayin’ Alive”, “I Want A New Drug” and “Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine”.