Rock bands like KISS and Motley Crue are prime examples of “farewell” tours not necessarily being the end of anything. It seems as if the door is slightly open for The Who to follow the same trend, according to a new interview with The New York Times.

The British rock legends are no strangers to farewell tours themselves. In 1982, due to a multitude of issues concerning tensions within the band, The Who ventured on their first “swansong” through North America and Canada. The band broke up in 1983, only to reunite in 1985 for Live Aid at Wembley Stadium. In 2015, guitarist Pete Townshend announced the band would be embarking on another “final” tour to coincide with their 50th anniversary. However, the band would resume touring in 2017, where The Who played their 1969 album, “Tommy” in full.

While the band is currently on “The Song Is Over” tour, which played last week at Prudential Center in Newark and postponed their show at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, surviving members Roger Daltrey and Townshend hint in the Times interview that this may not be the end after all. When Townshend was asked if the “farewell” tour premise is believable given the band’s history, he said, “Are you suggesting we’re swindling the public? [Laughs] The fact is, we are willing to swindle them. That’s what we’ve done our entire life. Why stop?”

Townshend explained that whatever form The Who chooses to go on after the tour is over, “It’s in Roger’s hands.”

“I’m 80, I don’t like being away from my family, my studios, my dogs, and my friends, the guitarist remarked. “I’m not looking to spend the next five years of my life waiting to [expletive] drop dead on the stage.”

Daltrey was interviewed separately and gave a variety of reasons why this is a good time for The Who to call it quits, at least on the live music front.

“We’re saying farewell because touring is grueling on the body,” said Daltrey. “Also, the ticket prices are ridiculously high. We’re not giving up as a band. We might do a couple of residencies. Hopefully, Pete and I won’t stop making music.”

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Murjani Rawls may be reached at mrawls@njadvancemedia.com.

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