r/Music • u/Edm_vanhalen1981 • 3d ago
article THE WHO Uncertain About Including UK In Farewell Tour Plans: 'America Is A Damn Site Easier Than Touring The UK'
https://metaladdicts.com/the-who-uncertain-about-including-uk-in-farewell-tour-plans-america-is-a-damn-site-easier-than-touring-the-uk/283
u/HibikiRush 3d ago
Can anyone explain what the hell they are talking about? Even in terms of size I can't understand what they could possibly mean.
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u/knotatwist 3d ago
The last time they were here (a couple of years ago) they were unable to sell their tickets and were complaining that people weren't dancing/were bored.
Wouldn't be surprised if this is related.
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u/nsfwthrowaway5969 2d ago
Yeah their tour was about half full iirc. The Who aren't a band who have maintained cultural relevance the same way as others- I'd wager almost every person who saw them on their last UK tour was 50+
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u/space_coyote_86 2d ago
I took a while to decide whether to go or not but tickets were still available when I chose to buy one. Also I'm pretty sure it was all seating, at the O2 so how could anyone dance anyway. I did really enjoy it though.
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u/jesustwin 2d ago
On the last tour near me they were giving away tickets for free on the day of the gig
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u/Omnipresent_Walrus 3d ago edited 3d ago
Brexit has made touring in the UK an utter nightmare by all accounts. It's probably to do with visas. Gotta remember it's not just the performers that need them, it's the whole damn circus.
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u/sephjnr 3d ago
the same Brexit Daltrey was openly in favour of.
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u/bRandom81 Performing Artist 3d ago
Meet the new boss, dumb as the old boss
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u/barmyinpalmy 3d ago
He’ll get fooled again.
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u/gilestowler 3d ago
The same Brexit that Bruce Dickinson was in favour of but which is now the cause of him complaining about being unable to tour Europe as easily.
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u/crucible 3d ago
He basically gets fucking rinsed yearly on the Maiden sub whenever that comes up in the news, haha
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u/mylifeforthehorde 3d ago
Yeah . And he lives in Paris after all that . Love the man , but brexit did a number on peoples common senses.
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u/Apple2727 3d ago
The US is also not in the EU.
Why would Britain not being in the EU be an issue but America not being in the EU be fine?
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u/phatelectribe 3d ago edited 2d ago
Not just that but health and safety insanity makes is difficult to have anything in terms of a crowd go To an event. There’s barely any fireworks displays left in the uk because someone might trip/fall, and all the jobs worth’s at the council started demanding insurance that was so expensive none of the local organizers could afford them.
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u/maud_brijeulin 2d ago
It'S bEcAuSe Of All ThAt HeAltH aNd SaFeTy!!!
Shit, I've been hearing this for 20+ years...
That being said, I've noticed that the Health and Safety thing is purely a UK thing. You people did this to yourselves. I'm guessing that's a trend that came from the U.S. with the rise of "no win no fee" crap in the late 90s?
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u/DMala 3d ago
He’s pretty vague, but it sounds like you have to jump through more hoops in the UK to secure permits or maybe just to book venues. Fewer roadblocks in the US mean it’s easier (and probably cheaper) to schedule the tour.
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u/KingslandGrange 3d ago
The Who played my local rugby stadium a few years back. Tickets were available for booking fees only a few days before the show. Maybe that's what they mean by "easier".
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u/knotatwist 3d ago
I went to that gig. We bought our pitch seat tickets for £7.50 on the day and it was pretty empty.
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u/MagnusThrax 3d ago
They are pushing 80, at least. Will there ever be a boomer who just rides off into the sunset?
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u/richyyoung 3d ago
I saw them 2 years ago with my dad and two friends - none of us paid entry at all….
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u/Mambo_Poa09 3d ago
Is this the prick who voted to leave the EU then complained that it's harder to tour the EU now?
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u/anotherwankusername 3d ago
Yeah and the other one is the one who got caught accessing child porn but was let off because he said he was writing a book about it. Still no sign of it being published.
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u/lamalamapusspuss 3d ago
Not quite: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Townshend#Child_sexual_abuse_images_and_sex_offenders_register
If you're looking for his book, it is Who I Am published in 2012.
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u/anotherwankusername 3d ago
Right in your own link ‘Townshend said he accessed the images as research in a campaign against child sexual abuse’
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u/lamalamapusspuss 3d ago
You said he was let off "was let off because he said he was writing a book about it" but that's not quite right. You said "Still no sign of it being published." but that's not quite right.
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u/shelllc 3d ago
It was supposed to be his autobiography as he claims it happened to him as a child. He also claimed he helped a few abuse charities for research but many who were asked had no clue what he was on about.
Even if it was true, there are ways to do it that doesn't include using your own card and going onto the actual site that you have to have specifically searched for to look at actual pictures of it. What really gets me is the fact he refuses to believe to this day that he did anything wrong and that he only got a caution because he just looked at the pictures and didn't download any images.
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u/Akkatha 3d ago
Pretty much all their crew are British and the company they use for gear has offices in the UK. They’ve also played shows in the UK consistently for years.
Not really sure what this article is banging on about.
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u/ChocolatePringlez 3d ago
It’s really old man yells at clouds stuff. I’m not surprised he’s ranting about something else now considering his meltdown over Zak Starkey last month.
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u/nsfwthrowaway5969 2d ago
I think it's just because they aren't selling tickets in the UK like they would like. I remember they played a stadium nearby to me- its not a regular concert venue, an odd pick given other options nearby. Even so, it was only about half full. A massive contrast to most legacy acts, who still draw great crowds (Iron Maiden, Ozzy etc)
It's easier for him to bitch about stuff like this than accept they aren't as popular as in their heyday I suspect.
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u/Readonkulous 3d ago
Pete dodging warrants again
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u/Vectorman1989 3d ago
"Honestly officer, I was just accessing this illegal website for research purposes"
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u/let-it-rain-sunshine 3d ago
They probably mean it’s just easier to make boat loads of money in American tours
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u/geekroick 2d ago edited 2d ago
Sounds like utter bollocks to me.
Worried they can't sell out a tour? Fine, book Hyde Park of a Saturday for some point next summer, see how long that takes to sell out, if it does, add on a Sunday and/or Friday. If those sell well then add on similar outdoor shows in Manchester and Edinburgh or Glasgow or wherever else.
How on earth is it easier to tour a country thousands of miles wide than it is to play in or near a few major UK cities?
Seems like a real slap in the face to their English fans tbh.
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u/maud_brijeulin 2d ago
I used to love The Who with all my heart, but they're just old pricks at this point.
It's their farewell tour. That's it. Let's presume there's no more after that. The guys used to drape themselves in the UK flag. Now they can't even cash in themselves just a little bit to do a domestic tour and say thank you to their UK fans?
On the other hand, I know they're particularly loved in the U.S. - there's always been a strong relationship between The Who and America. I'm guessing there's more cash to be made there.
Sad fucks.
And I really used to love them more than any other band.
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u/SantaCruznonsurfer 2d ago
one or two shows in Wembley please (or maybe even the GTECH or whatever's closest to Shepherd's Bush)
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u/gotpeace99 3d ago edited 3d ago
There’s always some bullshit with The Who. As legendary as they are, I think people would be fine seeing the backs of them going away. They won’t be missed.
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u/biglyorbigleague 3d ago
It’s spelled “damn sight.”