The Who wrap up 2nd American leg

The Who wraped up their current U.S. leg, and final shows of this year on Monday, December 11th, in Columbus, Ohio at the Schottenstein Center.

On Friday night (December 8th), the band's show in St. Paul was cut short by lead singer Roger Daltrey, who apologized to the crowd and explained that he'd been suffering through a bout of bronchitis. Daltrey had soldiered through most of the concert, but it seemed clear after the final gut-wrenching scream in "Won't Get Fooled Again" that his voice had pretty much had it.

According to the fan website thewholive.de, Daltrey exited the stage saying something to the effect of: "I'm sorry but I've given you all I have. I'm fucked."

Pete Townshend and the rest of the band carried on without Daltrey for the encores, performing an extended version of the band's signature '60s hit "My Generation," and the 1969 fan favorite "Naked Eye."

The songs that were cut due to Daltrey's illness were the band's medley from Tommy: "Pinball Wizard," "Amazing Journey/Sparks," "See Me Feel Me," and the show's final encore, "Tea And Theatre" from the Who's latest album, Endless Wire.

This isn't the first time that Townshend has had to take over frontman duties due to Daltrey being unable to perform. Back in 1989 in Tampa, Florida, while performing "Won't Get Fooled Again," Townshend covered for Daltrey mid-song after he had to leave the stage while suffering from intestinal pain.

Townshend told us that as an artist he depends as strongly on his audience as they do on him: "It's not that it's exalted. It's not that it's higher, it's not that I'm looking down at the world and I can observe from on high. It is that as an artist, you have a unique ability to stand away from society and trust that your audience will give you what you need to make your next piece of work."

The Who kick off their next series of dates on February 23rd in Reno, Nevada at the Reno Events Center.
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