The Who Kick Off Post-Zak Starkey Era at ‘Song Is Over’ Tour

## The Who Launches Their Farewell Tour in Italy

The Who embarked on their *Song Is Over* farewell tour this past Sunday night at the Anfiteatro Camerini in Piazzola sul Brenta, Italy. This performance marked their first show since parting ways with longtime drummer Zak Starkey, introducing Scott Devours as his replacement. Notably, they also welcomed new background singer John Hogg, who had previously been tested out during their gigs at the Royal Albert Hall.

## Setlist Highlights

The setlist primarily featured classic hits, but fans were excited to hear the deep cut from *Who’s Next*, “Love Ain’t For Keepin’.” This track hadn’t been performed since 2004, making its revival particularly special. They also included “I’ve Had Enough” in a segment focused on *Quadrophenia* songs, such as “The Real Me,” “5:15,” and “Love, Reign O’er Me.” Remarkably, this was one of the first times they performed “I’ve Had Enough” outside complete renditions of *Quadrophenia*.

### A Look Back

Fans may remember a lone performance of “I’ve Had Enough” during the launch of the original *Quadrophenia* tour on October 28, 1973, in Stoke-on-Trent, England. That event holds a significant place in Who history as they attempted to showcase nearly the entire album while omitting the title track and “Cut My Hair.” However, many songs were dropped by the time they reached their next show, shifting their focus back to older material.

## Memorable Moments

When the tour hit Newcastle a week later, the band faced technical difficulties with their analog tape machine, which impacted the performance of the complex *Quadrophenia* songs. A visibly frustrated Pete Townshend reportedly had a meltdown, creating an unforgettable moment of chaos on stage.

> “Townshend began pulling at the soundboard, yanking out wires, demolishing many of the prerecorded tapes it had taken so many weeks’ work to piece together,” wrote Dave Marsh in his book *Before I Get Old: The Story of the Who*. “The rest of the band watched in a daze.”

### Modern Adaptations

Today, The Who benefit from having additional musicians, including a keyboardist, which makes complex songs like “Love, Reign O’er Me” easier to perform. On this new tour, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend are accompanied by Devours, Hogg, guitarist Simon Townshend, bassist Jon Button, and keyboardist Loren Gold.

In a recent interview with *Pollstar*, Daltrey described this tour as a “back to basics” experience, moving away from the grand orchestra accompaniments of past tours. He expressed a desire to recapture the raw energy of their ’70s performances.

> “I fucking hate set lists!” said Daltrey. “The next song should follow the energy of what you’ve created in the previous one. You can’t know that until you’re out there doing it.”

## Facing Challenges

Despite the high-energy atmosphere, Daltrey faced challenges during the opening night, performing “See Me, Feel Me” while kneeling due to leg cramps. Although *The Song Is Over* was slated to be the final song, it was ultimately omitted, likely influenced by Daltrey’s condition.

### Upcoming Dates

The tour continues on Tuesday night at the Parco della Musica di Milano in Segrate, Italy. The U.S. leg is set to kick off on August 16 in Sunrise, Florida, ending on September 28 in Las Vegas, though additional shows may be announced.

## The Who’s Setlist at Anfiteatro Camerini

– “I Can’t Explain”
– “Substitute”
– “Who Are You”
– “Love Ain’t for Keepin’”
– “Bargain”
– “The Seeker”
– “Pinball Wizard”
– “Behind Blue Eyes”
– “The Real Me”
– “5:15”
– “I’m One”
– “I’ve Had Enough”
– “Love, Reign O’er Me”
– “Eminence Front”
– “My Generation”
– “Cry If You Want” (Snippet)
– “See Me, Feel Me”
– “You Better You Bet”
– “Baba O’Riley”
– “Won’t Get Fooled Again”

As The Who embarks on this poignant farewell tour, what are you most excited to see or hear from them?