The Who won’t go quietly, power through N.J. farewell concert

“I hope I die before I get old.”

Who’s gonna tell them?

Sixty years and three generations after “My Generation” helped The Who breakthrough as one of the British Invasion’s defining bands — on their way to becoming global rock legends — Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend are somehow still commanding arena stages.

But not for much longer, as Tuesday’s date with Prudential Center was part of their “The Song Is Over” North American farewell tour — half a lifetime after The Who’s first supposed departure, in 1982.

Though this time Townshend, 80, seemed to mean it when he told the Newark crowd, “sadly … we will not be touring as The Who again.”

The weathered guitarist noted he and Daltrey, 81, would continue working, but they were near the end of “a long goodbye.”

Their most recent New Jersey performance, a 50th anniversary showcase in 2016, was also part of this slow-walked farewell. The band’s final Garden State gig (so they say) will be Saturday in Atlantic City. They love an exit.

The band — Daltrey, Townshend and a six-piece backing outfit — was in fine spirits across their one hour and 45 minutes on a simple stage, with heyday photographs flashing on the JumboTron all night. It’s unclear if any of the old black-and-whites were snapped at The Who’s first-ever Jersey show, at Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains, in 1967. Tickets cost a steep $2.50.

Tuesday’s graying crowd paid a bit more to hear the band run through its hits, with a few deep cuts worked in. The most notable addition was “Going Mobile,” a non-single from “Who’s Next” (1971) that had never been played live until last week in Florida. The jaunty tune’s second-ever live performance hit Newark with Simon Townshend — Pete’s little brother, 64, the band’s touring guitarist — singing lead, as Daltrey wailed on harmonica. Drummer Scott Devours filled in on the kit after longtime touring member Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr’s son) was fired from the band earlier this year for “overplaying.”

The albums “Who’s Next,” “Tommy” and “Quadrophenia” earned the most attention, while a few early-career fan favorites were left off: “I Can See for Miles,” “Magic Bus,” “Happy Jack” and “Squeeze Box.”

While Daltrey has understandably stiffened in his seventh decade of music, he was still good for a few patented microphone swings, and some roaring vocals, particularly on the band’s eternal showstopper “Love Reign O’er Me.” While not quite as clean as even 10 years ago, Daltrey’s soulful delivery and full-throated effort earned a standing ovation from the mostly seated crowd.

Townshend, meanwhile, was still reasonably spry, landing a few-dozen of his famed windmill strums and ripping a crunchy solo on the bluesy classic “5:15,” fingers flying.

“The main memories I have of playing in New Jersey are playing Passaic in the early days, and we had this kid on the side of the stage watching us, and his name was Bruce Springsteen,” Townshend said, referencing the old Capitol Theatre, as “BRUUUUCE” chants bellowed.

“He’s close behind us (in age) but he still bares his f—ing chest,” quipped Townshend, forever the sardonic rocker.

While Springsteen did not take the stage, there was plenty of classic-rock joy to be found and victory laps to be rounded, from the band who taught the world how to crank your amps up to 11 and scare your parents. Remember, there’s no punk without The Who — Sex Pistols, The Ramones and The Clash all worshipped the group.

But as Tuesday’s show came to a soft close, with only Daltrey and Townshend performing the final tune “Tea and Theatre,” it felt like the last chapter on one of rock’s greatest stories was closing. Let’s see if they stick to it this time.

The Who’s setlist

Aug. 19, 2025 — Prudential Center, Newark, N.J.

Bobby Olivier may be reached at[email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@BobbyOlivierandFacebook.