The Who kicked off their farewell tour, “The Song Is Over,” in Italy with a new drummer, marking their first performance since the departure of longtime drummer Zak Starkey.
The rock band announced the tour last May and began it on Monday night, July 21, at the Anfiteatro Camerini in Piazzola sul Brenta. They are set to perform at the Parco Della Musica in Milan on Tuesday night, July 22, before frontman Roger Daltrey embarks on a series of solo shows in the U.K. early next month.
At the Anfiteatro Camerini, The Who delivered a 20-song set featuring hits like “Baba O’Riley,” “Pinball Wizard,” “My Generation,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” and “I Can’t Explain.”
This tour marks The Who’s first without longtime drummer Zak Starkey, who was dismissed earlier this year. A public dispute between Starkey, the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, and the band began in April after a charity performance for the Teenage Cancer Trust at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Starkey, who joined The Who in 1996, was initially fired, rehired, and then let go again within weeks.
Starkey claimed the situation was further complicated when he was asked to state he left the band to pursue other projects, which he refuted on Instagram by saying, “I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit The Who to pursue my other musical endeavors; this would be a lie.”
Scott Devours has taken over as drummer, having previously performed with Daltrey’s solo band. “Yesterday, with a short, simple Instagram post, Pete and Roger, once again, changed my life forever,” Devours said in a social media statement in May.
“I understand and accept that there are many lifelong Who fans who are absolutely gutted by the news that Zak is no longer on the throne behind The Who,” he continued. “As a huge fan myself, there is a part of me that’s processing this loss with a heavy heart too.”
“The Song Is Over” tour will resume in North America on Aug. 16 in Florida. The tour will continue through the fall, with two dates at the Hollywood Bowl on Sept. 17 and 19, and a performance at Madison Square Garden in New York on Aug. 30.
