The Who's last stand?

Say what you will, it is the major rock tour of this year — The Who's gallop through America, which includes its performance at the Astrodome tonight.

From all appearances, this may be the last go-around ever for the veteran British rock group, which makes this tour all the more significant. No group, with the possible exception of the Rolling Stones, has made rock and roll this good for this long, so if Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend are really that intent on splitting the blanket, it will rank as nothing less than one of rock's all-time tragedies. Everyone from band members to diehard fans wants this to be a triumphant send-off, however.

At press time, ticket sales were over the 30,000 mark — or slightly more than half of the Dome's capacity for the show. Which means there are plenty of good seats left for what may be one of the best concerts of the year.

Billy Squier and a new band called Steel Breeze are also on the bill, and tickets are available at all Ticketmaster locations. The show starts at 6 p.m.