With a new tour and their first new studio album in 24 years, the Who's Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey are in the midst of an unexpected career renaissance.

They have launched their first world tour in decades in support of "Endless Wire," which arrives in stores Oct. 31.

As he was about to embark on the U.S. leg of the tour, which kicked off Sept. 12 in Philadelphia (and which stops at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Friday), Townshend, the legendary band's chief songwriter, offered some typically provocative responses to questions about the band's past, present and future.

Q: Tell me about what you're hoping to play on this U.S. tour and how much of a challenge is it to balance new and older material?

A: Our first mission was to rehearse a lot of what Who fans call "rarities," the songs that get played rarely, if ever. Roger got a throat infection during the recording of his vocals for the new CD, so we