The Who announce world tour

The Who announced their first world tour in 20 years as well as the first part of their North American tour and debuted a new song at a press conference on Thursday, July 13th, in Berlin, Germany. The band will kick things off September 12th in Philadelphia, and the first leg runs through October 11th in Seattle. They also revealed two dates for the second leg -- November 5th in Los Angeles, and December 4th in Toronto. More shows will be announced in the coming weeks. Following the North American tour, the Who will play in South America, Japan, and Australia, before heading back to Europe for more shows.

Tickets for some of the dates go on sale Monday (July 17th), but fan club members can get in on a pre-sale now through the group's new website. For more information, go to thewhotour.com.

Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey played two songs at the event -- "Won't Get Fooled Again," and a new one called "Mike Post Theme." The Who has been playing "Mike Post Theme" at some of their European gigs, but for the first time yesterday, Daltrey and Townshend did "Mike Post Theme" acoustically. Townshend admitted he wasn't sure whether it would be an acoustic version or a band version on the Who's upcoming album, which is tentatively titled Who2, and which will be out in the U.S. on October 23rd.

Daltrey told us that the material from the new mini-opera called Wire & Glass has gone over well, and he said people will really like everything that's coming: "It's been extremely well received. There are other songs on the album which are yet to be finished, because they're not mixed --Pete hasn't mixed them yet -- which I just know will go down incredibly well instantly on stage. If you want a phrase, they've got the 'Townshend magic,' and I can't wait to play them."

There were tour posters that proclaimed "The Who -- Uncut. Uncensored. Unrepentant.', and Townshend said he was a bit bothered by the slogan and the implication that the band is in charge: "It's what you guys want us to do that's important. If you don't want us up here, don't buy the tickets. You know, when we were kids, we were voted on to the stage by our peers. If they don't want you there, they walk away. You're the reason we're on the stage. We don't have to be cut, censored, we don't have to repent. Meet the new boss -- it's the same as the old boss. And that boss is YOU, not us."

The Who itinerary (subject to change):
Sep 12 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Ctr
Sep 13 - Wantagh, NY - Nikon At Jones Beach Theatre
Sep 15 - Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Grd
Sep 16 - Ottawa, ONT - Scotiabank Pl
Sep 18 - New York, NY - Madison Square Grd
Sep 21 - Holmdel, NJ - P.N.C. Bank Arts Ctr
Sep 25 - Chicago, IL - United Ctr
Sep 29 - Auburn Hills, MI - Palace Of Auburn Hills
Sep 30 - London, ONT - John Labatt Ctr
Oct 3 - Winnipeg, MAN - MTS Ctr
Oct 5 - Calgary, ALB - Pengrowth Saddledome
Oct 6 - Edmonton, ALB - Rexall Pl
Oct 8 - Vancouver, BC - General Motors Pl
Oct 10 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden Arena
Oct 11 - Seattle, WA - KeyArena at Seattle Ctr
Nov 5 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
Dec 4 - Toronto, ONT - Air Canada Ctr
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