THE WHO CLOSE TEENAGE CANCER TRUST 2025 GIGS AT LONDON’S ROYAL ALBERT HALL

★★★★★ (5/5)

**THE WHO PERFORMING AT TEENAGE CANCER TRUST 2025 GIGS AT LONDON’S ROYAL ALBERT HALL**
**PHOTOCREDIT: PATRICK GUNNING**

Stepping out of semi-retirement for the annual Teenage Cancer Trust concert series, a Roger Daltery and Pete Townshend fronted collective of The Who (featuring Zak Starkey on drums) play a career spanning set at London’s the Royal Albert Hall. Having been the longstanding patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust series for 25 years, Daltery fronts the 70s icons for the last time whilst performing this role, with the torch soon to be passed on to The Cure’s Robert Smith. Anticipation as to whether these two headline shows could be The Who’s final swan song is palpable in the room, and if it is, it’s a terrific way to go out.

At 81 and 79 respectively, it wouldn’t be contentious to define Daltery and Townshend as rock veterans. Having slowed down on touring, the TCT shows now seem to be the event for which The Who dusts off the cobwebs and strap the guitars back on. Whilst onstage, they are first to admit that things aren’t quite as polished as they once were with a definite raw and jam-like feel to the set. Townshend even caveats that his ability to stand during the whole show has been tampered by a recent knee operation, choosing to play many of the songs whilst seated. However, the energy is high, the musicianship intact and Dalterey’s voice impressively holds up extremely well in his now octogenarian age. He and Townshend maintain an engaging onstage wit and rapport with the audience.

The setlist gives the audience what they want, opening with a string of back-to-back hits which includes early cuts such as ‘I Can’t Explain’, ‘Substitute’ and ‘The Kids Are Alright’ before delving into the rock opera years of Tommy with ‘Pinball Wizard’ and ‘5:15’ and ‘The Real Me’ from Quadrophenia. The opera years bookend the acoustic folk-rock of ‘The Seeker’ which is particular highlight. Pete Townshend’s signature windmill guitar strums and Daltrey’s mic throwing evoke the band’s iconic stage presence. Some numbers in the set require a restart (c’mon, it’s for charity) but the winking look on the band’s face brings the audience closer to one of rock’s greatest performers and provides a uniquely intimate experience in one of the world’s most renowned venues. Whilst often complaining about the on-stage monitor mix, the band sound massive out front.

The set wouldn’t be complete without the culturally defining ‘My Generation’ and the prog-rock madness of ‘Baba O’Riley’ with Starkey summoning an inner Keith Moon on drums for the latter performance. Daltrey’s iconic affirmation scream during the penultimate song of the night ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ treats the audience to one of rock music’s most distinctive war cries. Deciding to end on the deeper cut of ‘The Song Is Over’, this serves as the final nod to the mods that are out in droves, and may be an indication towards the end of one of the UK’s most robust music careers and a culmination of 25 years of The Who captaining one of the UK’s most anticipated concert series for a worthy cause.