The Who Starts Farewell Tour With Hits-Filled Concert In Italy

The Who launched their The Song Is Over farewell tour on Sunday in Piazzola sul Brenta, Italy. The concert was the band’s first with Scott Devours on drums after longtime drummer Zak Starkey was fired.

Surviving co-founders and Pete Townshend are accompanied for a pair of shows in Italy and 16 shows across North America by touring band members Devours, multi-instrumentalist Simon Townshend, keyboardist Loren Gold, percussionist/backing vocalist John Hogg, bassist Jon Button and percussionist Jody Linscott. The Who ran through 20 songs last night at Anfiteatro Camerini.

Right from the “I Can’t Explain” opener, the legendary put the emphasis on material from their ’60s and ’70s heyday. “Substitute,” “Bargain,” “The Seeker,” “Pinball Wizard” and “My Generation” were among the hits to make the setlist. The Who also looked to 1973’s Quadrophenia for a mid-show run of “The Real Me,” “5:15,” “I’m One,” “I’ve Had Enough” and “Love, Reign O’er Me.”

The five-song Quadrophenia sequence was followed by “Eminence Front” off 1982’s It’s Hard. Next came the aforementioned “My Generation” before the band returned to It’s Hard for a portion of “Cry If You Want.”

Frontman Roger Daltrey was suffering from leg cramps and sang the ensuing “See Me, Feel Me” while kneeling down on the floor. The Who went on to close their tour opener by performing classics “You Better You Bet,” “Baba O’Riley” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”

Watch audience-captured video from The Who’s tour opener in Padua, Italy below: