A little less than a year after the Who concluded their North American Farewell Tour, the band’s frontman, Roger Daltrey, will embark on a solo tour and play more dates than he did with the Who. He’s calling the run of dates, which kick off in Arizona in August, “A Great Night Out.”
“Well it’s one more for the road,” Daltrey tells Rolling Stone. “After finishing the Who’s final tour of the U.S., it’s time for me as a solo artist to possibly do the same. After touring solo with different bands of musicians for the last 17 years, a less grueling life becomes more attractive, I’ll see.
“With my present lineup of nine musicians, I have this opportunity to see your beautiful country and enjoy the hospitality you have shown me over so many years,” he continues. “I’ll be off the backing tracks and always searching for different soundscapes to present the songs. It’s a lot of fun and gives me the chance to have a great night out.”
Tickets for the tour go on sale to the public on Friday at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster. Presales, including one that requires the password GREATNIGHT, will begin at the same time on Wednesday, and local presales begin Thursday. Daltrey is also offering VIP experiences.
The repertoire for the tour will consist of songs from his solo career, cover songs, and rarities from the Who’s catalog. In 2024, Daltrey drew from his McVicar (1980), Under a Raging Moon (1985), and Rocks in the Head (1992) albums. He also performed a couple of songs from his most recent album, As Long as I Have You (2018), a collection of mostly cover songs, including the title cut. Selections from the Who’s catalog on that run included big hits like “Baba O’Riley” and “Who Are You,” as well as deep cuts like Who’s Next’s “Love Ain’t for Keeping” and Face Dances’ “Another Tricky Day.”
Many of the musicians supporting Daltrey on the trek will be familiar to Who fans since they also helped comprise that band’s touring lineup on the final tour. Those players include guitarist Simon Townshend (Pete’s brother), bassist John Hogg (who sang and played percussion with the Who), and drummer Scott Devours, as well as percussionist Jody Linscott. Daltrey has rounded out the lineup with guitarist Doug Boyle, mandolinist Billy Nicholls, violinist Katie Jacoby, harmonica player Steve Weston, and keyboardist-accordionist Geraint Watkins. And if you saw Daltrey on his 2024 Semi-Acoustic Tour, it’s the same lineup altogether.
The trek will mark his first U.S. tour since the singer was knighted, becoming Sir Roger Daltrey, as of last December. Prince William performed the ceremony, recognizing Daltrey’s work raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust and his contributions to the arts. “It is a wonderful honor for me and especially for Teenage Cancer Trust,” he said at the time. “I accept this award not only for myself but on behalf of all the unsung heroes who have given their energy towards making the Teenage Cancer Trust the success it has become.”
Roger Daltrey tour dates:
Aug. 23 – Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Arts Center
Aug. 24 – Highland, CA @ Yaamava’ Theater
Aug. 26 – Las Vegas, NV @ Encore Theater
Aug. 28 – Las Vegas, NV @ Encore Theater
Aug. 29 – Las Vegas, NV @ Encore Theater
Sept. 1 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Lobero Theatre
Sept. 2 – Saratoga, CA @ The Mountain Winery
Sept. 4 – Santa Rosa, CA @ Luther Burbank for the Arts
Sept. 5 – Reno, NV @ The Grand Theatre at the Grand Sierra Resort
Sept. 9 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
Sept. 11 – New Buffalo, MI @ Four Winds Casino
Sept. 12 – New Lenox, IL @ New Lenox Performing Arts Pavillion
Sept. 15 – Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater
Sept. 17 – Lewiston, NY @ Artpark
Sept. 20 – Springfield, MA @ The Big E
Sept. 22 – Port Chester, NY @ The Capitol Theatre
Sept. 24 – Washington, D.C. @ The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Sept. 25 – Bensalem, PA @ Parx Xcite Center
Sept. 27 – New York, NY @ The Town Hall
Sept. 29 – Medford, MA @ Chevalier Theatre
