THE Who will celebrate their 50th anniversary by returning to Leeds, the city where they recorded their celebrated 1970 live album in the university refectory.

“This is the beginning of the long goodbye,” said lead singer Roger Daltrey, as he and Pete Townshend announced The Who Hits 50 UK Tour, whose itinerary includes Leeds First Direct Arena on Tuesday, December 2.

Daltrey, 70, and Townshend, 69, will take their audience on a journey from the early days of The High Numbers to classic albums such as Who’s Next, Tommy, Quadrophenia and 1970’s aforementioned Live At Leeds, and onwards to the present day. Townshend promises “hits, picks, mixes and misses” in a show sure to include Won’t Get Fooled Again, My Generation, Baba O’Riley, Who Are You, I Can’t Explain, Pinball Wizard and Behind Blue Eyes.

Looking ahead to the tour, he said: “Trying to stay young. Not wearing socks. Growing a great big Woodcutter’s beard. Might even wear a check shirt on stage and get a tattoo of a Union Jack. Always a fashion victim. But